BUSH Secretly Implementing - SECOND SURGE - Double The Number Of Troops By End Of Year

[kpete]

Last updated May 21, 2007 11:31 p.m. PT

Second Iraq troop surge starts
U.S. quietly doubling combat troop numbers
By STEWART M. POWELL
HEARST NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is quietly on track to nearly double the number of combat troops in Iraq this year, an analysis of Pentagon deployment orders showed Monday.

This "second surge" of troops in Iraq, which is being executed by extending tours for brigades already there and by deploying more units, could boost the number of combat troops to as many as 98,000 by the end of this year. When support troops are included, the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq could increase from 162,000 now to more than 200,000 -- the most ever -- by the end of the year.

The efforts to reinforce U.S. troops in Iraq are being carried out without the fanfare that accompanied President Bush's initial troop surge in January.

more at:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/316612_secondsurge22.html

[AllegroRondo]

1. NPR this morning - Air Force training to fight on ground

because the Army is stretched so thin.

[Perky]

2. Heard that too and I am seriously worried about it

Flyboys are typically not suited for ground operations They are fit as can be but they are also older. and I fear they will suffer tremendous casualties.

[AllegroRondo]

3. and the course was only 10 days

I'm sorry, you just CANNOT learn enough to survive ground and urban combat in 10 days. You can barely learn enough in that time to handle and maintain the rifle properly.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. I doubt they'd be going out on operations -

more likely taking over base and facility security, freeing up ground troops.

But you never know, with these people running things.

[Perky]

7. They are being trained in hand to hand combat.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Still. If you're walking post on the flight line and get jumped by

sabatours, a little hand to hand training could be handy - and a lot of hand to hand training would be even handier. I suspect it is more vital for security situations than combat situations where you are armed to the teeth and surrounded by a squad of likewise armed comrads.

I suspect there are a lot of combat-trained infantry out there that are manning checkposts and running perimeter patrols that could be better used if someone could take their places.

But it is indicative of a serious shortage of manpower and could wind up putting a lot of trigger happy sentries and patrols on the ground. Not good.

[AllegroRondo]

14. according to this morning's story,

they are being trained in urban combat, clearing buildings, and convoy protection.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. That sounds reasonable, in a kind of desperate, circle with wagons

kind of way.

It doesn't necessarily mean they'd go out on operations. But it could mean that things are so shaky there that they want everyone on the grouond to be able to pick up a rifle and be effective if a base is being overrun. Back in the dark ages I was Marine 01, a Keyboard Kommando, Remington Raider. I learned the basics of squad combat, shot Expert with the M16 and the .45 (though my primary weapon was the IBM Selectric II), and if my unit would have gone into a combat zone I'd have been expected to do my bit standing watch with the rest of them. But I was not an 03, and there was no way I'd have been sent out on missions. I still suspect the primary intent is training for security purposes - like convoy protection and perimeter defense - rather than offensive operations.

[watercolors]

25. Yes they are on the ground right now

in Afganistan, my grandson is one of them. He spent two months in Ft Bragg traing, in heavy artllery and survival. WE get e-mails and photos all the time from him, he has his lap top. He has had some scary moments. He has already done two tours in Iraq and yes he is AF.

[RaleighNCDUer]

26. What was his MOS, his specialty, before they turned him into

a grunt?

[eridani]

24. How long does it take to train a pilot?

Isn't this throwing away highly trained specialists in a meatgrinder?

[Morgana LaFey]

27. Well, thankfully, not everyone IN the Air Force flies.

:eyes:

You're right, though, there'll be terrible casualties.

[TygrBright]

6. Kewl. What's next? Gonna train the feckin' COAST GUARD? The National Park Police?

Shite... no matter how they squirm, they're reaching the end of the rope.

The fall's gonna be REEEEEEEAL ugly.

But they CAN'T use the goddamn rope to CLIMB BACK UP, can they?

Nuh-uh! That'd be DEFEATISM!!

How these idiots manage to calculate the number of beans that make five is certifiable miracle.

disgustedly,
Bright

[Lars39]

5. K& R

Needs more eyes...:kick:

[Cruzan]

8. I'm having trouble believing this

The current surge size was barely cobbled together as is. How do they expect to double it when they hardly have the troops and equipment for this one?

[Louis Cipher]

9. They aren't even entertaining the idea of a pull out, are they?

damn bloody mess

[StarryNite]

20. And the Dems aren't even

holding their feet to the fire. They just keep caving in to everything * wants. WTF is going on? What is it going to take to change things in this screwed up country? :mad:

Welcome aboard Louis. :hi:

[AndyA]

10. K&R #5 - off to Greatest Page!

This is incredible. Something tells me in order to cobble this together, Bush will extend tours of duty even longer, and make time at home even shorter.

And our Democratic led Congress is lying down like a fuckin' door mat so Bush can wipe the cow shit from his boots on them! :mad:

[Zodiak]

11. The funny thing is

I was just saying earlier today that the Democratic giving Bush his money with no strings attached will embolden him to go beyond September because he can control what Petrayus testifies in his progress report.

Looks like they are planning ahead for that very strategy....and are counting on winning the debate, as well.

The fix is in and the Democrats for the thousandths time will be left holding the bag because of their cowardice. It has long, long become predictable, and they never disappoint us in that predicatbility...do they?

[Zywiec]

12. Actually I heard Pelosi say

That if Bush didn't change his ways, he would be put on double-secret probation.

[WiseButAngrySara]

21. But impeachment is off the table for criminals, right? ....n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. You know what he's thinking:

"Well, er, I might as well double-up on them cheap labor while I can because those Blackwater guys are real expensive."

[nam78_two]

16. K&R.nt

[ananda]

17. Poor troops, poor country..

.. poor all of us.

[doublethink]

19. Was never a surge in the first place ...

Always has been an ESCALATION. It's continuous, and not a wave that comes on shore and recedes. This wave continues to come in. A 'second surge' sounds like it has a beginning and an ending, like the first one (by the way when does the first 'surge' end and the second one begin?) Playing mind games with the American Public, propaganda, call it what you will. Bush has no intention of leaving Iraq. Congress are you listening? Hello, anybody there? Peace.

[WiseButAngrySara]

22. k(pete)nr. ....n/t

[Gregorian]

23. And don't forget Blackwater!

Realistically we will quadruple forces.