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10/22/2003 Archived Entry: "About that upcoming election-year spin...."
About that upcoming election-year spin....
You might have heard about the Pentagon's plans to start bringing the troops home from Iraq in January or thereabouts. Well, don't believe the hype.
After failing to attract large numbers of foreign peacekeepers to Iraq, the Pentagon is drawing up plans to rotate in as many as 30,000 more reservists early next year, despite growing worries in Congress about strains on the force, Defense officials said Tuesday.These troops would join three 5,000-strong Army National Guard brigades already in line to go to Iraq as part of an expected yearlong rotation to replace U.S. troops now in Iraq. U.S. Marines also may be sent into Iraq by February to ease the burden on overstretched Army forces that normally shoulder U.S. peacekeeping duties.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to discuss Tuesday how many more reservists might be needed next year, saying no final decisions had been made, but other Defense officials described the planning for a reserves call-up on condition of anonymity.
Also Tuesday, Rumsfeld raised the possibility that up to 10,000 troops for Iraq offered by Turkey might never go, due to resistance by the Iraqi Governing Council, meaning that U.S. forces might be needed in their place. Iraqis are worried that Turkey wants to dominate oil-rich northern Iraq and that its troops would clash with Iraqi Kurds.
No doubt CNN and Faux will bombard us daily with 'returning' troops, with all the huggy-kissy reunion fluff that goes with it. But just remember, we'll be sending other guys over to replace the guys coming home - because Bush and his Republic buddies don't have a fucking clue as to post-war planning.
Replies: 3 people speak up
Oh, wow, I really love that huggy-kissy reunion fluffy stuff! That and David Blaine. Now THERE'S a great American. Jon Stewart did a dandy little piece on him last night. Very juicey.
Posted by metropolitan99 @ 10/22/2003 09:48 AM NY
Chill. Nobody's going to be killed after March. That's the plan.
Posted by gmanedit @ 10/23/2003 10:37 PM NY
I guess they won't allow cameras at the scenes of departure just like they no longer allow cameras when they come home in a box.
Posted by TechnoPeasant @ 10/26/2003 04:02 PM NY
