US troops to get 15-day leave from Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

US troops to get 15-day leave from Iraq
By Associated Press, 9/26/2003

WASHINGTON -- American troops will get a vacation from the campaign in Iraq under an R & R program being revived for the first time since the war in Vietnam.

A planeload of troops is scheduled to arrive today in Baltimore, the first of thousands to be flown out of deployments that have turned out to be longer and tougher than some expected.

"First of all, rest and recuperation . . . is essential, just because what they're being asked to do is pretty darn difficult," said Major Pete Mitchell, spokesman for the US Central Command. "But it's more than that. We also believe rest and recuperation will improve readiness."

The first planeload was en route to the Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany, one of two destinations for those getting leave, Mitchell said yesterday. Others are flying to Baltimore. Those flights are being paid for by the government, and troops continuing on from there to their homes or other places will cover the expense of their continuing flights.

The program applies to all troops who have been given one-year tours of duty in Iraq and in supporting roles in neighboring countries. It allows up to 15 days of leave, half of their annual vacation.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/09/26/us_troops_to_get_15_day_leave_from_iraq/

[w13rd0]

1. Will stats be released...

...as to how many go AWOL/desert/decide not to return to hell for Bush pride and Halliburton oil?

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Sure will

Just as soon as it's politically acceptable to report that Bush himself went AWOL and deserted.

I'd say, about a year.

--bkl

[mddemo]

5. desertion

I doubt many will desert, its a camaradarie thing, soldiers especially infantry are real tight to their squads, its what keep you alive. Many a trooper has put himself in harms way in order to save his squad, i cant remember the quote, but i think it was heindrich ( a german wehrmacht infantryman turned author) sho said that when on the eastern front no one was fighting for the fuhrer or the fatherland, they were fighting for each other, and asked why he didnt run away, he stated that if he ran them his own men would be the ones who would die in his place. This is the reason why infantrymen hate deserters, they run away and leave you to still fight.

[GalleryGod]

3. Leave? That's easy! How are they getting them BACK!?!

I can see Troopers getting dragged by MP's on to the Iraqui-bound C-131's:mad:

[liberalnurse]

4. My first thought.....

RUN FOREST....RUN!

[drewb]

6. Time to set up the whore houses...

Too bad they can't fly them to Thailand for their 15 day "vacations"...

[Shadder]

7. No, can't do that.....

sex tourism and all that.

[R Hickey]

8. How can deserter Bush expect them not to follow his own example?

What will be the penalties if the Guardsmen simply don't go back after their two week leave?

Will they be treated the way Bush was when he went AOWL? Will they still be able to run for President someday?

It seems a little cowardly and sort of hypocritical for a Commander in Chief to order his subordinates to do something which he so flagrantly chickened out of.

Bush lied to America and the world, in order to start this invasion. Should our misled soldiers be required to die for Bush's lies?

Some brave reporter ought to ask Bush how he can expect his soldiers not do desert the way he deserted from his last year in the Air National Guard.

[catmandu57]

9. The B.F.E.E. and haliburton want their slice of the sex trade

Haliburton will get the contracts to build the whorehouses on the base, I doubt they're going to let the troops wonder off the base. I also bet they're very selective on just who gets r and r, I don't see any gaurdsmen coming home until their sentence is up.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Wanna Bet That's Already In The Works?

BushCo. probably already has licensed the Cadillac Ranch for a special no-bid contract (in exchange for being a "Ranger") for "comfort houses" at various military installation. Of course, this will be listed in the budget under "special suplemental"

Don't laugh, but our military has been in the world's oldest profession in the past...the word Hooker come from the U.S. occupation commander of Nashville and the military ran "health facilities" in both WWI & WWII (my father was a medic and had the "fortunate" duty of giving shots to some of the unlucky GIs who got a bit too friendly with the locals)

I just wonder...maybe someone will know...how many U.S. corporations (McDonalds, KFC, et al) are purveyors to the military in Iraq and if there's a list of American corporations that have won contracts in Iraq (cellphones, transportation, etc.)

Cheers

[bleedingheart]

10. Funny how they say this war isn't like Vietnam but every

one keeps referring back to that war...

Now we have to bring back the R&R methods from Vietnam ...

This is going to be a loooonnnnngggg war...