U.S. Army officers cite lack of troops in key region (Iraq Syrian Border)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/11781484.htm

U.S. Army officers in the badland deserts of northwest Iraq, near the Syrian border, say they don't have enough troops to hold the ground they take from insurgents in this transit point for weapons, money and foreign fighters.

From last October to the end of April, there were about 400 soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division patrolling the northwest region, which covers about 10,000 square miles.

"Resources are everything in combat ... there's no way 400 people can cover that much ground," said Maj. John Wilwerding, of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is responsible for the northwest tract that includes Tal Afar.

"Because there weren't enough troops on the ground to do what you needed to do, the (insurgency) was able to get a toehold." said Wilwerding, 37, of Chaska, Minn.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[DulceDecorum]

2. We've got a few hundred members serving here already.

But I can think of at least one other message board that is ripe for recruitment since they only appear to have about 10 members serving tops and they appear to be passionate about prolonging this misadventure.

[Name removed]

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[daleo]

3. That's four troops for every 100 square miles.

Mathematically speaking, that is a square five miles on each side for each person to guard (although I know that is not how it is done).

[grytpype]

4. We are so fucked in Iraq.

It's just a matter of geometry. You can't control a space the size of Iraq with the troops we have, it's just impossible.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Maj. John Wilwerding is asking for a reduction of rank

and early retirement making these kind of comments, telling the truth.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. He may save a life or two in the long run

trust me, I know, these words are not spoken idly, and he knows the consequences....

[Supersedeas]

16. why does Maj. Wilwerding hate 'Merika?

[radar]

6. Let's see...

10,000 mile area covered by 400 soldiers gives each trooper an area of responsibility of 25 miles.

To make it more familiar to us at home - the United States Border Patrol watches the southern border - which is about 2,000 miles long, with over 9,500 personnel available to cover it. ...And they can't stop everyone/thing coming across.

US Border Patrol Today...
http://www.usborderpatrol.com/borderframe87.htm

[TacticalPeek]

7. 10,000 square miles? 10,000 square miles? Mission impossible.

Asked if he planned on pacifying Rawah - a town of some 50,000 with no police or mayor - Denny shook his head.

"We could go in and clear them all out tomorrow, but if we left and didn't install law there, it would happen again," he said. "You need an Iraqi army battalion to hang out in Rawah."

And that, he said, isn't going to happen anytime soon.

[leftchick]

9. it is the Whole Fucking Country that lacks troops..

Basra? run by insurgents! Same with Ramadi, Mosul, Najaf, Karbala and most areas in Baghdad. It is the whole fucking country!!!

Bring the Troops Home Now!

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[RamboLiberal]

12. If Hillary gets in I hope we have a Dem Congress

but in a way it would be amusing to watch the Repukes change their tune and decide we need to get out.

Unfortunately it's our poor troops who are stuck between the Repukes and some Dems like Hillary and Joe Lieberman and others who will continue to die and be wounded.

[uppityperson]

14. what's your problem with Hillary and the Iraq war?

Do you seriously believe what you wrote here or are you just trying to stir things up? I would like to know before bothering to reply. Thanks.

[gratuitous]

13. But Commander Bunnypants sez

That all the military commanders keep telling him that they have all the troops they need! Clearly Maj. Wilwerding doesn't know what he's talking about.

[Az_lefty]

15. Just what it was like when I was there in 03'

not enought troops for security and it gets totally out of control. Amazing that we keep making the same damned mistakes.
:mad:

[reprobate]

17. Nothing amazing about it when you consider the bunch running it.