Unit had asked for more Marines (1,000 more troops. Request not granted)

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-08-07-ohio-marines-request_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

Unit had asked for more Marines
By Kimberly Johnson, Special for USA TODAY

HADITHAH, Iraq — A Marine regiment that took heavy casualties last week in western Iraq — including 19 killed from a Reserve unit headquartered in Ohio — had repeatedly asked for about 1,000 more troops. Those requests were not granted.
....

Starling said the unit could "optimally" use one more battalion, about 1,000 troops, to take some of the pressure off the Reserve unit, which is spearheading an offensive in the region. "With a fourth battalion, I wouldn't have to play pick-up ball," Starling said.

The requests for additional forces were passed to higher headquarters in nearby Ramadi; it is unclear whether they went beyond that level, Starling said.

....

But the issue highlights whether there are enough U.S. and Iraqi troops to battle a deeply rooted insurgency.

<</SNIP>>

[noamnety]

1. omg

I can't even imagine being one of the parents and reading that.

[Erika]

2. This should be investigated

We have some military leaders clearly saying we don't have enough troops over there while this administration says we don't need them.

[napi21]

3. Hmmm. Didn't Shrub say if anyone asked they'd get 'em?

Wasn't that just a month or so ago???

What happened Shrub? Didn't the right people ask this time?

Damn!!!!!!!!!

[sabra]

4. Yes. And it looks like potentially 19 lives could have been spared.

The list just keeps growing...

[Toots]

16. I doubt that is true and in fact probably the opposite is true

More troops over there equals more GI Deaths IMO. Bring them all home now.

[sabra]

17. That's why I said potentially

I am in agreement with you in seeing our troops come home as soon as possible. However it doesn't seem like * will being doing anything like that anytime soon.

[katsy]

5. Can a deeply rooted insurgency...

ever really be eliminated by foreign troops?

There's no acceptable excuse. I cannot for the life of me believe that murdering maggot and his thugs in the white house "misunderestimated" the number of troops that would be needed in Iraq.

This is pure sacrifice of troops and innocent Iraqis for oil... acceptable risk in the eyes of these criminal corporatists.

WTF is this administration doing except murdering people for halliburton's bottom line?

[bobbieinok]

13. mil said more troops, Rummie said lean....originally less than 100,000

I think

the military roared to Baghdad so it looked like Rummie was right....later there was some comment that many of 'our problems' in Iraq stem from the fact that US did not move carefully and control each area before moving on.......the whole embedded reporter coverage of a speedy win was to make a W/Rummie quick victory, it has been claimed

for a while everyone was praising Rummie's 'vision' of victories with small precision forces.....and then reality hit.....and who pays???? certainly not Rummie or W

Challenger disaster: Reagan needed a photo op so concerns from some were ignored (it has been claimed)

[cliss]

22. Yes, I agree.

I really don't believe an insurgency can be eliminated by the U.S. or any other foreign troops.

It's been tried before. Britain occupied Iraq in the early 1900's. They finally threw in the towel and went home. Russia occupied Afghanistan in the 1980's. They had met their match, and packed up their bags. And yet, President Cheney believed he could do what the others throughout history could not.

You're so right that this is all acceptable to them. I can see them now... they're sitting in their board room. There are about 10 people, Cheney is there along with RumsFailed. Bush isn't attending, he usually doesn't.

Right now, as we speak, they're discussing how much the Americans can tolerate. They're drinking Perrier water, and eating Lobster thermidor for lunch.

Cheney's got some statistics from VietNam. He knows EXACTLY when the Americans snapped. He feels confident, smug. He says, "Boys, we've got quite a bit of leeway here. Things didn't start to hit the fan until about 50,000 troops were killed. We've got a LONG ways to go. I'm sure we'll be able to accomplish our goals by then".

The others look around, smiling. They hold up their glasses, and clink them together. "To Leeway!"

[katsy]

25. And cheney is nixing adequate armor...

why waste $$$ on cannon fodder.

Congrats amerika! You've got the government you deserve. Unfortunately, innocent Iraqi and American troops' blood is on your heads you lazy ignorant phucking sheep. Hope they all choke on their tax cuts and made in china flags.

:banghead:

[Old and In the Way]

6. Someone should post call for a Free Republic Expeditionary Force.

Surely, 1,000 of those tough guys could make an awesome fighting force over there.

Of course, they'd have to armor plate the porta-potties.....

[RamboLiberal]

9. No, the Freepers have to stay here and fight the Culture War

against the likes of us. Did anyone hear that asshole 21 yr old conservative interviewed by Tweety on Hardball Friday? He actually sat there and said he supported the war and * but he couldn't enlist cause he had a duty here to fight the Culture War. And he didn't like the term Chickenhawk. Gawd these jerks have balls, yellow balls! Tweety should've ripped his ass to shreds right there, but he saved it to rip on the 28 year old young Dem.

Tweety should've had some recruiters with the paperwork right there and wiped the smirk off that fit looking 21 year old Chickenhawk!

Can't wait to get the transcript tomorrow - this needs emailed everywhere!

[nookiemonster]

12. Yes! Please forward transcript.

I've gonna have a little fun with some of my delusional pals.

:evilgrin:

Tweety is such a fuckstick. I wouldn't expect that POS to even challenge the other little yellow bastard.

Tool.

[leftchick]

15. sounds like the one on c-span on Saturday.

He basically said the same thing when a caller asked why he had not signed up for Iraq. Chickenshit bastards.

[RamboLiberal]

23. I think it was the same damn chickenhawk

I just posted the transcript and some other info in GD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4286736

The guy is also a white supremicist. Surprise! Surprise!

Hardball & CSPan need to do better vetting!

[leftchick]

26. c-span's standards have fallen to an all time low

I could not even believe that neo-freak was on there. He did nothing but parrot the RNC talking point lies over anover.

:grr:

[stanwyck]

29. these guys are running out of excuses

the old "football injury" is getting lame. Rush tried it...too bad his official draft papers show he skated due to "anal warts".
I say, call them on this every chance. Every.
Their "fighting the war over here" isn't doing much for those 14 Marines, now is it?
Look. I can certainly understand a young person NOT wanting to be part of this misbegotten deadly endeavor. But for those who act all macho and warmongering, then, hell, they need to walk it like they're talking it.
Or else. SHUT UP!
Their excuses just sound pathetic.

[MissMarple]

7. what would have happened if Sherman had 2/3 fewer troops?

If the Brits didn't participate in D day, if Napoleon's troops hadn't been stopped by the snow?

That may sound like excessive drama, and perhaps it is, but...what if. And, if George activates the draft, will we fall into civil war?

[DanCa]

8. Republican cowards

You wanted this frackin war. You should have the guts too fight in in it.

[burrowowl]

10. Well!

There are mercs that can take up thr slake. And although paid more, will not drain VA since tht is all she wrote.
GD Bu$h et al! (and GD does not stand for General Discussion!).

[MissMarple]

11. Well..all right then.

:)

[rodeodance]

14. bet Rummy is having a hizzy fit that this news got out. Send to Cindy S.

[papau]

18. Unit had asked for more Marines (before taking major casualties)

The Unit asked for more Marines, was denied, but the good news is that the casualties in the area don't "appear to be related to the troop level situation," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Donald Alston, a U.S. military spokesman.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-08-07-ohio-marines-request_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

Unit had asked for more Marines
By Kimberly Johnson, Special for USA TODAY

HADITHAH, Iraq — A Marine regiment that took heavy casualties last week in western Iraq — including 19 killed from a Reserve unit headquartered in Ohio — had repeatedly asked for about 1,000 more troops. Those requests were not granted.

At an impromptu memorial at the headquarters of the battalion that lost 19 Marines last week, a visitor hugs Maj. Christopher Warner.
Jamie-Andrea Yanak, AP

Regimental Combat Team 2 began asking for additional troops to police its volatile 24,000-square-mile territory before most of its Marines deployed in February, said operations officer Lt. Col. Christopher Starling, 39, of Jacksonville, N.C.

Starling said the unit could "optimally" use one more battalion, about 1,000 troops, to take some of the pressure off the Reserve unit, which is spearheading an offensive in the region. "With a fourth battalion, I wouldn't have to play pick-up ball," Starling said.<snip>

[Nickster]

19. But wait a minute, didn't the leaders just have to ask for more troops???

[Kagemusha]

20. That applies only to "top commanders" apparently.

Who know, incidentally, exactly what Rumsfeld will do to them if they make such a request.

[bemildred]

21. Thanks for the "Good News" General Alston. nt

[gulliver]

24. Whoever denied the requests better have their reasoning ready.

Bush has repeatedly said he would supply more troops if commanders asked for them. If the requests reached Rumsfeld, of course, it's all over. If they stopped just before Rumsfeld, the explanation better be a good one.

[KeepItReal]

27. More troops if "Top Commanders" request them..check this B.S:

"Pentagon spokesman Larry DiRita said Sunday, "I don't doubt every colonel wishes he had more in his area, but the decisions about how troops are (deployed) are made by the commanders above them."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said that he would authorize an increase in the number of troops in Iraq if top commanders asked for them. The Pentagon says that so far they haven't.

Alston said it was "not uncommon for commanders in the field to say 'I need more troops.' ""

If you ain't a General, I guess you can't get reinforcements.

[ninkasi]

28. In other words...

the ones insulated from danger get to make the decisions, and the ones in harm's way get to suffer and die. Typical neocon bullshit.