U.S. to Send 700 More Soldiers to Iraq

[stop the bleeding]

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
33 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is dispatching an Army battalion of about 700 soldiers to Iraq from their base in Kuwait to provide extra security during the holiday of Ashura, three military officers said Wednesday.

The move, which has not been publicly announced, comes amid a spike in sectarian violence and expectations that it likely will remain a problem as fractious Iraqi political leaders attempt to form a new government.

The decision to add the armored unit, perhaps for as little as 30 days, is in contrast to the Bush administration's hopes of substantially drawing down the U.S. military presence in Iraq this year. There are currently about 133,000 troops there.

It also comes amid administration efforts to persuade the American public that the war effort is succeeding. Opinion polls show faltering public support for the war.


Read full article here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq

[Greeby]

1. Anything to do with President Tony announcing a 10% withdrawal?

:shrug:

[saigon68]

2. VICTORY IS ON THE MARCH

"BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIIMPANZEE


AS HE PICKED FLEAS OFF HIS ASS

[brentspeak]

3. 700? That's a token gesture

Bush was advised to maintain an occupation force of at least 500,000 troops, but he fired the general who had the audacity to suggest common-sense.

[0007]

5. The only difference it would have made it that more troops

would have died.

In 1968 with over half a million troops in Vietnam General Westmoreland ask President Johnson for 200,000 more troops. He was advised by a small study group in the Pentagon not to escalate the war. The reason would be more U.S. casualties and more taxes would be needed.
Johnson refused Westmoreland's request.

[LynnTheDem]

4. ESCALATION; Iraqnam.

More troops in, more dead troops out.

[Ernesto]

6. More U.S. Troops Moving Into Iraq

CBS) March was supposed to be the month when the U.S. commander in Iraq made a recommendation to pull more troops out of Iraq. Instead, he has asked for more troops to be sent in.
With 133,000 American troops already in Iraq, an armored battalion of about 700 soldiers kept on standby in Kuwait is beginning to move north toward Baghdad. U.S. officials say Gen. George Casey asked for more troops because of a convergence of events, and danger, surrounding the third anniversary of the American invasion.


http://www.cbs11tv.com/national/topstories_story_073191837.html

[saigon68]

7. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[SpiralHawk]

12. "Mission accomplished." - George AWOL Bush

eom

[pocket]

8. they must have discovered some previously unbrutalized children

and called for backup

[soothsayer]

9. More proof that we're winning

[David Zephyr]

10. John McCain won his way. He's probably going to be Cheney's replacement.

Well, McCain is certainly now casting a larger influence over the White House and this is just one more victory for McCain.

As much as George W. distrusts McCain and Cheney and the neocons may be leery about him, they now need him.

McCain's ass kissing of GWB at the Republican gathering in Memphis last week is still another clue that McCain is working his butt off to earn the VP slot when Cheney resigns with a full pardon.

[Jacobin]

11. Things must be going well....

[katinmn]

13. Yes, and 3000 MN national guard are being deployed on Saturday.

http://wcco.com/local/local_story_045165757.html
Camp Shelby Plans Sendoff For Minnesota Brigade

AP) Jackson, Miss. Graduation day is rapidly approaching for thousands of Iraq-bound troops from Minnesota, and military trainers at Camp Shelby are already preparing for their next class of soldiers from more than a dozen states.

The 4,000 member 34th Brigade Combat Team, made up primarily of Minnesota National Guard soldiers, is at Fort Polk in Louisiana now but will return to Camp Shelby for a send off ceremony in March before heading to Iraq.

Camp Shelby, an expansive, 136,000-acre National Guard base south of Hattiesburg, has served a pivotal role training soldiers for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The deployment will be the largest overseas mobilization since World War II for both Oregon and Minnesota, officials said.

[wordpix2]

14. so much for "Bush is pulling troops out"

[gratuitous]

15. Gee, isn't this the exact opposite of what Bush said was going to happen?

Well, I'm sure it will all be explained soon. No need to accuse the President of lying or holding him to his word or anything. The faithful media troops will soon march forth and cover Chimpy's exposed ass once again so they can keep getting invited to all those swell cocktail parties.

[Ernesto]

16. The repukes can only wish for returning troops before the elections. n-t