U.S. Plans Massive Rotation of Troops (risky, controversial)

[DeepModem Mom]

Los Angeles Times:

U.S. Plans Massive Rotation of Troops
The meticulously organized transfer in Iraq and elsewhere may increase vulnerability

The Pentagon is preparing to rotate a quarter of a million troops into and out of Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan early next year in a massive and risky undertaking that could leave them highly vulnerable to attacks during the changeover.

The plan, which will replace virtually all of the United States' battle-hardened forces with new fighters, calls for substituting about 118,000 troops for 130,000 outgoing soldiers in Iraq alone. The large-scale rotation worries top military officials, who have choreographed the five-month process down to the smallest details....

The undertaking is the result of two controversial decisions made by Pentagon planners. The first was to send troops home after serving 12 months in Iraq as a way to sustain morale and prevent reenlistment rates from plummeting. The second was to deploy fighting units together, rather than subbing in new soldiers on an individual basis — a "spare parts" policy that proved disastrous in Vietnam....

"They're driven by the fact that though they claim this was a war of necessity, it's really a war of choice," said Lawrence J. Korb, who was assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration. "Because it's a war of choice, if they don't get those troops out of there they are going to cause long-term problems for the U.S. military, because they will have horrible reenlistment rates."...

On the home front, tens of thousands of returning soldiers will need medical care for injuries or illnesses contracted during their deployment. Army officials say they will need to build new barracks and augment care at base hospitals to handle the influx. But they haven't started.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-rotate10dec10,1,2721728.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[JailBush]

1. TENS OF THOUSANDS need treatment???

Let's see, Gulf War syndrome, sand flies (fleas?), depleted uranium, over-enthusiastic hugs from grateful Iraqis...

[TheLastMohican]

2. And the new troops flying in will have a zilch experience

in handling difficult situations. A would take a one battle-hardened veteran over a bunch of newbies. Their experience is irreplaceable.
Watch for new cases of civilian shootings go up.

[La_Serpiente]

4. I know what you mean

my good friend from 7th grade, with whom I talk regularly, is going to Iraq next year. He is in the National Guard and he said they aren't prepared for Nation Building.

[CRK7376]

6. It will be bleak, but not hopeless...

Lots of returning vets will be rotated into those units heading overseas. Some with minimum time back home. We're already seeing OIF vets showing up in divisions and units across the Army that were some of the first troops returned from Iraq, talking about 3rd Infantry Division soldiers. The question is how many 3ID guys will find themselves in the 1st Cav or 1st ID? How about the light units out there that are rotating in and out of Afghanistan....Lots of 10th Mountain guys go to 25th ID, and 25th ID is headed to Afghanistan in the near future....But ultimately yes, lots of new units will face combat/hostile forces with little experience. You have to learn fast or you die. Thanks Shrub.

[AnnitaR]

3. This paragraph makes me so angry!

"On the home front, tens of thousands of returning soldiers will need medical care for injuries or illnesses contracted during their deployment. Army officials say they will need to build new barracks and augment care at base hospitals to handle the influx. But they haven't started."

Most of America will never hear about this. They only get their news from cable or network news. You won't hear about this part on ANY of those stations! This is the kind of info that needs to be put to the American people. It's this kind of info that could wake up this sleeping country to the HELLISH path that the Evil Little Man has taken us down!

God help us all if we must endure 4 more years of his Evil ways.

[izzie]

5. How can this work out well? Bush and Co have only yes men left,

Even in DOD the men to last have to go along with the leader.In 4 years almost anyone with any power to speak the truth is gone. Bush is the only truth. He has taken over the way Hitler did it and next the will have to swear to Bush not the USA. It is madness.

[lostnfound]

7. The way, the truth, the light..? hmmm, could make a good TV ad.

Someone (of the religious left, perhaps) needs to make an ad showing the deification of Bush..

Picture a gathering of robed candle-bearing worshippers in dim light, following "W" (the symbol or the man) slowly chanting "the way... the truth... the light", but as you pan to the big picture you can see the area they are being led into has flaming tar pits of burning oil everywhere, and a voiceover says "thou shall have no other gods before me".

I personally know some religious right followers -- Catholic women, but I'm sur it extends to the fundies etc. -- who truly try to just follow along and pray for W (pray that he'll do the right thing), that since he is making the great evil of abortion illegal it must be the right thing to keep supporting him no matter what else he is doing. The implication that you can ever set aside your obligation to make up your own mind on moral issues -- which includes responsible citizenship -- is most dangerous.

It's deification. And for these people (who shockingly have the right to vote!!), making a connection between W and a deceptive Satan-worshipper taking us all to Hades, would be worth its weight in gold.

[max2000]

8. There's already "Horrible re-enlistment rates"

Great, bring all the troops home. Then we can find out what's really going on over there. Soon there will be a draft board, after the 2004 elections of course.

Be a great idea for a non-fiction book if anyone looking for writing work. Interview the returning troops, be good story since all we get now is the scrubbed Lysol version of Iraq.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Welcome, max2000 --

[SnowGoose]

10. No draft after 2004 because....

We are going to win, damnit!

[pinto]

11. Korb's statement gets to the heart of the matter:

War of necessity vs. war of choice.

While the military is not a democratic institution, soldiers do vote with their feet, when re-enlistment time comes.

I'd like to see the Dems make this a clear issue in the elections.

[Just Me]

13. Me, too,...

,...'cause war of choice may force a return to the draft,...at which time,...I may become an immigrant in another land,...sorry to say that when it comes to "love it or leave it", my son takes priority over a war of choice,...

[DeepModem Mom]

12. kicking for daytime -- this will affect a lot of families (nt)