Army's 1st Armored Division to Leave Iraq

[Barrett808]

Army's 1st Armored Division to Leave Iraq
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, the unit delayed from leaving Iraq when violence flared in April, now is scheduled to depart by July 15, the head of U.S. military operations in Iraq said.

Replacing the division will be a brigade combat team from the Army's 10th Mountain Division and a pair of U.S. Marine brigades, Army Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz said. Those units will start arriving by the end of June, he said.

Earlier, Army officials said the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division would arrive in time to replace 1st Armored, but that unit won't reach Iraq until early fall, the military said.

Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there was a small possibility the 1st Armored's stay could be extended again, but Metz said that possibility was "infinitesimally small."

"We're doing everything we can to have all Task Force 1st Armored out of harm's way by 15 July," Metz said Thursday. "We're on the glide path to achieve that."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040611/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_delayed_departure&cid=540&ncid=1480

[LosinIt]

1. Congrats to them, condolences to 10th Mountain Div

To my Knowledge, the most deployed unit in the Army. And when they are not deployed they get to enjoy Fort Drum, home of -25 temps in winter and black flies in the spring.

[tabasco]

2. There's a brigade+ that can't help in Afghanistan.

AFAIK, Afghanistan is 10th Mountain's baby. I suppose they shouldn't be expecting too many reinforcements there. Maybe we can find some old Taliban guys to help us out, like Saddam's guys are helping us in Iraq.

[lebkuchen]

4. Congrats are much too early

The 1AD has heard so many promises made and broken that "July 15" seems a long long way off.

The families will believe it when they see their spouses off the plane. Then, it's just a matter of days before they might be able to separate from the Army, that is, unless they're set to redeploy. Then forget about retirement.

[gratuitous]

6. Yup, Metz left some weasel room

Their stay could be extended, but the chance of that is "infinitessimally small." Uh huh. If I was in that unit, I'd believe I was going home when my boots hit the soil in the U.S. and not a moment sooner.

[teryang]

3. "Glide path" = juggling act

That's what they get promoted for, catchy jingos equals leadership.

[catmandu57]

5. These guys have taken a beating

They've been gone so long, and taken many casualties. I'm glad to see them coming home, I hope they can readjust.

[lebkuchen]

7. The Bushies are desperate to get them out of Germany

so they can send them, unaccompanied, to Poland/Romania/Bulgaria and cash in on privatizing the BSBs, nevermind cleaning up superfund sites left behind by the former Soviet Union.