Casey says he is working to cut time deployed

[unhappycamper]

Casey says he is working to cut time deployed
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Oct 14, 2007 15:01:36 EDT


CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told soldiers with the 101st Airborne’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team that he’s working on a way to reduce deployment time.

Casey spoke to approximate 350 soldiers with the brigade who deployed Friday in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He stopped at Fort Campbell to review mission rehearsal exercises.

Casey did not indicate how troop deployment time might be reduced.

“It’s a tough mission,” Casey said. “You should plan on 15 months. I’m in the process of working now on how we bring that down, but I’m not going to announce anything unless I’m sure we can deliver on it.”

The U.S. has about 165,000 troops in Iraq and plans to pull out at least 21,500 by July. Britain recently announced a decision to halve its troop levels in Iraq by spring.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday it was too early to assess what troop levels would be required beyond next summer.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_army_reducedeployment_071013/