Army readying 10,000 troops for Iraq duty if requested,

[spindrifter]

DOD official says

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, January 5, 2007

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Army is prepared to send about 10,000 extra troops to Iraq if requested by President Bush, a defense official said Thursday.

Bush is expected to announce his new plan for Iraq next week, and that may include sending more troops to the war zone or extending troops already there. The defense official confirmed earlier reports by CBS News and The Associated Press that the Defense Department was ready to send the extra troops. The reports said up to 9,000 troops would be added, with about 7,000 going into Baghdad, and roughly 1,500 slated for Anbar province.

<snip>

If the president orders a surge, the Army could send two to three brigade combat teams, which may include the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which received orders last week to head to Kuwait as the next call-forward force, the defense official said.

Meanwhile, about 2,200 Marines and sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit now in Iraq could be extended, said the unit’s commander, Col. Brian Beaudreault, on Thursday.

<more>

http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=42575

[bluewave]

1. Matthews flabergasted at why the Dems don't stop this

I mean, they can end this whenever they want right? Pelosi commands the military not Bush... right? /sarc

[AnnieBW]

2. Oh, Frak...

I'm worried about the two Army Majors in my grad school class. Both have been to the Big Litterbox at least once. One of them, a woman, is really smart and will hopefully have stars in her future - provided she survives the * wars.