Some soldiers wary of new Iraq plan

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http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=8929

January 10th, 2007 2:40 am
Some soldiers wary of new Iraq plan

By Kristin M. Hall / Associated Press

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"My concern is what the Iraqis are doing. Are they stepping up?" said Duff, who served in Iraq in 2003.

Fresh out of basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., 19-year-old Zac McDonald said that he expects to be part of the next wave of soldiers in Iraq, and that he hopes military leaders have plans to use the new troops well.

"They have to come up with a better strategy," said McDonald, who just arrived at Fort Campbell. "More troops isn't enough."

Lt. Col. Chris Beckert of Madison, Conn., helps train U.S. soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan., and served in Iraq during the initial invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein. He agreed that there had to be a reason for boosting troop levels and a clearly defined mission.

"I needed more intelligence, not more soldiers," Beckert said.

But Brown, the master sergeant from Fort Campbell, said soldiers will continue to support military efforts in Iraq, even those who could face combat, violence and danger.

"We have people coming into training now who are fully aware that they will be deployed in harm's way," Brown said. "We can only hope our leaders will put them in the safest possible position."