CNN: Pentagon plans to extend tour for soldiers and Marines, also activate additional National Guard

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will say failure is unacceptable in Iraq and call for between 21,000 and 24,000 additional troops during his 20 minute prime-time address to the nation Wednesday, White House officials said.

Five additional Army brigades -- each with between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers -- will be sent to nine districts in Baghdad -- the first additional brigade slated to head to Iraq at the end of this month. In addition, 4,000 Marines will be deployed to Anbar province in Western Iraq, the White House told reporters.

To account for the additional troops, the Pentagon plans to extend the normal tour of duty for soldiers and Marines by between three and four months. The Pentagon will also activate additional National Guard and reserve units.

[Virginia Dare]

1. He is virtually the only one in the country, and possibly the world

who hasn't accepted that Iraq is a failure of epic proportions. There is no way to get it back now. What possible good could 20,000 or even 25,000 more soldiers do?

You're a failure George W. Bush, accept it, get over it, and then get yourself and the rest of your band of thugs and thieves out of the way so real leaders can take over.

[Little Wing]

2. They can't even hold Bagdad. Yep, Mission Accomplished

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. He Will Destroy This Country's Military Future Before He's Done

NOBODY is going to want to enlist for a LONG, LONG, LONG Time after this. Recruitment is already anemic, and it will only get worse.

He's going to extend these guys to their limits, and he's going to deplete the National Guard along the way as well. The NG are going to have an extremely difficult time recruiting as well, and he may destroy them also.

[Longhorn]

4. This has already started.

I have a friend who got out of the Marines almost three years ago. He was notified a few months ago that he is to attend a muster this month detailing how he will be called back into service in May. I read the email. He was told they were giving him advance notice so that he would have time to get his life in order. He's been going to community college and transfers next week to a university -- apparently for one semester before he goes back in. :(

My son is a Marine who is supposed to get out in October but he has asked for an "early out" so that he can attend college in August. I worry that they won't let him out. :(

[Binka]

14. They Are Sending Ben Back In March

I guess a near death experience wasn't enough blood for them. I can barely stand to even listen to the BULLSHIT anymore. Of course Ben is conflicted and has survivors guilt, they are making sure to spoon feed him the propaganda. I am SICK with worry and grief. :cry:

[Karenina]

17. OH BINKS!!! NOOOO!!!

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[Binka]

18. All The Blue Green Algae & Health Foods Healed Him Too Quickly

And the fact that his best buddy was killed one WEEK before the 3/7 was to ship out of Iraq, have played right into the hands of the USMC to convince him he HAS to go back and "do the right thing." We fought about it over Thanksgiving but there is only so much a mothers words can mean to a head strong 25 year old.

Look at this beautiful kid with a chest full of medals and yet they want to send him back to HELL.

[Karenina]

19. Of course his mom healed him

that he may live. He must come to understand that the "Command" controlling him has a vested interest in his death. ONLY HE can come to that realization. We moms can present our shipping containers of evidence but must wait until they are ready to examine them and HEAR US. :cry:

[Marrah_G]

15. Try ten+ years

My brother flew to the middle east Sunday after being retired for 10+ Years. They gave him apx a month notice that he would be deployed for a year. He has a wife and 5 children, children he waited to have until after he retired so he would be there for them. This madman must be stopped before he destroys our military and the future security of our children.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Question: What is a "normal tour"

It says they plan to extend it by 3-4 months, but doesn't say how long a tour is. :shrug:

[DrDan]

8. it can be different lengths

I know the Army and the Marines are different

[peacebaby3]

9. The Army started out at 12 months, then they made it 18 months. I believe

the Marines are currently 8 months. The Army Rangers may be different, not sure.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Wow. No wonder he's losing troop support

He is such a disaster! :argh:

[AndyA]

6. George Bush needs to be stopped. He isn't listening to the experts.

He is replacing them if they don't tell him what he wants to hear. The American people have said no more, get the troops home. Yet he ignores us.

The commanders on the ground have said this is not the solution, and Bush replaces them with puppets who will say what he wants them to say.

I hope our newly elected Congress will stand firm and put a stop to this madness and nonsense. The reason they are all in office should be very fresh in their minds, and it is not so that they can put more of our troops in harm's way.

[warrens]

7. Where are the College Republicans? Free Republic? Right-wing bloggers? Rush?

Hell, there should be 20,000 volunteers right there

[peacebaby3]

10. Amen! n/t

[Lowell]

16. They can't all be typist and clerks

they are looking for boots on the ground.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. "Liberals throw money at problems." Bush throws bodies.

[Nutmegger]

13. DECLEAR VICTORY AND LEAVE!

Cut the funding now!

[bigtree]

20. diggin in