Defense official: 1st wave of additional troops will go to Iraq by end of month

[Roon]

Breaking on http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

[magellan]

1. Who are these unfortunate soldiers?

Where are they coming from? Or is that a national secret too?

[iconoclastic cat]

7. One is from the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago.

My brother-in-law, shipping out in that first round. Gee, we're thrilled.

[magellan]

12. Oh, I'm so sorry

Is this his first time or an additional tour?

[iconoclastic cat]

14. First time.

You want to know how optimistic he is? He broke off his engagement to his girlfriend over Christmas.

[magellan]

16. OMG

That's heartbreaking. Why, why did he sign up?

[iconoclastic cat]

17. That's complicated.

For various reasons, he felt that the military was his only option for getting his life together. He's had a lot of issues, and circumstances occurred which led him to this decision. The family was not included (nor was poor Michelle, the gf). My personal opinion is that he felt he had hit rock bottom and was depressed to the point that he thought this was his best option. It's kind of like that move, The Razor's Edge.

[magellan]

18. I understand

My brother joined the Marines 20 years ago for similar reasons. They didn't keep him; shin splints. He was even more depressed when he returned home. I doubt they discharge recruits for such things now.

My heart goes out to all of your family, most especially your bil and his girlfriend in hopes of his safe return and a renewed engagement. :hug:

[iconoclastic cat]

21. Thanks. It is tough, but we're hopeful.

With any luck, the citizens of this country will be able to pull the plug on the war and impeach Bush before anything happens to my brother in law or anyone else.

[rodeodance]

22. how sad

[fidgeting wildly]

23. I'm so sorry. My little brother ships out next month.

He's from Texas. Turned 18 in August, ships out in Feb. He's a good kid who had it rough growing up, and he thought he could make something of himself in the Army. I tried to talk him out of joining, but he wasn't interested in taking advice from his square older sister. :(

[shadowknows69]

8. There's some going out of our base on the 27th

thought it was just replacements but who knows.

[maxrandb]

35. Some of them are unfortunate "Sailors".

The Navy is on the hook for quite a bunch of what we call "Individual Augmentees" IA's.

[bdamomma]

2. bush does not give a shit who is telling him NO

we have a big problem and we have to stop this man.

[qwlauren35]

36. A recent article in CNN suggests

that the majority of Democrats in congress are NOT prepared to refuse Bush the right to send troops. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/10/us.iraq/index.html

It is a tenuous issue of law. The president IS the Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces. For Congress to attempt to undermine a president's authority in this matter is probably unconstitutional, and an alarming precedent.

Nor could you impeach him on the grounds of using his powers of Commander in Chief to deploy troops as he and his advisors see fit.

Please don't misunderstand. I am against this deployment/surge. I am against funding "Military Activities in Iraq".

But I'm not in Congress, and I didn't write the Constitution.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Defense official: 1st wave of additional corpses will come home...

by the beginning of Febuary.

[magellan]

6. Did he give a year?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. 2007.

[magellan]

13. Sorry, I misread your original subject line

I didn't see 'corpses'. But of course that's a given, damn Bush**.

[whistle]

4. Bush/Cheney troop escalation is a done deal then

[Megahurtz]

5. Oh Crap!

Now what are they doing???:nuke:

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Where are these troops coming from?

We don't have enough as it is. Has the Junta started a secret draft, or are they pulling soldiers out of their asses (like they do with so much else)?

[shadowknows69]

11. People are still signing up for this madness

I'm meeting a LOT of new troops right out of basic.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[coalition_unwilling]

15. In Los Angeles, there are anecdotal reports (unconfirmed and

smelling a bit of 'urgan legend') that military recruiters are going south of border and promising green cards and U.S. citizenship to anyone willing to sign up.

[54anickel]

20. Official: First wave of troops to Iraq by Jan. 30

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16546093/from/RS.1/

WASHINGTON - A first wave of additional U.S. troops will go into Iraq before the end of the month under President Bush’s new plan, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

Up to 20,000 troops will be put on alert and be prepared to deploy under the president’s plan, but the increase in forces on the ground will be gradual, said the official, who requested anonymity because the plans have not yet been announced.

Moving first would be the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which is in Kuwait and poised to deploy quickly into Iraq.

more...

[Junkdrawer]

24. Official: First wave of troops to Iraq by Jan. 31

Responsibility for security shifts to Iraqis by November, another says

WASHINGTON - The latest draft of the new strategy for Iraq that President will Bush will lay out Wednesday calls for an increase of more than 20,000 troops, with most going to Baghdad and 4,000 to Anbar province, one senior official said Tuesday.

The first wave of additional U.S. troops will go into Iraq before the end of the month under Bush’s revised plan, said the official, who requested anonymity because the plans have not yet been announced.

The plan also calls for responsibility for security for all the country's provinces to be turned over to Iraqi forces by November, said another official, also speaking on condition of anonymity. Bush is due to unveil his plan in a speech Wednesday evening.

Moving first would be the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which is in Kuwait and poised to deploy quickly into Iraq.

...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16546093/

[Junkdrawer]

25. Globalsecurity.org is predicting an Iran strike in early February ...

The year 2007 begins to mark the closing of the window of opportunity for military strikes against Iran.

CBS News reported on 18 December 2006 that the Bush administration has decided to ramp up the naval presence in the Persian Gulf to send a message to Tehran. CBS reported that an additional aircraft carrier would be added to the Gulf contingent in January 2007, arriving on station around 01 February 2007. The New York Times reported 20 December 2006 that the Bremerton-based aircraft carrier CVN-74 John C. Stennis and its strike group could leave weeks earlier than planned as part of a move to increase the U.S. military presence in and around the Middle East. Moving up the Stennis’ departure date in January 2006 allows a longer overlap with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the carrier currently in the Persian Gulf. Eisenhower deployed 01 October 2006, and could remain on station into March 2007. It is difficult for one Carrier Air Wing to conduct flight operations for much more than about 12 hours before having to stop. However, with the combined striking power of two CVWs, the Carrier Task Force (CTF) is able to conduct air operations over a continuous 24-hour cycle.

If the White House is politically risk averse with reference to striking Iran, striking Iran in early February 2007 would allow the maximum time betweeenr the strikes and the 2008 Presidential election.

...



http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iran-timeline.htm#070201

[Imagevision]

26. It appears that Bush will pull another Gulf Of tonkin Incident

Bush to announce false claims that Iran attacked US.airplanes or/and US. ships causing a military response. current "suge/escalation in Iraq war is a shill.

[Junkdrawer]

27. Christ, the ships are packed so tight in the Strait of Hormuz...

that US subs are colliding with oil tankers...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3073717

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

28. A few truth seeking questions by the corporate media would make all the difference.

Right now, they're all tiptoeing around the question.

If an "incident" occurs, will they ask the right questions, rather than buy the WH assertions?

The cabal is acting just like the cornered, rabid animal we knew it would be. MKJ

[HockeyMom]

29. Oh, I agree

I simply do not think for one minute that "surge" is for Iraq. I think it is merely putting the pieces (troops) in place for an attack by Israel on IRAN. Israel will start the bombing, not us. We will provide the back up. Sooner rather than later, too.

[Monkeyman]

30. Your right Israel will attack Iran will hit our troops bing bang boom

[Ghost Dog]

32. And, of course, the necessary air corridors, right?

Look at the map.

[Barrett808]

31. I just don't think the Bush mob has the wherewithal to pull a Gulf of Tonkin

Back in 2001, sure. But today, their "mob capital" is spent. Maybe they're hoping Iran will attack, but I just don't think they have the goodwill of the intelligence community anymore. A "Gulf of Tonkin" in the Persian Gulf would be immediately revealed by disaffected CIA folks.

Or so I hope.

[superconnected]

33. Dumb suckers.

[LynnTheDem]

34. Murdering, stupid, SOBs.

At least ALL Americans will know EXACTLY who to blame for this fuck-up when it fucks up.

Americans said HELL NO.

Dems said HELL NO.

Commanders on the ground said HELL NO.

Commanders state-side said FUCKING HELL NO.

Experts said ARE YOU CRAZY HELL NO!

GEORGE W. bUSH said fuck you, I'm escalating.