First wave of troops will go to Iraq by month's end

[uppityperson]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003516678_webiraqannounce09.html

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 today.

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 move quickly into Iraq.

Details of the plan were emerging a day before Bush was to address the nation on his broad initiative to shore up the fragile country, and they came as members of Congress kept up vocal opposition to any major escalation in the nearly four-year-old war.

Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he expects Bush to announce that up to 20,000 additional troops will be sent to Iraq but not to say how long the extra forces will be there. Levin, who spoke to reporters a day after meeting with White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley, said he believes Bush will signal that the overall U.S. commitment in Iraq is not open-ended....(more@ link)

[Monkeyman]

1. Chimp has made his mind up opps mistake what mind

[babylonsister]

2. And ironically, David Gregory just said the wh says the surge

would be gradual. I am SO SICK of being lied to!

[Monkeyman]

3. Its just the start this is Vietnam all over again unless we cut the funds

[babylonsister]

4. Senator Kennedy said as much today; I'm glad our Dems are

speaking out.

[MzNov]

6. Good old Teddy Kennedy. He's just been waiting patiently to

get Bush! It's going to be fun to watch. Hold on to your seats kiddies, Bush's free ride is about to end.

And watch LIEberman show his true colors. He's just waiting to announce his conversion to the Republican Party. A true traitor.


:dem:

[babylonsister]

9. Yes, I saw Kennedy going off today; it was fun! nt

[Imagevision]

5. Bush has authorized the moving of troops out of Afgan to Iraq already!!!!

Ships have already left for the middle east departing from Norfolk VA. and san Diego last week!

[Monkeyman]

7. 82nd and 173rd Airborne is on its way be in country by end of week

[ProgressiveFool]

8. a "gradual surge"?

Sorry, but that's an oxymoron. To go with all of their other morans.

[Junkdrawer]

10. 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

[Jim Warren]

11. A complete FUBAR

20,000 troops? What are 20,000 more troops going to accomplish besides get that many more killed. This is complete nonsense and they know it. In the early going the now-put-out-to-pasture Pentagon brass were estimating something like 450,000 trrops needed to occupy the country.

This is an obvious ploy, what is not yet clear is what is their real objective here.

[cwydro]

12. This makes me feel sick.

Really.

[spanone]

13. Ol general george is gonna ram it thru before Congress knows what hit 'em.

[cwydro]

14. Yeah,

which is also making me feel sick.