Nat'l Guard, Reserve to Take Iraq Combat

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-fresh-forces,0,2896759.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

WASHINGTON -- The National Guard and Reserve will take on more of the combat burden in Iraq next year, replacing some Army troops with a smaller, lighter and more mobile force equipped with fewer tanks and more Humvees.

Nearly 40 percent of the American forces in Iraq will be from the National Guard and Reserve after the Pentagon completes a massive switchout of troops starting in January -- up from about 20 percent now.

Three National Guard infantry brigades will go, at least two of them slated for combat duties.

Overall, the Pentagon's plan for replacing the 130,000 American troops in Iraq with a fresh contingent will shrink the force by 20 percent and result in a more mobile force, perhaps better suited to the guerrilla war that has been taking a sobering toll in U.S. deaths and injuries.

The first changes will be seen even before the newly designated replacement force gets there. A contingent of 5,000 soldiers in a combat team called the Stryker Brigade, from Fort Lewis, Wash., is training in Kuwait in preparation for duty in Iraq. They are equipped with a new, speedier, lightly armored troop carrier and sophisticated communications tools to enable soldiers to locate guerrilla threats.
<snip>

This doesn't sound that good. Already the number of "non-hostile" deaths is high. Now, with lesser trained troops taking over, I'm worried that we may see an increase.

[htuttle]

1. The Charge of the Stryker Brigade

If they ever end up in real combat with those things, it could be a massacre. On our side, that is. Strykers are coffins on wheels.

[terrisel]

2. The Third Iraq War

We already lost the 2nd. This is the 3rd Iraq War and we are increasingly fighting directly against all the Iraqis-not only Saddam Hussein's Baathists.

They are going to fight as hard for their country as we would fight for ours against an occupying force. And when we ask ourselves what we are doing there, we aren't going to have a good answer.

[BlackFrancis]

7. gun doesn't shoot, tires go flat, has shitty armor, will suffocate you..

other than that the thing is tip top :shrug:

[Bandit]

3. Well let's just hope there are no major huricanes or earthquakes

or riots or floods or any number of things the National Guard is trained and equiped to handle. They are not and never have been designed as active combatants like active duty soldiers are. They only have week-end training and hand me down equipment. I pity our country for the abuse it is being put under. But the Republicans are sure showing those Democrats a thing or two. Lord have mercy on our soul.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. As far as the Junta is concerned, the National Guard are place-keepers...

...while the frontline units are used to invade the next country. The draft in 2005 should add to the overall air of excitement, don't you think?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. This is not a good plan...

...unless you're the Junta and you need the frontline Army troops for the invasion of the next Middle Eastern country on the list. Then, of course, it's the best plan possible.

Who's next? Bring'em on!!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. This the "new, speedier, lightly armored troop carrier"...

Army Announces Name For Interim Armored Vehicle
<http://www.army.mil/features/stryker/default.htm>