National Guard Will Play More Prominent Role in Next Iraq Rotation

[Blackaxe]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Citizen soldiers of the Army National Guard, which has suffered increasing casualties in Iraq in recent months, will assume a notably more prominent role in the next rotation of U.S. combat forces into Iraq beginning late this year, officials said Thursday.

The number of National Guard brigades in Iraq will grow from three to five, and for the first time in Iraq a National Guard division headquarters will command active-duty brigades.

Under the command of the 42nd Infantry Division of the New York Army National Guard will be two brigades of the active duty 3rd Infantry Division as well as the 256th Infantry Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard.

Overall, National Guard and Reserve forces will make up 42 percent or 43 percent of the total force in Iraq, the director of operations for the Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, told Congress on Wednesday. That compares with a 39 percent share presently and 25 percent last year, he said.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBQKX8FFWD.html

[FlashHarry]

1. Er, I thought the Guard was already stretched to the limit.

At least according to the general giving testimony before the House committee.

[2Design]

2. this is so wrong.....those who have signed on for life and get

lots of perks should be over there. the national guard belongs at home. This is a draft, the worse kind.

[AlCzervik]

3. Their already 40% of the troops there now

how much more prominent will they get?

[Bandit]

4. Do you think National Guardsmen are all Pro Bush* like regular Military?

:shrug: I somehow doubt it.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Ah yes, keeping the "homeland" safe...on the other side of the world

koMMandEr-in-chimp George aWol Bush* really knows what IT is all about. Not.

* AWOL for over a year while honor-bound by solemn oath to be serving with the Texas Air National Guard in the 1970s; defeated by a clear majority of patriotic and discerning American voters in the 2000 election; selected to office by the "legal" system; asleep at the wheel and befuddled on 9/11.

[Lars39]

6. Way back when I first read about PNAC,

and realized that the PNACers' aim was to attack one country after another, I realized that the soldiers over there were there for the duration; that they weren't ever going to let them come home. :cry: