CNN-3500 troops being called up for Iraq.. (it was unexpected)

[SoCalDem]

They will go after Xmas.. Fort Bragg soldiers
They are National Guard units..

Washington state troops scheduled to go, decided not to go.. (needed more training.)

[NoPasaran]

1. So soon after our latest victory?

No doubt they are needed to help clean up all those flowers the Iraqis must surely be throwing now. </sarcasm>

[CMT]

2. What??

but the capture of Saddam meant that everything was coming up roses.

[SoCalDem]

4. The part I found interesting was the Washington state angle..

Perhaps whoever's in charge there, decided that they were not willing to send targets to Iraq.. I wonder how many other state officials will "Just say NO "

[kaitykaity]

3. Fort Vancouver WA

She was a civilian who worked with servicemember
families on dependant benefits. She saw my
"Dean in '04" button that I have hanging on my
purse, and boy did she start talking to me about
politics.

"Our area is the Far East, Korea, Japan, and we've
got a 100 guys in Iraq. We don't have anybody
else to send. And Regular Army is going to
lose 37% of the folks up for reenlistment."

She brought up the stop-loss as the only thing keeping
the force levels of Reserves and National Guard at
their current levels.

It was an eye-opening conversation.

[Robb]

5. I'll bet it was. nt