Minnesota National Guard prepares its largest ever deployment

[indigo32]

When in the hell are we ever going to get out of there? :grr:




The head of Minnesota National Guard says the state's largest troop deployment since World War II will take place next year. More than 2,000 Minnesota citizen soldiers will ship out to the Persian Gulf with most headed for Iraq. Since the 9-11 attacks and ensuing war on terrorism, more than 3,200 Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers have been called up for full-time service. Almost 2/3rds of the troops ended up in Iraq. Others have taken up duties in countries from Afghanistan to Honduras and at US military bases, and airports here at home. Guard troops say Department of Defense efforts to keep them better informed and to provide more support for their families, are helping to ease the strain of their war-time service

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/08/08_zdechlikm_natguard/

[Montauk6]

1. Anyone ever play that game Diplomacy? (It's OK to confess your nerdiness)

I used to always get whipped like a dog in that one, because I thought I was so tough invading other countries; meanwhile, whether it was Austria-Hungary or France, someone would creep up my back door and nail me.

I bring up this odd analogy just to point out my fear that as we're deploying more and more Guardspeople, suppose someone WANTED to invade the US? What then??? The cops?

[indigo32]

2. I haven't played that game actually

but it sure does make one wonder. Guardspeople help deal with NATURAL Disasters all the time too.

[Minnesota Raindog]

3. That means more mothers like Cindy Sheehan

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/News/2005/31-40/32news01.htm

CRAWFORD — The mother of a U.S. soldier slain in Iraq was denied a face-to-face meeting with President Bush here Saturday after she walked through a ditch-like path in the August heat to the President’s Prairie Chapel Ranch.


Read more from her here:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/7/171338/7578

I hope those who voted for Junior Bush because he's such a goldarn nice guy are happy. Maybe the Bush twins will pitch in and finish Daddy's military service for him.

[Demrock6]

4. My friends little brother just signed up.......

and was shipped to training about two weeks ago. I suppose he will be just off the training wheels when they ship him over.

The kid signed up because a bunch of his friends were going to. He was the only one that made it in.

[katinmn]

5. U.S. foresees autumn rise in troop levels in Iraq

Great. Just great. Let's throw a bunch more bodies into the fire before the big pull-out. Their incompetence continues to surprise me, although it shouldn't.

The Iraqis asked for more time -- first 6 months, then 30 days -- to work out known problems with the constitution but the US said "no way." Must stay on our arbitrary schedule. Everyone goes into it knowing the Constitution, if adopted, will create even more chaos and make it an even more unhabitable place for Iraqi women.

It's one mistake after another.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050808/pl_nm/iraq_usa_troops_dc
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States expects to raise its troop levels in Iraq this fall to bolster security for the planned October constitutional referendum and December elections for a new government, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Planning for a short-term bulge in troop levels comes as U.S. commanders, according to defense officials, also are working toward cutting the current force by 20,000 to 30,000 troops next spring and summer, contingent on progress in Iraq's political process and in developing Iraqi security forces.

The increase in troops also coincides with a spike in the number of Americans killed fighting the insurgency after a U.S.-led invasion toppled President Saddam Hussein in 2003. Since July 30, at least 41 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, including 18 on Aug. 3 alone.

A Pentagon tally released on Monday listed 1,829 U.S. military deaths since the start of the war in March 2003. Another 13,700 troops have been wounded in action.