Entire Third Division may go back to Iraq (20,000 soldiers for 3rd tour)

[Barrett808]

Entire Third Division may go back to Iraq
Sean Harder

FORT STEWART - Most of the 3rd Infantry Division's 20,000 soldiers likely will return for a third combat tour in Iraq in 2007, the division's commander said Tuesday.

"Given today's conditions, by next fall the division will be back in Iraq," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch during a luncheon briefing with local reporters.

Unlike its previous two combat tours, however, the Army division will not deploy all at once. Its four combat brigades, now designed as independent fighting units, will go separately and be plugged into existing command structures wherever they are needed in Iraq.

About 4,000 soldiers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team already have orders to begin a yearlong deployment in mid January. Lynch declined to say where the brigade will operate in Iraq.

The 3rd Brigade, based at Fort Benning in Columbus, would be next to deploy, possibly as early as spring.

(more)

http://new.savannahnow.com/node/170248

[TexasLawyer]

1. kick n/t

[Betty]

2. No need to increase troop levels or have a draft

because we'll just keep using the same people over and over. And I do mean "use". Support the troops my ass.

[Zodiak]

3. Read the whole article

That two-star general repeated the BushCo line that the Iraqis are killng Americans to influence our elections. Cute that the general decided to spout a political point as his men are going to be sent into the meatgrinder all over again.

Listen to the language

"Lynch repeated a claim made by Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday that increasing violence in Iraq is intended to influence the outcome of next week's midterm elections in which Republicans are struggling to keep control of Congress.

As of Tuesday, there were 103 U.S. service members killed in Iraq, making October the deadliest month for American forces since January of 2005.

"I believe that's what is happening," Lynch said. "The reason we're seeing increased fatalities is not because he (the enemy) is becoming more effective, or has more resources. He just chose now to concentrate ... to try to influence the elections.

"I'm not sure they care whether it's a Democrat-controlled Congress or a Republican Congress, they just want the American people to say 'enough is enough' and, as a result, all the soldiers come home."


In my opinion, the General's statements are incredibly disrespectful of the American people and the soldiers under his command. For one, his job is to follow orders and make tactical decisions, not make political points (notice how he forgot the "ic" in Democratic). Second, I think his statement indicates that he understands little of the motivations of the Iraqi people, and as such, is unfit to command his group of men who were just ordered into that hell-hole.

[hatrack]

6. No, those stupid, silly Iraqis wouldn't become more effective, would they, General?

They've learned nothing in going on four years of learning how to fight us. They're just ineffective, hapless brown people, aren't they?

Lynch is a clueless twit, horching up political hairballs and offering them to us as canapes. Unbelievable.

[Rose Siding]

8. GEEZE! So if they aren't more effective or possessing of more

resources, then what? They were TOO NICE to do this before? I thought they are terrorists without disregard for life who hate freedom so what was STOPPING them?

That officer is totally politicized.

[saigon68]

4. Drinking the KOOL AID

Why would anyone join the armed forces today?

except those with a desire for revenge or a desire to kill a few "Fan Belt Wearers"

[Subdivisions]

10. Excitement and adventure? ...with a gun....

[brentspeak]

5. The re-usable, re-abusable troops -- stiffed again. Bush: "But didja hear what Kerry said...?"

[Infinite Hope]

7. How do we know who is in that?

My brother was nearly killed the first time and really don't want to see him going back.

[Subdivisions]

9. Ahhh...CRAP! That will mean another tour

for my cousin Kelli. She is a veteran of the Iraq invasion and has been to Fallujah and Baghdad.

I was afraid for her then. The thought of her going back is terrifying.

[saigon68]

12. And Yet ---- they keep re-enlisting

I am out of patience with the support the troops bullshit

For What? So they can go back and kill some more?

[thingfisher]

14. I agree...

it is getting difficult to portray an imperial army of occupation as the defenders of freedom and democracy. Even the American soldier is beginning to sense this cognitive dissonance. Will our troops be expected to serve for the long haul with no relief? There are a lot of unhappy troops in Iraq and htey aren't getting nay happier. The enlistment offices are not overflowing with recruits either. So... maybe a draft is next? That would sure mobilize the anti-war effort!

[Infinite Hope]

15. You don't understand...

Their tours don't coincide with their enlistment date, especially for those who enlisted in the National Guard who joined at random times during High School or otherwise. My brother's enlistment ended last November, for example. Though his tour was not up until December. So he had to reenlist in order to continue being paid the same and receiving benefits. His family couldn't afford otherwise. So they reenlist for a minimum of 1 year and then they risk being sent back.

[happyslug]

18. That's NOT the law...

If your enlistment is up it is up, if you can not leave your enlistment is NOT up. It is a basic concept. Now your enlistment papers often says you can be kept in the military till the rotation is up, but at the end of the deployment, you are released. YOU GET PAID FOR THAT TIME PERIOD EVEN IF YOU DO NOT RE-ENLIST. Your Family is entitled to any benefit as long as you are deployed. This sounds like an attempt to keep people in by tricking them to re-enlist. Remember once you re-enlist the law puts the burden on the enlistee to show he was tricked of was lied to (and even then the enlistee has to show HOW he was tricked given that the enlistment form clearly says they are no terms other than what is on the enlistment form). Sorry, this sounds more like an effort by officer corp to try to keep as many enlistees in the service as they can, even if they have to lie to the troops.

[saigon68]

22. Oh Yes I do Understand

They Re-up for the bennies---get killed and expect us to feel sorry for them

Meanwhile they aid the Chimp in his crusade to make the Halliburton stockholders rich

YUP I DO UNDERSTAND.

[knitter4democracy]

20. I'm sorry.

Is there anything she'll need or any help we can give? I'm late on my helmet liners, but I could add her to my list--I have some great black wool, soft and gorgeous, just waiting to be knitted up.

[roamer65]

23. I have no doubt the military is lying to re-enlistees...

as much as they are to new recruits.:(

[Supersedeas]

11. Does this deserve another sarcastic banner about Kerry and being stuck???

[underpants]

13. Soldier you have officially been "Marned"

3d ID is the Marne Division. Trust me I know I was Marned several times and in several ways.

[BrotherBuzz]

16. Some elements of the 3rd Infantry Division...

have roots that go back to the 92nd 'Buffalo' Infantry Division. I know because I was one, and my unit is making their third tour back to that hellhole. Scut work is the Combat Engineer's middle name.

[brentspeak]

17. Is that combo of "warned" and "mobilized"?

[Recursion]

19. DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!!

Unlike its previous two combat tours, however, the Army division will not deploy all at once. Its four combat brigades, now designed as independent fighting units, will go separately and be plugged into existing command structures wherever they are needed in Iraq.

:wow:

:wow:

We're splitting up a Division to plug the gaps we're taking through casualties and attrition?

This is very, very, very bad.

[TheBaldyMan]

21. most of the shortfall is because soldiers are leaving after being stop-lossed to hell

they have been used, abused, ignored and they still can't get the best body armour because some crooks on the procurement committee are taking backhanders.

Is this supporting the troops, my arse.

The people leaving are long serving and experienced, exactly the kind of people you want to keep in the armed forces. They can get a huge payrise if they go to some 'security consultancy firm', they can afford better equipment as well.