Army secretary rejects longer Iraq tours

[unhappycamper]

Army secretary rejects longer Iraq tours
By ROBERT BURNS and LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writers
Thu Aug 23, 7:59 PM ET


WASHINGTON - The Army's top civilian leader said Thursday he sees "no possibility" of extending soldiers' 15-month Iraq tours, reflecting concern about mounting strains on soldiers and their families as well as an emerging expectation that the troop buildup in Iraq can be reversed next year.

In an Associated Press interview, Army Secretary Pete Geren said that regardless of near-term changes in Iraq, the Army must find new ways to adjust to the pressures of engaging in a global war against extremism, which he described as a "persistent conflict" that could last two decades.

"Persistent conflict is a given," he said in his first extensive interview since becoming Army secretary in July.

~snip~

After ruling out longer deployments, Geren would not say what options are under consideration to maintain current troop levels beyond spring of 2008 if the Army is asked to do so.

"We'd have to look at the whole range of options," he said. "I don't want to speculate on how we would meet the demand that combatant commanders might make next year but we're looking at all the options to meet what that demand might be."


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uhc comment: Well, fuck me in the heart. These assholes are finally admitting something we've known for a long time. Suicides, desertions, resisters, and generally fucked up people are a result of war.