10,000 Troops Get Iraq Extension Into Next Year

AP ^

[Joe Hadenuf]

This has the potential to be a very serious degradation of our military. You can't keep screwing with the troops by extensions and unexpected family separation without a massive exodus from the ranks. I was quite unhappy with Clinton for over committing our military and Bush is now surpassing Clinton in that area.

I couldn't agree more. You could offer these guys 5,000 dollar bonuses, and they'd turn it down in a minute to go home.

Been there done that.

Good post.

[xzins]

January 04 at time of departure...told they'd be gone 12-14 months. (From Jan 04 until ~Jan-Mar 04.)

Approx. Jun/Jul 04...told of a date change and early return, December 04

October 04, .... told they were "extended" to January (actually return to original plan.)

Now, Dec 04, ... Could be as late as March before return.

[Happy2BMe]

Erp . . 04?

Must be nice.

My trooper started in '03 (still gone).

[xzins]

SpecOps?

[Happy2BMe]

Just advance party. It has the added bennies of also being the last ones out.

[xzins]

I guess some are just lucky. :>)

Chin up...we're praying for you.

(My son's been there since last Feb.)

[Happy2BMe]

God is able. More than able.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Continued prayers for God's guiding hand.

[SausageDog]

"I don't have much sympathy for troops who have their tours extended. They knew what they were in for when they joined up,"

I'm not so sure about that. Your typical National Guard guy naturally thought the nation he would be be guarding would be the United States, as against a foreign invasion. So he figured, "I'll drill one weekend a month, do my two weeks active duty a year, and if the foreign invasion comes, I'll be ready." He wasn't figuring on something like this.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

In post 34 you said: "The war has been won. What we are doing now is more like babysitting than fighting a battle for survival like WWII was."

Then in post 35 you said: "The terrorists will still be bombing, the militias will still be fighting."

You are suggesting that terrorists bombing and terrorists (militants) fighting is equal to babysitting.

By the way, this is the war on Terrorism. Until terrorism is defeated the war is not over.

[TheCrusader]

"Juan usually makes a good soldier."

Of that I have no doubt whatsoever. But I was replying to quite another question, which was: "When will we be united again and start singing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Hurrah"?

My point wasn't that Juan, Guptah, Mfumbe, Chen and Kareem aren't great soldiers, it was just to illustrate that it will be impossible for America to feel as united as we once were, back when for most Americans "Johnny" was their son, their brother, their husband, or their neighbor. I simply do not believe that all this radical diversity of philosophy, culture, religious beliefs, politics and heritage is conducive to national unity. For true unity people of a nation need more in common with each other than standing on the same dirt. The truth is that it would make me happy to be wrong in this belief, but I see unity and patriotism on the wane. My prayer is that a deep Christian faith will return again, from sea to shining sea. I believe that faith is what used to unite us, and the anti-Christian forces out there are what's dividing us.

[TheCrusader]

"Don't forget those that were DRAFTED! There was plenty of anti-war, pacifism, and neutrality seekers then"

True, but bear in mind that the draft didn't create a big emmigration to Canada or anti-war protests all over the country. Nor did it create a hatred for Presidents Roosevelt or Truman. There will always be people who are opposed to war, but today, (unlike back then), these folks find it necessary to viciously attack our President, try to destroy our military's reputation and morale, and divide and weaken our nation. Because America was more closely knit back then, people just would not get away with this sort of treacherous behavior.

[blaquebyrd]

"I don't understand why he thinks elections will make a significant difference. The terrorists will still be bombing, the militias will still be fighting.

We went through the same wishful thinking when we "negotiated" with Al Sadr. We thought once he laid down his arms the violence would subside. It didn't. Then when Bremer handed the keys to Allawi in the middle of the night we expected the violence to subside. It didn't. Now we're hanging our hat on the January election thinking that once the Iraqis vote the terrorist will just walk away. We need to wake up and understand that these terrorists will continue to fight as long as we have boots on the ground in their country. The election won't make a difference.

[xzins]

Thanks, DrE.

[katieanna]

I'm glad my dear cousin is still set to come home March 1st. My heart and prayers to those who have to stay longer.

[monday]

"Your typical National Guard guy naturally thought the nation he would be be guarding would be the United States, as against a foreign invasion."

Except the US has NEVER been invaded in the modern era. All wars are fought in some he!! hole far from the US. When you join the military, you shouldn't expect to be treated fairly. The military OWNS YOU. I guess this is a surprise to many people. Not sure why?

[monday]

"You are suggesting that terrorists bombing and terrorists (militants) fighting is equal to babysitting."

Yes. We are providing security for people who should be providing security for themselves. If the Iraqi people want freedom and democracy don't you think it is time they stepped up to the plate and took care of it themselves?

We have done all the heavy lifting by getting rid of Saddam. So yes, we are babysitting a people who are too primitive to take care of themselves. Unfortunately, they show few signs of growing up, so all indications are that we will continue to be babysitting them for the foreseeable future.

you said; "By the way, this is the war on Terrorism. Until terrorism is defeated the war is not over."

The "war on terrorism" isn't really a war. It is like the "war on drugs" or the "war on poverty". Wars are fought with armies. Unfortunately, you cannot defeat a social problem with an army.

Just as there will always be people who refuse to work, or who insist on using recreational drugs, there will always be people who are willing to kill for some cause, ideology, or religion. Kill one terrorist here and another will pop up over there.

As with other social problems, one must keep up the pressure on the law breakers, and educate those at risk about the dangers of religious fanaticism, but armies usually do more harm than good in fighting terrorism.

It is natural for people to hate those who kill their uncle or knock down their house. The US army is killing a lot of uncles and knocking down lots of houses these days. In that respect we are playing into the terrorists hands. Doing their recruiting for them.

[M 91 u2 K]

This is ridiculous the concept of individual freedom and democracy is foreign to the Muslim World!

Remember we were told once Saddam is caught things would turn around, and then once we take Fallujah things would turn around!

We should just put in place a Dictator like the Shah of Iran who is on our side to destroy the Radical Muslim uprising!

[RockinRight]

As a whole, I agree with you. However, isn't Indonesia a relatively succesful democracy?

[M 91 u2 K]

By the way, this is the war on Terrorism. Until terrorism is defeated the war is not over.

There isnt a War on Terrorism. That is the equivalent of saying in WW2 we are in a War against Blitzkrieg!

The enemy is Radical Islam!