Deployment orders signed for two heavy divisions - official

AFX ^

[RCW2001]

WASHINGTON (AFX) - US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has signed orders for the deployment of the 1st Armored Division and the 1st Cavalry Division as part of the US buildup against Iraq, a defense official said. The timing of the move is unclear, in part because at least some of those forces were originally destined for Turkey, whose parliament on Saturday rejected a plan for the deployment of US forces there, the official said.

"That's one of the places they were going. So that's got to be resolved first," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

The 1st Armored Division, headquartered in Weisbaden, Germany, and which led the attack on Iraq in 1991, is equipped with M-1Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, and has 17,500 troops.

About 17,000-strong, the 1st Cavalry Division also fought in the Gulf War. Based in Fort Hood, Texas, it is a heavy force that relies on the Bradley fighting vehicle.

[dalebert]

hmmmmm

[e_engineer]

Looks like were going through Syria instead of Turkey.

[Pyro7480]

Syria!!?? You mean, the terrorist state? I don't know if we have permission to go through that way. Perhaps they're headed to Jordan, and then make their way to the northeast through central Iraq to the north, in an attempt to stop retreating forces from going there. We're probably also going to send paratroopers and special forces to northern Iraq and drop them there, to help occupy and prepare the airstrips are preparing for us.

[Pyro7480]

That should read "...the Kurds are preparing for us."

[shiva]

I wonder...should this information even be in the news?

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Looks like were going through Syria instead of Turkey."

I have had the same thoughts all day.

[TSgt]

Hummmm...Such a late deployment of a heavy division...

I'm curious if we are jammed up in Turkey and this is the only way to make sure that troops get to the north of Baghdad.

I'm with you, why not Jordan? I thought we had troops there anyway?

[Petronski]

Jeeze Louise! How long is THAT going to take to deploy?

I'm patient (enough) because I trust our leadership, but it is nervewracking for this civilian to watch this ersatz Sitzkrieg unfold.

[dalebert]

All this for little old Iraqu?

[Ford Fairlane]

Jeeze Louise! How long is THAT going to take to deploy?

Not that long, thanks to the C-17

[Spruce]

CHARGE!

Go first Team!

[TSgt]

I'm with you. Maybe they don't want Kim to get lonely...

Something ain't right about this one.

[Stopislamnow]

Naw, Iran and Syria are terrorist state sponsers too.

Booya

[knak]

hey, first cav was my husbands unit!

[ABrit]

It's a lot more than Bradleys

http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/default.htm

[glorgau]

Not that long, thanks to the C-17

There aren't enough C-17's in existance to move a heavy armored divison. Perhaps if all the equipment has been pre-deployed...

[Ford Fairlane]

I never said they would get it all done in one day

Just move the important parts by air

Actually, I expect the units in Germany will go by rail thru Hungary

[x1stcav]

Get some 1st Horse.

Garry Owen!