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Reservists Called Up In Build-Up For Iraq
The Telegraph ^ | 7-19-2002 | Michael Smith

Posted on 07/18/2002 6:01:29 PM PDT by blam

Reservists called up in build-up for Iraq

By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 19/07/2002)

The Ministry of Defence is planning a mass mobilisation of key reservists beginning in September, heightening expectation that the United States and Britain are stepping up preparations for an attack on Iraq.

British troops have also been pulled out of Nato's ACE Mobile Force rapid reaction corps and British involvement in a large number of exercises has been cancelled or scaled down to leave troops ready for the attack on Iraq.

The Prime Minister has strongly backed the idea of a pre-emptive strike on Iraq and refused to commit the Government to a vote in the House of Commons on the deployment of British forces.

British military planners are working on the basis that Britain will provide a very large force, including an armoured division, a naval task force and substantial numbers of combat aircraft.

The decision to pull out of the Nato rapid reaction force was taken at the same time as it was announced that the bulk of British forces were being withdrawn from Afghanistan and Bosnia.

It means that the 1,500 British troops previously earmarked for the force will not now be taking part in two major exercises this autumn, in Germany and Ukraine.

In another move to free forces for an attack on Iraq, 3,000 members of Britain's main fighting force, 1 (UK) Armoured Division, have been withdrawn from a tank exercise in Poland. The MoD insisted that no decision had been made on Iraq but did not deny that planning was under way. "Any government department has contingency plans," a spokesman said.

Defence sources said the reservists who would be called up would cover key shortages such as pilots, medical staff, special forces, intelligence and signals.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: buildup; iraq; reservists
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To: blam
This time, let's keep the oil fields.
41 posted on 07/20/2002 10:01:52 AM PDT by Consort
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To: Lady In Blue
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!
42 posted on 07/20/2002 2:10:13 PM PDT by blackie
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To: Paleo Conservative
Wouldn't the DemocRATS be mad if Iraq were totally crushed a week before the mid-term elections.

Yeah, that'd be a darn shame wouldn't it?

You want an October Surprise, RATS? Well, this time you're GETTING ONE!

43 posted on 07/20/2002 2:12:46 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: RightWhale
It's more than a rule. The gummint is about to crack down on this, and they watch FR as does the rest of the decision-making world.

They won't care if we talk about it if's just been published in one of the biggest papers in the US or UK. Iraq has Internet access too, and once the cat's out of the bag, it's out of the bag.

44 posted on 07/20/2002 2:16:24 PM PDT by Timesink
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: RightWhale
No, Pres Bush himself doesn't have time for the Internet, neither do most heads of state. But there are people on staff whose job is to read the papers, watch the TV, and follow the Internet, which has a big station - FR.

I once mentioned in a chat thread that I was suffering diarrhea, and the next morning FedEx showed up at my door with a package. Inside was a bottle of Kaopectate with the Presidential Seal on it.

It's true! It's true!

46 posted on 07/20/2002 2:19:31 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: blam
It's about freaking time. Someone needs to get the show on the road. I'm tired of waiting and seeing nothing happen.
47 posted on 07/20/2002 2:23:58 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: Timesink
We've all had a similar experience. I was grousing about my lost cat and next thing I know there some dood with the darkest sunglasses I have ever seen standing at the door with my cat.

I thought I was rid of the little monster, but nooooo . . .

48 posted on 07/20/2002 2:25:15 PM PDT by RightWhale
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To: RightWhale
How does one get a job like that? I'd love to do that.
49 posted on 07/20/2002 2:26:41 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL
Hello. Thank you for your husband's (and your) service to our country. You and he ARE appreciated and valued!!! We know - most of us - what a sacrifice your husband and you have made - and we also know - more than any other group in our country - how the Clinton and Demoncreeps trashed the military and almost destroyed it = during the eight years from hell.

How can we say thanks for this service - for this sacrifice? I don't know - except in the USO Canteen every day we say thanks - and we can try to do more as the battles intensifiy in the coming months.

Clinton should be arrested and put on trial for treason against this great country and for the damage he did to our fighting forces!!!! (just ONE of the reasons he should be arrested)

Please know that thousands of Americans love, treasure, and appreciate everything you have given - and your husband has given - on behalf of the United States of America = and now, thank God, you have a President who does the same!

You put things just fine, by the way! God bless and keep you and your husband and all those serving our nation at this crisis time.

50 posted on 07/20/2002 2:29:06 PM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
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To: getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL
As former Air Force, I can empathise with your pathos. It appears to me that there is much too of a hawkish attitude prevelant here at FR, mainly by those who are entirely lacking any objectivism coming from personal combat experience. They seem to pontificate with chest thumping patriotic he-man wanna-be rhetoric. I have no qualms with combat vetrans who advocate a military campaign. However, I believe that combat experience transforms rash and bold braggadocio into cautious tempered wisdom.

That notwithstanding, I believe that action against Iraq will indeed occur for several reasons. However, the reasons proselytized in the establishment media will have nothing to do with the ulterior motives of our government. Foremost, it will be something the international cabul will approve of, and in context with that it will allow the U.S. the ability to strategicly deal with Iran; a secondary aspect to that will be affectively insinuating U.S. projection of power into the Middle Eastern conflict.

With that said, I pray for all of our uniformed personell the grace of god to keep them safe and godspeed in order to return to their families and loved ones as quickly as possible.

51 posted on 07/20/2002 2:35:10 PM PDT by raygun
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To: mamelukesabre
How does one get a job

We'll all be dusting off our job-seeking skills as this economic crisis deepens.

52 posted on 07/20/2002 2:40:46 PM PDT by RightWhale
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To: raygun
Errrm, cabul=cabal
53 posted on 07/20/2002 2:50:40 PM PDT by raygun
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To: blackie
You got that right,blackie!
54 posted on 07/20/2002 8:16:07 PM PDT by Lady In Blue
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To: Timesink
I once mentioned in a chat thread that I was suffering diarrhea, and the next morning FedEx showed up at my door with a package. Inside was a bottle of Kaopectate with the Presidential Seal on it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

55 posted on 07/20/2002 8:18:02 PM PDT by Lady In Blue
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To: mamelukesabre
How does one get a job like that? I'd love to do that.

The easiest way is to work your butt off on the presidential campaign of the guy that ends up winning. A lot of White House jobs are handed out as rewards to those that really helped their guy win.

Barring that, you can always try the old-fashioned way and simply apply, but I just ran a search on the USAJOBS database and it appears there's not a single opening of any sort at the White House right now.

Of course, it also helps to not have anything in your past or present that could be used to either blackmail you or potentially embarrass the president if it came out. So try not to have any sex-with-underaged-girls charges on your record.

56 posted on 07/20/2002 10:49:51 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: RightWhale
It already hit me. I'm in the middle of a not-so-successful job search right now.
57 posted on 07/21/2002 11:06:18 AM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: Timesink
All I got in my background is a little stunt I pulled back in highschool. I spray painted "CLASS OF XX" on the school hallway the day of graduation. We had a really anal principal and he had me arrested for it.
58 posted on 07/21/2002 11:09:21 AM PDT by mamelukesabre
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To: Paleo Conservative
Wouldn't the DemocRATS be mad if Iraq were totally crushed a week before the mid-term elections.

Don't you think most of the Demon Cats will be cheering for Iraq?

59 posted on 07/21/2002 11:15:14 AM PDT by Mark17
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To: Mark17
Alabama Activates Tank Unit
60 posted on 07/23/2002 4:45:10 PM PDT by blam
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