Free Republic

US has no idea when troops will pull out of Iraq By Rupert Cornwell in Washington 10 September 2003 Under fierce grilling from both Democratic and Republican Senators yesterday, senior US officials admitted they had no idea how long American troops would be staying in Iraq, or when the extra international forces sought by President George Bush would be deployed to help them. Testifying to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Defence Secretary, and General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered the first defence on Capitol Hill of President Bush's $87bn (£55bn)...

The Associated Press Thousands of National Guard and Army Reserve forces are in for a longer stay in Iraq. The Army is reportedly extending their tours of duty in Iraq and surrounding countries to a year, months longer than many troops had anticipated. Most troops have been called up for a year of total service, which includes weeks of training in the U.S. before deployment and debriefings after they return home. The Washington Post reports the new policy was issued Friday without a formal announcement. It means many Guard and Army Reserve troops could have their original year-long mobilizations extended...

<p>WASHINGTON -- For the first time since the all-volunteer Army began in 1973, a significant number of U.S. combat soldiers may have to start serving back-to-back overseas tours of up to a year each in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea, top Army officers say.</p>