The Good: The AP has the scoop that the Prez will announce a decrease in combat tours from 15 months to 12 months for the Army. While the deployment cycle is still pretty grueling, at least this is a move in the right direction. US troops move on Sadr City to pounce on militia thugs, but the Prime Minister has announced a freeze on targeting these groups. It is hard to determine where this is going...
The Bad: A suicide bomber has struck a funeral in Diyala province. Anti-American protests by followers of Sadr took place after Friday prayers yesterday (Iranian media was quick to jump on that one). I'm starting to get the feeling that the Iranian state-controlled media doesn't like the US much, but it's still just a hunch.
The Ugly: Blackwater contract to be renewed?!? Oh my. There was a lot of controversy following the Nisoor Square incident on Sep. 16th, and apparently it is still being investigated after all these months. Also, the Brits fear that General Petraeus will stir up the pot with Iran during the upcoming Congressional testimony. I guess the facts of nefarious Iranian influence are simply inconvenient to some.
Combat tours to be shortened from "too goddamn long" to just "really long"
See what the others have said:
6 comments:
The Brits just worry about our "brash" American ways. After all, there has to be a civilized way to respond when a foreign government is supplying weapons (e.g. EFPs, etc) and trainers (Quds force) to your enemies.
Dealing with Iran is very complex, I agree.
As a military wife, I'd obviously prefer shorter more frequent deployments. What do you think about that subject? Would it work? I know some people enduring 18 month deployments right now. Ms. Kiyum would definitely have to have some valium with her water during one of those.
All the brits seem to care about is pretending all is good and PICing their provinces as fast as possible so they can leave. They have sure made a f'ing mess of Basrah. I am sure they'd prefer we not put pressure on the militia right now - those militia men are fragile.
Yes it is true, Basrah was peaceful and prosperous until the uncivilized Americans came with their Blackhawks and jet planes. Of course the brits were getting slammed with IDF attacks every day from "peaceful" basrah.
Arrrggghhhh. Sorry, I'm a little grumpy right now [;X
Ms. Kiyum,
It seems to work for the marines who generally do 7 month deployments, but the Army is set up differently, and their logistics are more complex.
SGT,
Good to hear from you! I hope all is well in Shi'ite land. Yeah, I'm at a loss for words on the Brits in Basra...
I don't know that its a "full-up proxy war" just now, but I sure do think thats where its headed...
Last time Iran & Iraq went at it the war went on for 8 yrs and left one million dead...neither country made political or territorial gains.
With all these wars I'm amazed there are any young men left in Iraq.
RE deployments: 12-18 month tour sure beats "for the duration" which was what families faced in WWII. We're just a bunch of babies in comparison.
~P~
Post a Comment