Army troops in Iraq prepare to head to Afghanistan

[Baclava]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD (AP) — Only in Iraq a few weeks, nearly 500 U.S. Army combat engineers who specialize in clearing roads of explosives learned they were being shipped off to southern Afghanistan, one of the clearest signs of America's shifting wartime priorities. The transfer, which moved into its final stages Monday, is the largest movement so far of personnel and equipment from Iraq as President Barack Obama puts the focus on the fight in the Taliban heartland.

"We are probably going to be the beginning of the influx you are going to see to Afghanistan," Lt. Col. Kevin Landers, commander of the Fort Carson, Colo.-based 4th Engineer Battalion, said as crews packed crates and cleaned vehicles for the flight to Kandahar.

It's now clear some of the troops and firepower will flow directly from Iraq, where the Pentagon plans to gradually draw down its more than 132,000 personnel before the withdrawal of all combat forces by September 2010.

Obama has ordered 17,000 more U.S. soldiers and Marines to Afghanistan to bolster the 38,000 American troops already battling the resurgent Taliban.

...more


That's gotta suck

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD97MDNSO1

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The War Machine keeps turning...

[dipsydoodle]

1. The War Machine keeps turning...

because its being driven by the mentally challenged.

[Baclava]

2. War is a Steady State Universe

Of course, that's just a theory.

No Blood for Poppies

[ddss75]

3. Of course they are going there

They have to go to Afghanistan, Obama campaigned on putting more troops on the ground there. He has to worry about "his" war not Bush's.

[Pharaoh]

4. Pakistans Imploding

I'm sure a nuclear armed Taliban is the major reason for this shift.

[ddss75]

5. maybe

When I was in the military, I heard that there was a specially trained unit whose entire mission was to enter Pakistan and secure the nukes in the event of a command and control collapse. Evidently Bush and Musharref set it up back in '01. Could be b.s. but it sounds like a good idea to me.

[Pharaoh]

7. Yes, I'm sure there are plans

for that, but anything can happen.

[ohio2007]

6. Being sent to southern Afghanistan

Hemland is the homeland tribe roots of the taliban.

They are not going there to do photo ops

[underpants]

8. Congratulations. Get on the plane.

Who said anything about going home?

I am sure there is some griping (that is the Army way) but they are all in at this point so this is just another thing.