Army Leaders Push to Shorten Iraq Tours

[babylonsister]

Army Leaders Push to Shorten Iraq Tours


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 9, 2007

Filed at 2:38 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As security improves in Iraq, pressure is building to reverse one of the most onerous decisions Defense Secretary Robert Gates made to enable President Bush's troop buildup to go forward this year: extending the tours of active-duty soldiers from 12 months to 15 months.

The extra three months is a weighty burden, both physically and psychologically, for soldiers already stressed by multiple tours, and on families coping with strains that have mounted since the war began in 2003.

''We can't sustain that,'' Gen. George Casey, who was the top U.S. commander in Iraq before becoming the Army chief of staff at the Pentagon in April, said recently. ''We have to come off that.'' He said a decision on cutting tour lengths could be announced in three months or four months.

Army leaders are pushing to shorten tour lengths back to 12 months by summer, when Bush's troop buildup is scheduled to end. But senior commanders in Baghdad appear reluctant to commit to a change until perhaps late next year, fearing that Iraqi stability still will be in doubt until that point.

The outcome depends in large part on what Bush decides to do next spring after hearing an updated assessment of Iraq from his top commander in the country, Gen. David Petraeus. At hand then will be a decision on whether to continue cutting U.S. troops levels beyond July. If no further cuts are made, it will be much harder for the Army to back away from the 15-month tours.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Iraq-Long-Tours.html?ref=washington

[bryant69]

1. What was that about George W. Bush breaking the military?

Sounds pretty plausible.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[rodeodance]

3. well, for one he got his puppet repug congress to say Nay to Webb amendment!!

[TwilightGardener]

4. I was just going to say, isn't this essentially the Webb-Hagel amendment in a nutshell?

To reduce the tours to 12 months and give 12 months off? Gee, what a brilliant idea--wonder why no one thought of it? :sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

2. says the outcome depends on what bush decides to DO!!