Iraq War Escalation (5500 troops total)

Delayed US Army brigade may go to Iraq after all

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has told a Germany-based Army brigade to make initial preparations for a deployment to
Iraq, defense officials said on Wednesday, in a sign that an imminent reduction in forces may be unlikely.

Pentagon leaders will make a final decision later this week on sending the roughly 3,500 soldiers from their base in Schweinfurt, Germany, to Iraq, said the defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The military had put the move on hold a month ago, but it has now told the unit to get ready to ship its equipment for the possible deployment, the officials said.

The move suggests a delay in any reduction of the 131,000-strong U.S. force in Iraq, although Pentagon officials have not announced decisions on future force levels.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060607/pl_nm/iraq_usa_troops_dc


New deployment shadows potential for troop reduction

PENTAGON An Army brigade is getting ready to move out for a one-year tour of Iraq, casting doubt on the possibility of a significant troop drawdown this year.
A defense official says the Second Brigade of the First Infantry Division is preparing to ship its vehicles and other equipment from Germany. A hold had been put on the unit's deployment last month.

In another indication that the Pentagon was not changing its force-rotation plans, another Army brigade from Fort Lewis, Washington, has already shipped equipment, including Stryker armored vehicles, to Iraq, ahead of the scheduled departure of about 3,500 soldiers this summer, officials said.

The military since March also has deployed more than 2,000 soldiers from a "call-forward" force held in reserve in Kuwait for rapid-reaction to problems in Iraq.

http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5000278

"Where there's smoke there's Work!"

Bush is tuned in to the "Big Red One" alright! We all know who that voice is, that's telling Bush to keep on killing.