tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post6568838716181131672..comments2024-03-26T05:18:53.709-04:00Comments on Pen and Sword: Iraq: Surgin' SafariJeff Huberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-39893947925300159312007-04-25T17:20:00.000-04:002007-04-25T17:20:00.000-04:00Errata: The ellipse should have gone between quote...Errata: The ellipse should have gone between quoted paragrphs 1 and 2 in the post above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-21856290811701276852007-04-25T17:18:00.000-04:002007-04-25T17:18:00.000-04:00Hmmmmmm... From the MORE IS LESS department:Extend...Hmmmmmm... From the MORE IS LESS department:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=32931" REL="nofollow"><B>Extended Deployments Should Lessen Army Stress, Commander Says</B></A><BR/><BR/><I>"Extended overseas deployments affecting soldiers serving in Afghanistan and other locales overseen by U.S. Central Command should help to alleviate the stress on the Army, a senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan told Pentagon reporters today. <BR/><BR/>The 15-month deployments are needed to ensure that the Army retains the capacity to sustain the deployed force, Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said April 13 from Baghdad during a teleconference with Pentagon reporters. <BR/><BR/>...<BR/><BR/>The tour extensions will provide more predictability and stability for soldiers and their families, Odierno said, noting the policy “will ensure 12 months at home station between rotations.” <BR/>"</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-51939924711956848442007-04-25T13:12:00.000-04:002007-04-25T13:12:00.000-04:00Was that US Embassy built by KBR?Was that US Embassy built by KBR?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-13036359310391721432007-04-25T09:04:00.000-04:002007-04-25T09:04:00.000-04:00As long as the US Embassy roof can support the wei...As long as the US Embassy roof can support the weight of a helicopter, and there's a place in the embassy compound from which to take an iconic photo, we'll be OK.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15308567394308330867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-6738269366368394912007-04-25T08:12:00.000-04:002007-04-25T08:12:00.000-04:00Y'all are forgittin that the Decider has decided, ...Y'all are forgittin that the Decider has decided, and that we is gonna to succeed! You dont need continj..., corntin..., a backup plan unless you is plannin to fail, and we aint gonna, cause he decided! Failure is what them Defeatocrats talk about. Refantasycans live in a better world that they make up as they go, and in that world, we win!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-82657628536389714162007-04-24T20:06:00.000-04:002007-04-24T20:06:00.000-04:00Jeff,Thanks for the link to Mr. Lind's opinion pie...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link to Mr. Lind's opinion piece. Obviously, others are concerned with this same issue. But maybe not all the right "others".<BR/><BR/>I'm not familiar with William Lind so I'm unsure how much weight to give his opinion. But if he knows his stuff, it's more than a little frightening. Mr Lind's suggestion that "every American battalion and company in Iraq to have its own Operation Anabasis plan" seems to suggest that Lind, at least, does not believe senior command is taking this prospect seriously enough. Ironically, the reasons Mr. Lind gives for possible reasons for a retreat (Israel attacking Iran, Shiites inside Iraq) don't take into account the effect of the political landscape here in the U.S that prompted my question. So to Mr. Linds proposed reasons, I add my own.<BR/><BR/>It's good to know that at least someone else is considering the same question -- but I did not find comfort in Lind's article. Just the opposite in fact. <BR/><BR/>Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-22252578365519386962007-04-24T18:05:00.000-04:002007-04-24T18:05:00.000-04:00MK, I'd be honored to have you quote me. Thanks, ...MK, <BR/><BR/>I'd be honored to have you quote me. Thanks, and thanks for asking. <BR/><BR/>Ed, <BR/><BR/>I don't know how to answer your question. William Lind wrote a piece on this recently for Military.com:<BR/><BR/>http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,130593,00.html<BR/><BR/>Lind, in essence, says he hopes somebody somewhere if figuring out a way for U.S. forces to withdraw through Turkey the way the Greeks did in 400 something B.C.Jeff Huberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146644937683409726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-37533878823491518842007-04-24T16:24:00.000-04:002007-04-24T16:24:00.000-04:00Jeff:Here's a question I can't seem to find an ans...Jeff:<BR/><BR/>Here's a question I can't seem to find an answer to - perhaps that's understandable but I think the question should be asked.<BR/><BR/>Has our military leadership in Iraq developed contingency plans for a withdrawal from Iraq; one likely to occur under very chaotic/violent conditions? And if so, is that plan being constantly updated and revised in accordance with the changing situation on the ground? I ask because I believe that sooner or later, an event will occur that will signal an imminent departure of US troops from Iraq. It could be the U.S. election results in 2008 or some other event that occurs sooner.<BR/><BR/>When that event happens, many things -- most of them not condusive to an orderly withdrawal -- could begin to happen quickly. Time to react to these events may be very short. Our military should be prepared to withdraw in a way that limits casualties. Advance planning could obviously make a dramatic difference. And the lack of such contingency plans at this point would be, in my opinion, bordering on irresponsible.<BR/><BR/>Can we know this or at least justifiably assume that such a contingency is being adequetly planned for? I certainly hope so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-55744410757718439682007-04-24T14:32:00.000-04:002007-04-24T14:32:00.000-04:00A question, sir: Would you mind if I quote some of...A question, sir: Would you mind if I quote some of your writing in translated norwegian in a article I am writing? Ill send you a carbon-copy if you want.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-24325853562455577272007-04-24T09:59:00.000-04:002007-04-24T09:59:00.000-04:00The clowns may change their makeup, but it's still...The clowns may change their makeup, but it's still the same ol' circus.<BR/><BR/>No offense to any actual clowns intended, of course.Jeff (no, the other one)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04030611459552848949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12796551.post-57952695626104530382007-04-23T14:14:00.000-04:002007-04-23T14:14:00.000-04:00http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3...http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bradblog.com%2F%3Fp%3D4438<BR/><BR/>Compliments of MeMyselfEyeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com