Redeploying the troops -- a year too late
"WASHINGTON, March 25 ? As many as 2,000 marines now aboard ships in the Persian Gulf will be sent to Afghanistan in the coming weeks to reinforce the American-led operation there to combat fighters of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, Pentagon officials said Thursday.
"American commanders have not yet decided how many marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeuene, N.C., will ultimately be deployed to Afghanistan. A senior Pentagon official said 'it will be most of them,' while a defense official said that "some of the marines" would be sent but that conditions in the field would dictate the number.
"The United States now has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, including 2,000 marines. The additional marines ? about 2,000 to 2,200 are now aboard three ships in the gulf ? would add significant reinforcements at a pivotal moment in the running battle along the Afghan-Pakistani border."
The name "Iraq" is not mentioned in the story, but from where else could they have been deployed?
And from the sound of things, I'd say they're getting out just in time.
Because according to proconsul Bremer, the troops are going to be there for a while -- and elections or no, we're going to be calling the shots.
Top aides to Mr. Bremer have said in recent days that the American troops will act as the most important guarantor of American influence. In addition, they said, the $18.4 billion voted for Iraqi reconstruction last fall by the United States Congress ? including more than $2 billion for the new Iraqi forces ? will give the Americans a decisive voice.
The American determination to retain military control was clear from a document released by the occupation authority on Thursday summarizing Mr. Bremer's executive order on the Iraqi forces.
The order provided for the establishment of an Iraqi Defense Ministry to be headed by an as-yet unnamed civilian, which will oversee the new 40,000-soldier Iraqi Army the Americans expect to have trained by this fall. The Defense Ministry will also control the Iraqi civil defense force, which will also be 40,000-strong. Mr. Hussein's army, disbanded by Mr. Bremer last summer, had 715,000 men.
The document was unequivocal on the ultimate control of the Iraqi forces. "All trained elements of the Iraqi armed forces shall at all times be under the operational control of the commander of coalition forces for the purpose of conducting combined operations," it said.
The document also outlined plans for Mr. Bremer to appoint an Iraqi forces chief of staff and a national security adviser for three-year terms, and an inspector-general with a five-year term.
"American commanders have not yet decided how many marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeuene, N.C., will ultimately be deployed to Afghanistan. A senior Pentagon official said 'it will be most of them,' while a defense official said that "some of the marines" would be sent but that conditions in the field would dictate the number.
"The United States now has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, including 2,000 marines. The additional marines ? about 2,000 to 2,200 are now aboard three ships in the gulf ? would add significant reinforcements at a pivotal moment in the running battle along the Afghan-Pakistani border."
The name "Iraq" is not mentioned in the story, but from where else could they have been deployed?
And from the sound of things, I'd say they're getting out just in time.
Because according to proconsul Bremer, the troops are going to be there for a while -- and elections or no, we're going to be calling the shots.
Top aides to Mr. Bremer have said in recent days that the American troops will act as the most important guarantor of American influence. In addition, they said, the $18.4 billion voted for Iraqi reconstruction last fall by the United States Congress ? including more than $2 billion for the new Iraqi forces ? will give the Americans a decisive voice.
The American determination to retain military control was clear from a document released by the occupation authority on Thursday summarizing Mr. Bremer's executive order on the Iraqi forces.
The order provided for the establishment of an Iraqi Defense Ministry to be headed by an as-yet unnamed civilian, which will oversee the new 40,000-soldier Iraqi Army the Americans expect to have trained by this fall. The Defense Ministry will also control the Iraqi civil defense force, which will also be 40,000-strong. Mr. Hussein's army, disbanded by Mr. Bremer last summer, had 715,000 men.
The document was unequivocal on the ultimate control of the Iraqi forces. "All trained elements of the Iraqi armed forces shall at all times be under the operational control of the commander of coalition forces for the purpose of conducting combined operations," it said.
The document also outlined plans for Mr. Bremer to appoint an Iraqi forces chief of staff and a national security adviser for three-year terms, and an inspector-general with a five-year term.
posted by John at 4:22 PM
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