Just getting ready to redeploy back to the states ABC World News Tonight just had a short Exclusive Report as they were being told they Aren’t Coming Home!!!
Soldiers in Iraq are told they must remain in country and fight for another four months. Another chapter in the reality of war.
If you didn’t catch the ABC Report you can view it at link below or visit the ABC World News Tonight site.
Soldiers’ Tour of Duty Extended
Martha Raddatz has been reporting from Baghdad for the last few days, this is her latest.
Here’s part of the Written Report:
Bagdad: ‘Defining Battle’ in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 8, 2006 — Lieutenant Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, had the difficult duty today of telling 3,700 soldiers who had been expecting to be heading home that they were going to have to stay in Iraq a while longer.
ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz, continuing her reports from Baghdad, was with the general when he broke the news to the troops.
Chiarelli is charged with carrying out the new, sweeping plan to regain control of Baghdad. It is considered one of the most critical missions ever undertaken by U.S. forces. This is so critical, 3,700 soldiers assigned to the Stryker Brigade were told just moments before heading home from a year in Iraq that they would have to remain in the region for up to four more months.
Today, Chiarelli met with some of the soldiers to explain. The following is a transcript of a portion of the meeting:
Visit site to read the rest!!!
The one soldier had a good question…
why’d they wait till the very last moment to tell them they weren’t going home that day.
That is so rotten. Line em up on the day they are to leave and tell them. “no”.
Get them the hell out of Iraq. Now. All of them.
If Bush wants soldiers there so badly – suit up his daughters and his drunken nephew. Let them fight his damn battle.
And a couple of generals that “yessired” him as well! And gt rid of Rummy’s boss too (whoever in the hell that might be!)
Questions?” Soldier: “Why did you wait so long to tell us?”
Chiarelli: “We didn’t want to do it. We didn’t want to do it. It’s the hardest decision, I know that Gen. Casey has [to] make. It’s his decision to go ahead and hold you here. Absolutely was. And it was our desire to see you pull out. That was — I can’t answer any more honestly than that. I mean, if I really had known prior to that, would I have let 345 of your guys fly back to Alaska?”
Soldier: “I hope not.”
Chiarelli: “I hope not too. But the conditions in Baghdad just turned, just turned south on us.”
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I hope not too… is not an answer of whether or not he would have done anything different. Since when have any conditions in Iraq been good??? This administration and it appears their men in charge of the military are a bunch of sorry liars.
“I hope not, too” is not a statement of anything… just some more BS.
I feel bad for these DETAINED men and woman, who have to stay based on lies and greed… maybe they’ll get angry enough and start asking more questions…
Bravo for the soldier who did ask a question. I wonder if he realizes, “I hope not too” was a bullshit comment.
Thanks Jim.
a f**king plan to deal with the reality in Baghdad now?
I’m with you Grandma Jo…send every GD child of this administration over there under the age of 39. Would that include the Cheney girls? I think so. This make s me so angry. Haven’t they been through enough? To do that to these soldiers the day they were suppose to go home is torture!