We've run out of soldiers

Message

#1 Post by **Bob78164** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:44 am

Defense Secretary Gates says we don't have enough troops to satisfy NATO's request for three more combat brigades in Afghanistan. He doesn't expect to be able to fulfill the request until next spring.

In other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. As far as we know, though, Osama Bin Laden is not. --Bob

christie1111 · #2 Post by **christie1111** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:45 am

How this reads to me is that my cousin is less likely to come home as scheduled.

Time to send an email and see if he gets it.

#3 Post by **Bob78164** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:02 am

christie1111 wrote:How this reads to me is that my cousin is less likely to come home as scheduled.

Time to send an email and see if he gets it.

As I read the story, Secretary Gates has rejected (at least for now) the option of again extending deployments in order to fulfill NATO's request.

I hope all is well with your cousin. --Bob

VAdame · #4 Post by **VAdame** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:27 am

Bob78164 wrote:
christie1111 wrote:How this reads to me is that my cousin is less likely to come home as scheduled.

Time to send an email and see if he gets it.
As I read the story, Secretary Gates has rejected (at least for now) the option of again extending deployments in order to fulfill NATO's request.

I hope all is well with your cousin. --Bob

I'll second that wish.

3 young people in our extended family are there now, or on their way. Our nephew Campbell went back for his 3rd tour a few weeks ago -- he's a Drill Sergeant, and we wondered why they need a Drill Sergeant in Iraq (Cam says it's to train the Iraqis)

Our niece Rochelle left last week. And Leah's ex, Pat (the boy in the Prom pix) also went last week.

Keep 'em in thoughts/prayers, if you think of it.

christie1111 · #5 Post by **christie1111** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:53 am

VAdame wrote:
Bob78164 wrote:
christie1111 wrote:How this reads to me is that my cousin is less likely to come home as scheduled.

Time to send an email and see if he gets it.
As I read the story, Secretary Gates has rejected (at least for now) the option of again extending deployments in order to fulfill NATO's request.

I hope all is well with your cousin. --Bob
I'll second that wish.

Keep 'em in thoughts/prayers, if you think of it.

I will think of it.

And hope and pray they ALL come home safely.

etaoin22 · #6 Post by **etaoin22** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:24 am

THANK YOU DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES:

Hopefully your statement will deep-six Stephen Harper's chances for a majority government in the Candian election. Canada is on the spearhead in Kandahar province, and the PM -- albeit with advice, somewhat manipulated, from non-Tories -- extended the rotation of Canada to 2011 from the original date of 2009, and there has been some sentiment that the presence in Kandahar should be indefinite.

The notion was that with Harper's solid right-wing credentials,and support for the military side of NATO, recalcitrant Eurpean allies would send more troops , and the tide which has been slowly returning in favor of Taliban-supported groups would be stopped.

The answer,basically,m has been "no", and this is to me at least an absolutely clear policy failure attribuable to the Harper approach. (Not that every other gov't in the past 50 years -- Tory and Liberal -- have not failed in some aspect of defence policy).

There have been 95 deaths of Canadian solders in the Afghanistan mission.

While the units are brave, there is no question but that they are ill-equipped for long-term counterinsurgency, and the Amreican brigades have been eagerly awaited, although one wondered if there really would be the willingness to deploy what must be a fourth assignment in harm's way for some of the Americans, whose dedication must be praised.

I hope all will be well for those close to you in their overseas assgnments.