U.S. to boost Iraq troop strength

[scott.voigt]

10,000 additional soldiers, Marines to secure elections

Faced with the real threat of terrorist attacks during Iraqi elections next month, U.S. military officials tell NBC News the Pentagon is now planning to raise the number of American troops in Iraq by 10,000-11,000 to provide additional security. That's twice the number of needed reinforcements first anticipated and will temporarily raise the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to about 150,000.


That means soldiers from the Army's 1st Infantry and 1st Cavalry and some U.S. Marines who were scheduled to leave Iraq this month may be ordered to stay longer, while soldiers from the 3rd Infantry and 82nd Airborne could be ordered into Iraq earlier than scheduled.

Even then, it would seem impossible to protect all 9,000 polling places in Iraq from terrorist attack.

"We could probably see 10, 20, 30, 50 people killed on Election Day in Iraq, including some American forces, some Iraqi security forces and some innocent voters," says Michael O'Hanlon, a military analyst at the Brookings Institution.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6613194/

[se0sea]

I had heard this today. this would be a good debate.
I personally dont like it.I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks about this.

[conlor]

Could you imagine election day like that here? Makes me appreciate the freedoms we have. Hate to see more troops have to go over though, or be extended.

[82nd Airborne Dad]

Originally Posted by se0sea

I had heard this today. this would be a good debate.
I personally dont like it.I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks about this.

I hate to see more troops sent too, but I feel the elections can be a deciding factor to ending the Saddam reign of terror. Once the country is sure he won't be back, I think more will work towards a democratic Irag!!

[scott.voigt]

I don't know... I think it will help the election, but the overall result of the election will still be questioned by the sunni's and will still leave of window for a civil war once US forces downsize to a minimal number in a few years. I don't think the idea will work in the long run.

[Hoss68]

Doesn't surprise me a bit. Also makes the rotation schedules (when they actually follow them) make more sense. Trajamax is supposed to be going over in January...

I would rather have more men and women over there watching each others backs when the election comes than being short and more vulnerable to attacks.

[scott.voigt]

I can certainly agree with that... even if I do get sent again.