I have a question, and I need some expert help.
Before the war began, we heard that we had 250,000 troops around Iraq.
Today, we hear that we have 90,000 troops in Iraq. That leaves 160,000 personnel unaccounted for.
We also hear that 120,000 reinforcement troops are on their way. How many of those will actually hit the sand?
Over at SKB, he's questioning the designation of these troops as reinforcements, since they've been 'floating around' since Turkey refused to let them land. But the reinforcements are the 4th Infantry, just leaving the states yesterday and today.
Posted by Rich at March 28, 2003 12:22 PM | TrackBackActually, I said their "gear" has been floating around. They have been sitting in Texas waiting for their gear to land somwehere so they can hook up.
Fort Hood's 4th Infantry Division moves out
They were planned to be there from the get go. That's why I don't see how they are "reinforcements", and I think it is media spin to all them that, as if "uh oh, our guys are in trouble and need help!". Of course the latest news about 100,000 "more" troops, etc. etc. sounds that way too, but who knows how many are/have been already planned for months as Myers and Rumsfeld said yesterday. I was actually trying to be supportive of the Pentagon on this one. I guess that wasn't clear.
Posted by: SK Bubba on March 28, 2003 1:10 PMOops, the link got filtered out or something. Sorry...
Posted by: SK Bubba on March 28, 2003 1:11 PMhttp://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=970550
"The 4th Infantry was supposed to deploy to Turkey last month to open a northern front against Iraq, but after the Turkish government refused to grant access, the division's weaponry and equipment was rerouted to Kuwait. That's where soldiers are expected to link up with their gear in the coming weeks."
You're right of course...I misread your post. Blame it on the ear infection...or whatever the heck it was...
Posted by: rich on March 28, 2003 5:59 PMAccording to the article you linked to:
"More than 250,000 U.S. troops are in the region, including thousands aboard Navy ships at sea, on air bases in surrounding countries and at headquarters encampments."
I'd imagine that more and more will actually move into Iraq. My guess is that all air force types are considered not in Iraq since they are in Qatar, Kuwait or where-ever else.
Posted by: Manish on March 29, 2003 2:43 AM