Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: By ROBERT BURNS
Date: 18 October 2006
WASHINGTON_Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has approved an unannounced
U.S Marine Corps plan to recall to active duty and send back to Iraq at
least some Marine Reserve combat battalions that have already served one
tour there, officials said Wednesday.
This would be the first time that reserve combat battalions _ units of
several hundred troops each _ would be sent to Iraq for a second tour,
although other types of reserve units and many active-duty units have done
multiple tours.
The Army, which is organized differently than the Marine Corps, has not sent
any of its National Guard combat brigades back to Iraq for a second tour,
although it is considering making more use of the Guard.
The return of Marine Reserve combat battalions to Iraq would begin in 2008,
according to a senior Marine officer who discussed the subject on condition
that he not be identified because of its sensitive nature. Thus the first
picked to go back probably would be remobilized next year in order to train
for the mission.
Rumsfeld on Tuesday verbally approved the plan, which was put forward by
Gen. Michael Hagee, the Marine commandant, according to Lt. Col. Scott
Fazekas, a Marine Corps spokesman. Fazekas said Gen. Peter Pace, the
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, approved the plan in September.
Byline: By ROBERT BURNS
Date: 18 October 2006
WASHINGTON_Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has approved an unannounced
U.S Marine Corps plan to recall to active duty and send back to Iraq at
least some Marine Reserve combat battalions that have already served one
tour there, officials said Wednesday.
This would be the first time that reserve combat battalions _ units of
several hundred troops each _ would be sent to Iraq for a second tour,
although other types of reserve units and many active-duty units have done
multiple tours.
The Army, which is organized differently than the Marine Corps, has not sent
any of its National Guard combat brigades back to Iraq for a second tour,
although it is considering making more use of the Guard.
The return of Marine Reserve combat battalions to Iraq would begin in 2008,
according to a senior Marine officer who discussed the subject on condition
that he not be identified because of its sensitive nature. Thus the first
picked to go back probably would be remobilized next year in order to train
for the mission.
Rumsfeld on Tuesday verbally approved the plan, which was put forward by
Gen. Michael Hagee, the Marine commandant, according to Lt. Col. Scott
Fazekas, a Marine Corps spokesman. Fazekas said Gen. Peter Pace, the
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, approved the plan in September.
