Trish
04-05-2008, 11:59 AM
April 5, 2008, 12:20AM
U.S. troop deployments will be cut to 12 months
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to announce next week that U.S. soldiers' combat tours will be reduced from 15 months to 12 months in Iraq and Afghanistan beginning this summer, The Associated Press has learned.
The decision, expected to get final, formal approval in the days ahead, comes as Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, prepares to deliver a progress report to Congress next week on the improved security situation there. He is also expected to make recommendations for future troop levels.
A senior administration official said Friday that plans are to deploy soldiers for 12 months, then give them 12 months rest time at home. Exactly which units would be affected is not yet clear. The official spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.
The move to shorter deployments has been pushed by Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, as a way to reduce the strain on troops battered by long and repeated tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. But that goal has been hindered by the ongoing security demands in Iraq.
Officials have been publicly tightlipped in recent days about the move to reduce the tours. What the future holds for troops in Iraq will become clearer when Petraeus goes before congressional committees Tuesday.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/5676694.html
U.S. troop deployments will be cut to 12 months
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to announce next week that U.S. soldiers' combat tours will be reduced from 15 months to 12 months in Iraq and Afghanistan beginning this summer, The Associated Press has learned.
The decision, expected to get final, formal approval in the days ahead, comes as Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, prepares to deliver a progress report to Congress next week on the improved security situation there. He is also expected to make recommendations for future troop levels.
A senior administration official said Friday that plans are to deploy soldiers for 12 months, then give them 12 months rest time at home. Exactly which units would be affected is not yet clear. The official spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement.
The move to shorter deployments has been pushed by Gen. George Casey, Army chief of staff, as a way to reduce the strain on troops battered by long and repeated tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. But that goal has been hindered by the ongoing security demands in Iraq.
Officials have been publicly tightlipped in recent days about the move to reduce the tours. What the future holds for troops in Iraq will become clearer when Petraeus goes before congressional committees Tuesday.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/world/5676694.html