I'm almost surprised to hear we have 1,500 troops left to send over to Iraq:
The United States is dispatching an additional 1,500 troops to Iraq and extending the stays of more than 10,000 others to bolster security ahead of January's scheduled elections.
...
The U.S. troop moves, announced Wednesday, will bring the number of American forces in Iraq from nearly 140,000 to an all-time high of about 150,000, the Pentagon said.
Boy, it's sure help if we had some other countries that might like to get in on this action. What's that called again? Oh right, a "coalition."
The Pentagon sees light at the end of the tunnel, although this really seems like a comment that could back and bite them on the ass. Kind of like Ben Affleck saying he'll never do a Daredevil sequel.
Some units are having their period of service in Iraq extended from 12 to 14 months, or from seven to nine months.
One unit, the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division, is having its tour of duty extended for the second time. After being slated to fly home in November, then January, they will now remain until March.
But [Army Brig Gen David] Rodriguez said even if the election was delayed, "they will not be extended any further than this".
You better hope not, Dave. Remember Doug Niedermeyer.
Previously, the largest number of US troops on the ground in Iraq was 148,000 on 1 May 2003, when President George W Bush declared that major combat operations were over.
Good times. Good times.