Even as one saw huge mass protests by Iraqis against the U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, reports have come in suggesting the 15,000 troops might extend their stay longer. Marking the fourth anniversary of Saddam’s fall in Iraq, the people of Iraq signalled that they were extremely unhappy under western occupation.
Most felt they were much better off under the dictator than today, both in terms of peace and security, as well as their standard of living. The international community too seems to be suggesting ever so strongly that the U.S. cannot take it easy in Iraq any more.
Troop extension
At the same time, despite this domestic and international pressure, the Pentagon in considering a plan to extend the tours of duty for up to 15,000 U.S. troops serving in Iraq. Defense officials are looking at the idea of a maximum 120-day extension for five active duty brigades that would otherwise come home in the coming months - four ground units and one aviation combat brigade. The plan would have to be approved by Defense Secretary Robert Gates before it can be implemented. There are currently some 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
Other than this, officials also said some 13,000 National Guard troops are receiving notice to prepare for possible deployment to Iraq. Most of these fighters would come on their second trip, if they did come that is. The notices were sent to the following brigades: the Army National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based in Little Rock, Ark.; 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma City; the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Indianapolis, and the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Columbus, Ohio.
The pentagon added that these troops would serve as replacement forces in the regular troop rotation for the war, and would not be connected to the recent military buildup for security operations in Baghdad.
One pronged approach
According to several defence officials, this was only one of several options being considered on how to tackle the mess in Iraq. However, they refused to dwell into what exactly these other options were. This reflects a one pronged approach by the U.S. where it seems to have military occupation and forced troop stationing as the only option.
The struggle of the American parliament
The troop renewal orders also come as Bush is now struggling to come up with an agreed troop withdrawal plan in the American parliament. Here again the President seems to facing opposition as the Senate demands a September 2008 withdrawal. Bush has said he would veto any legislation that includes such deadlines. So while the republicans stand strong on their veto on the Bush defence budget, Democrats say they are not budging and that Bush will have a bill before the end of the month.
The Solution
As rightly pointed out by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that four years after the fall of Baghdad Iraq U.S. troops
desperately need a postwar strategy that recognizes the political situation on the ground and removes them from policing a civil war
What the U.S. and its allies need is a wholesome approach that tackles the Iraq chaos from all angles, bot only the military one. The political, social, religious, sectarian, economic, as well as developmental- all of these spheres must be revived before the U.S. can even begin to dream about saving its face on the Iraq issue.
Via: AP
