82nd Airborne has already "surged"
While media and Congress debate a "surge" of new troops in Iraq, apparently President Bush has already launched it, drawing on a small number of "advance troops" from North Carolina's 82nd Airborne Division. ABC news reports:
ABC News has learned that the "surge" Bush is expected to announce in a prime time speech tonight has already begun. Ninety advance troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Baghdad today.
An additional battalion of roughly 100 troops from the same division are expected to arrive in Baghdad Thursday.
It is the first small wave of troops in a new White House strategy that is expected to put more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq and likely require new call-ups of the National Guard.
2 Comments:
Yes, Chris, you are correct. The 82nd is leading the way once again, and they will be part of the solution.
Americans must understand the 82nd Paratrooper to grasp this concept.
The Paratroopers have a different frame of mind than most. They don't think about "a way out," ever. All they can envision is a way forward, an accomplishment. Delays and complications to them are just part of the challenge to overcome.
Everywhere the 82nd has been deployed in the Global War on Terrorism, they've been the trend-setters. They've made news not just by succeeding, but by doing so with innovative and thoughtful approaches to how to get things done more efficiently.
I challenge your readers to not only follow the stories of the 2nd BCT, but all of these amazing warriors. 3rd BCT has been taking care of business north of Baghdad for some time now, and 4th BCT will soon take the reins from the 10th Mtn Div Soldeirs in Afghanistan.
Yes, your All-American Paratroopers are making history, Chris. No matter your political affiliation, you can trust the 82nd to get the mission done wherever they are. Just ask Mayor Ray Nagin in New Orleans. "I don't know what they did, but when the 82nd Airborne arrived," he said, "my city changed overnight."
Soon, I suspect, we'll have a similar quote from the mayors of Samara, Tikrit and Baghdad.
Be hopeful America! Your 82nd Airborne Paratroopers are on point.
100 "troops" do not constitute a battalion. The 2nd BCT that was sent was overstrength with units from the 504th (1 BCT)...for a total of 3500 soldiers. Virtually all of these men are already veterans of Iraq and/or Afghanistan.
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