Pentagon Announces Troop Rotations

Nov. 20, 2006 — -- The Pentagon has announced the deployment of more than 65,000 troops early next year to replace units currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For some, such as the Army's newly formed 4th Brigade of the 1st Infantry, it is a first tour. The unit will provide a range of combat and support services in Iraq.

But for others, such as the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, which led the effort in Iraq at the onset of the war, it is a record third tour since the war began, reflecting the current strain on military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, the 3rd Infantry becomes the Army's first division to serve three tours in Iraq.

The 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Brigade of the 1st Infantry are part of the 57,000 troops who were notified by the Defense Department that they would serve as replacement forces in Iraq. The total includes 20,000 combat troops from five combat brigades, as well as 27,000 active duty troops and 10,000 reservists.

The other major units identified for deployment are the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wa; the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga; the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C.; and the 173rd Airborne Brigade from Vicenza, Italy.

As part of the deployment, the Department of Defense also announced that 8,300 Army troops had been notified they would serve as replacement forces in Afghanistan: 1,500 service members from 218th Brigade Combat Team from the South Carolina Army National Guard, in addition to 6,200 active duty and 600 Reserve forces.

Troop Rotations Depend on Conditions

The announcements regarding troop rotations also underlined that troop levels in both Iraq and Afghanistan depend on conditions and could change if the administration determines that the situation in either country calls for a different level of combat power.

The rotations are consistent with Army Gen. John P. Abizaid's recent statements that the troop levels in Iraq would remain at about 141,000 through spring of 2007. Abizaid, as well as President Bush, has also said that increasing the number of troops in Iraq is not necessary.

At Odds Over Iraq

Political leaders at odds with the Bush administration's Iraq policy are not shy about giving their recommendations.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has suggested a troop increase to help Iraqi forces take control.

"We have to have additional forces or we will be playing whack-a-mole, as I described earlier," McCain told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in a "This Week" exclusive.

Still others -- including a newly elected and highly-vocal Democratic majority in the 110th Congress -- call for a significant troop reduction and timetable for withdrawal.

Kissinger Speaks Out

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, appearing on the BBC, made headlines last weekend when he described a military win in Iraq as impossible.

Kissinger, an architect of the Vietnam War, recommended that the United States enter a regional discourse with neighboring countries -- including Iran -- to draw up an improved blueprint for the region. Kissinger stated that rapid troop withdrawal from Iraq would destabilize its neighbors and contribute to lasting conflict.