Now THIS is good news…
I knew that this was coming, but to see it in print was enough to make me nearly giddy this morning. Home coming time is sweet and scary. Keep our Surge troops in your prayers in the coming weeks. Their boots are one step closer to US soil!
3,500 U.S. Troops Set to Leave Iraq in Coming Weeks
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
(AP found on FOX News)
(excerpt)BAGHDAD — About 3,500 American soldiers who were part of last summer’s troop “surge” are scheduled to leave Iraq in the coming weeks, the U.S. military said.
The soldiers, part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, will redeploy to Fort Benning, Georgia, said a statement released late Monday. The U.S. sent some 30,000 additional troops into Iraq last summer to help stem growing violence.
Those troops, along with the rise of Sunni fighters who allied with the U.S. and began battling al-Qaida and a truce called by a key Shiite militia, were credited with a sharp decrease in violence during the last 10 months.
The soldiers are part of the third of five “surge” brigades scheduled to redeploy. The other two are expected to return to the U.S. by the end of July.
“The continued drawdown of surge brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq,” Brig. Gen. Dan Allyn said in the statement. “After July, commanders will assess our security posture for about 45 days and determine future force requirements based on these conditions-based assessments.”
That is indeed good news! Prayers will continue till their boots hit the ground back here in the states though….
Claire,
I posted the same thing this morning! Isn’t it such a great feeling! My hubby is part of those troops and I have a sense of what relief is beginning to feel like. Thanks for posting!
nowhere in this article does it tell you that jmany are scheduled to go back to Iraq next March
boetsch, I think that a lot of military families assume that repeat deployments are imminent. The article is focused on the first of the Surge troops coming home, so it was pretty micro-focused on that particular topic.
It’s lunchtime at work, was going to pull up Fox News, but checked here first. I knew you’d have the hooah scoop posted! Great news, one step closer, still one day at a time. Can’t wait to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music!!
Homecomings are the absolute bestest news….. HOOOOOOOO-frickin-AAAAAH!
Keeping the prayers going, and shamelessly going to spread THIS news.
{{{{{{{{{{Claire}}}}}}}}}
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