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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! March 8, 2009 Diversions (III)By GreyhawkRemember the Iraq drawdown you heard about last month? The one where a Brigade originally scheduled for Iraq was going to Afghanistan instead? Well, a funny thing about that... Last weekend we noted this obscure bit of news from ABC: Gen. Odierno will receive a Stryker Brigade to replace the incoming replacement brigade diverted to Afghanistan just a week ago. That means that he will continue to maintain the current level of two Stryker brigades in Iraq. While that story might be obscure, it's anything but insignificant. The diversion of the Stryker Brigade (one of two that were then scheduled to replace the two currently in Iraq) to Afghanistan made headlines as the President appeared at Camp Lejeune to announce his Iraq drawdown and Afghanistan "surge". As noted here at the time, that followup report - if accurate - "exposes everything you've heard about troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past two weeks as an absolute hoax on the American public." Read the first entry in this series for details of the preparations made by the Stryker Brigade for an Iraq deployment - 10-month Arabic language schools being just part of the training rendered useless by a reassignment to a country where the locals don't speak it. Of course, "intensive, 10-month Arabic language training" and "exercises... where they had to help their commanders negotiate with native-speaker role players" were now useless - but if they were no longer needed in Iraq, so be it. But they were needed in Iraq - just not as badly as the Obama administration needed to make it appear that troops initially slotted for Iraq were going to Afghanistan instead - seemingly making good on a key campaign promise. So with much fanfare the Iraq drawdown (consisting entirely of the Stryker Brigade)/Afghanistan surge (Strykers plus a Marine unit) was announced, and subsequent polls indicated Americans were wildly enthusiastic about the idea. And a few days later no one would notice the bombshell reported by ABC: "Gen. Odierno will receive a Stryker Brigade to replace the incoming replacement brigade diverted to Afghanistan just a week ago" - perhaps because within 24 hours of reporting that news they changed it to this: ABC News has also learned that Gen. Odierno will continue to maintain a Stryker Brigade presence in Iraq through the upcoming elections as he had requested. There are currently two Stryker Brigades in Iraq. When their tours end later this year, only one of those departing brigades will be replaced by an incoming Stryker Brigade. Not only was there no explanation of the "correction", there wasn't even an acknowledgment of the change on the site. But wait... there's more... I don't like conspiracy theories - I suspected that ABC's initial report was due to some sort of simple misunderstanding and that the corrected version was in fact correct. But to confirm that I sent a simple email to them:
Even though it was the weekend they were kind enough to reply: That was updated.I checked to see if they were referring to a subsequent update - they weren't. So I replied: Clearly. But that's rather a dramatic change to make without explanation, don't you think? The original version indicates the entire narrative of diverting troops from Iraq to Afghanistan is a fraud perpetrated on the American public. The later version is hardly newsworthy.It's been a week since that was sent and I've received no reply. But that's probably because other developments have rendered the point somewhat moot. Specifically, last Monday the DoD announced:
The next day's Tacoma News Tribune would report: And ABC would change their story once again - this time with an explanation:
Kudos to them for reporting it, but they fail to connect the dots - removing a Brigade from Iraq (or from the schedule to go to Iraq) and replacing it with another Brigade is no way to accomplish a "drawdown" (except in newspaper headlines). Let's recap the salient points here: 1. In September, 2008, the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) - after months of preparation - is ordered to Iraq. (One of two SBCTs that were then scheduled to replace the two currently in Iraq) 2. In February, 2009, President Obama announces his Iraq drawdown/Afghanistan surge - the 5th SBCT will be diverted to Afghanistan instead of Iraq. 3. March, 2009, the DoD announces the 4th SBCT will deploy to Iraq this fall, several months ahead of the original schedule replacing the 5th SBCT in the rotation in order to maintain two Stryker Brigades in Iraq. For the record, I'm in favor of commanders on the ground getting the forces they need to get the job done. I have no doubt that two Stryker Brigades are needed in Iraq, and others in Afghanistan. I'm deeply concerned when I see troop rotations "adjusted" in what appears to be an effort to fool the American public. But I appreciate that the Obama administration can do that in plain sight, even providing press releases detailing exactly how they're doing it. I'm even more concerned that those efforts - and the ramifications thereof - are obvious to an American media assumed to be independent of the Executive Branch but apparently unconcerned about reporting its activities. Item two above was headline grabbing/TV news lead story material - item three indicates it was a fraud. One year ago that would have been a hell of a story, don't you think? More: Diversions (IV) Posted by Greyhawk / March 8, 2009 11:52 AM | Permalink 16 TrackBacksFewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — afterall the current Administation has taken every op... Read More A couple (among many) of interesting comments from the previous post:I'm a soldier in 4/2, so I thought I'd throw my two cents in. The way things are being explained to us is that if we want most of the combat brigades gone by 31 Aug 2010, 4/2 had to d... Read More Just an aside - after reading the comments here and here I've come to the conclusion I'm an Obama loving Obama hater. There's really no other explanation for it. (Though some might accuse me of being an Obama hating Obama lover, I suppose...) Unless...... Read More Here's how you pull a Three-Brigade Monte: President Obama promised to drawdown Iraqi troops. He was going to pull out a brigade from Iraq. So, he does--he withdraws the troops from Iraq and puts them in Afghanistan. That means there... Read More Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a li... Read More Let the Mudville Gazette count the ways: Last weekend we noted this obscure bit of news from ABC: Gen. Odierno will receive a Stryker Brigade to replace the incoming replacement brigade diverted to Afghanistan just a week ago. That means... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Why isn't this story all over the news? It looks like Obama is playing games. Not surprising seeing that any military knowledge he has came from playing Risk as a kid. The DoD announced: "The Department of Defense announced today... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More Fewer things in life must be more fun than sticking soldiers under a shell and shifting them around at will. Of course it’s easy to do when you have no vested interest in their mission — after all the current Administration has taken every ... Read More 36 Comments |
March 17, 2010Dawn Patrol 03/17/2010 [Mrs Greyhawk]
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.
AFGHANISTANSuicide attackers killed in Afghanistan -- [CNN] US kills 8 terrorists in 2 new airstrikes in North Waziristan -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio] S.N.A.B.U. = Situation Normal All BAF-fed Up -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan] Post Office Doesn't Like Me -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan] Danger Room Explainer: Outsourced Intel in Afghanistan -- [Danger Room] IRAQIraq Votes - Part VI -- [MEMRI] Mission Accomplished: Astroturfing Baghdad -- [Danger Room]
U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLDAllies everywhere feeling snubbed by President Obama -- [Washington Post] Chahar-Shanbeh Souri -- [Planet Iran]
WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISMIf bin Laden is found, he'll be killed, Holder says -- [AP] ACLU files lawsuit for information on US Predator program -- [Threat Matrix] SUPPORTING THE TROOPSArmy Suicides Grow, but This Soldier Was Saved -- [Politics Daily] Silver Star Winner Reprimanded for Afghan Battle -- [ABC]
MILITARYArrrrrrmy Training, SIR! -- [This Ain't Hell] WELCOME HOMEBushrod honors were not misplaced -- [Fredericksburg.com] They're Coming Home! -- [KBND]
THE MEDIA/CULTUREIt's just some ribbon. -- [From my Position...]
POLITICSGE and Ronald Reagan: The Mutual Gift That Keeps On Giving -- [Politics Daily] Petraeus Testifies About DADT
The Petraeus briefing: Biden's embarrassment is not the whole story -- [Foreign Policy Blog] HUMOR/SATIRE
Iraq, Afghanistan, War, Terrorism, Military, Politics, Media, MilBlogs, dawn patrol Mudville
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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
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So -- let's see if I have it correct. Obama's announcement of a redeployment of one incoming Stryker brigade from Iraq to Afghanistan was prominent on-the-air news.
The fact that this brigade has been learning Arabic for months -- useless in Afghanistan -- was not mentioned.
The fact that this brigade will be replaced by yet another Stryker brigade was not reported, but was deliberately ignored by the network. It was quietly posted instead, much later, on the network web site.
So the Administration is succeeding, with MSM connivance, to give the public the fraudulent impression that our Iraq combat forces are being drawn down quickly, (as promised by Obama in the campaign). Both reality, and the waste of resources associated with covering up reality, are being suppressed by the press.
Please correct if I'm wrong.
Greyhawk,
There might be more to this story even than what you have written here. My niece's husband is based at Fort Lewis, and he was just deployed to Iraq. This past week we found out that his deployment was lengthened from 12 to something like 15 months. We also found out that she is due to deliver their first child in November, so we are hoping he will be able to come home for that. He works in a medical unit, and I don't know much more than that, but I can find out, if you would like.
So if I understand this correctly, you are saying that:
1. A brigade was diverted from deploying to Iraq to deploying to Afghanistan, and this was publicly identified as a "draw-down" of forces in Iraq.
2. Several days later it was reported that another brigade's deployment to Iraq is being pulled forward.
3, The comment above indicates yet another brigade's return to the US is being pushed back.
This all sounds like a net effect on manpower of essentially zero, but a negative effect on the fit between the training of the deploying forces and their duties. That will presumably result in degraded effectiveness, and thus increased casualties, am I right?
I can accept that a CiC might have to make sub-optimal military decisions in the face of political realities, but I would hope those realities would involve the interests of the nation, not simply the Potemkin-like fulfillment his political promises. In this case it sounds like it was the latter.
What are the duties / options of a the military commander in such a situation?
As my son is 5-2ID SBCT and took those Arabic Class's and, trianed his ASS off for Iraq. I could power a nuclear plant just by dipping my kiester in the water. Gotta think Geobbels would be proud of our media. Rick (Doc) Wright EX 82nd 1/05
A "Stryker Brigade" is basically a unit riding around in armored cars, right? Armored cars have been around since WWI and have generally fared poorly in combat against real armored vehicles, such as tanks. Why does a unit riding around in armored cars get a special designation?
If you'll recall from the campaign, when Obama wanted to transfer interpreters from Iraq to Afghanistan, he obviously doesn't know that there are different languages spoken in those two countries so the issue of the Arabic training doesn't matter to him. It's all about the permanent campaign.
Greyhawk,
This isn't the first time "THE ONE" has tried to manipulate the war operations to his advantage. Remember when he tried to get the Iraqis to stall U.S. redeployments for the sake of his campaign?
He wanted to make it look as if the impending withdrawal and success created by American military operations including the surge, were all his idea.
Link:
http://sfcmac.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/obama-tried-stalling-us-redeployment/
This narcissistic charlatan has no shame.
Sherlock
"net effect on manpower of essentially zero" - well, depends on what you mean. In Iraq, yes, but an increase in Afghanistan with no concurrent decrease in Iraq. As near as I can determine, none of the 17,000 troops "surging" (see this report from Afghanistan) into Afghanistan will be at the expense of totals in Iraq.
That total has decreased from surge levels and might continue to do so - depending on conditions on the ground. But thus far the only Brigade designated to go to Iraq this year then switched to Afghanistan has been replaced by another Brigade for Iraq.
But then again - there are 22 Brigades "in the pipeline" for Iraq, or in Iraq this year, so there are plenty more opportunities for "diversions".
I think this is a case of (more) bad reporting from the multi-layer fact checkers:
“These units have been identified for some time now to go in as replacement units,” he said. “This isn’t part of the additional capabilities that we’re applying. These are rotational forces and do not alter or change any announcements made last week. … We’re still at the same [troop] levels in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53285
Sorry Sherlock - missed your last question: "What are the duties / options of a the military commander in such a situation?"
Answer: Salute smartly and lead the mission. (I'd bet on "successfully" too.)
J Reecer: many Brigades have some "special designation" - "Stryker", "Heavy", what have you. The Strykers are well qualified and proven for the mission they are performing, which is why they're in demand.
All you have to do is watch charleyy gibson's "news" cast to know that it's nothing but a 30 minute propaganda show for the obama presidency.
Isn't it funny how quickly the "milblogs" turn traitor as soon as there isn't a Republican president? Who'd have ever expected you to hate your country so quickly?
As a left-liberal who voted Green the past two elections, this doesn't totally surprise me. I doubt Obama will have all troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011, and, of course, his plan only includes Army and Marines; says nothing about USAF.
That said, the nutbar "conservatives" here fulminating about the pseudo-liberal media are good for a laugh. Time to put your tinfoil hats back on.
I'm speechless.
@SocraticGadfly,
Pseudo-liberal media? Wassa matta? The New York Times, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Washington Post aren't "pseudo" liberal enough?
Leftwingnuts saturate the MSM, but all you libs can do is fling the tin-foil hat accusation.
Call your proctologist. He found your head.
Can anybody find a published TPFDL—time-phased forces-deployment list from OSD? That should solve this issue.
"The Realist" blathered:
Wow, the irony. A Democrat becomes president and suddenly dissent is treason.
Funny how the milbloggers found their dissenting voice shortly after noon, EST, on Jan. 20th. Can a wingnut Code Pink be far behind?
Ah, the sweet sound of projection.
I'm a soldier in 4/2, so I thought I'd throw my two cents in. The way things are being explained to us is that if we want most of the combat brigades gone by 31 Aug 2010, 4/2 had to deploy ASAP in order to fit in a 12-month deployment before the deadline. Not going to get into the political bit for obvious reasons. We just got back from Iraq in June 08 so it's a tough time for a lot of families, so keep us all in your thoughts. This is our job and we're proud to do it.
I realize the odds of getting an honest answer are zero, but would the lefties chiming in here please explain how pointing this out is somehow a bad thing and or 'dissenting'.
I mean what, exactly, are we dissenting about? That the CIC is using the troops as political props? Doesn't that bother (especially) you lefties that want the troops OUT NOW and, instead, he just pulled a flim-flam on you (this little sideshow was to trick YOU into thinking he was doing what he promised, not us)? And, even better, instead of condemining him for it, you're on here yelling at us because we're concerned (still!) about the troops and their families?!
God, it must be really interesting living inside some of your heads, what with all the loose change, gravel and water sloshing around.
Before Bush was president, the wingers were in full whine about 19 troops killed in Somalia. Then, while the planes were in the air on the way to Serbia on the first day of hostilities, they condemned the operation because they didn't like the CIC.
Then the partisan picture changed, and the wingers didn't bat an eyelash about a prez who lied his way into two wars and screwed 'em up royally. More than 4,000 Americans dead? Cost of freedom, bucko. Suck it up.
Now the partisan climate changes, and you are pacifists. It's so transparent. You couldn't care less about this country, and to you the military is full of people who are expendable for your politics. You don't know a single thing about real patriotism or love of country, and you never will.
Actually, he didn't. Nice use of the "repeat a lie" technique though. You guys always resort to it in your rantings at some point.
For Teh Narrative!
Oops, another lie. Try again.
(Hm. Wonder if Willysnout/Whatever name he choses after getting banned again has wandered back under yet another name.)
Realist:
Instead of posting a bunch of non-sequitirs and revising history, can you just answer the following questions:
1. Are you happy that Obama *isn't* drawing down troop levels in Iraq?
2. Are you happy that, as it turns out, he LIED to you about this fact?
3. Are you at all bothered that because of this little political shell game, that there are troops that are now UNDER-PREPARED for Afghanistan and are going to be put in harm's way?
4. Are you at all bothered that because of this little political shell game, that there are troops that are now UNDER-PREPARED for Iraq and are going to be put in harm's way?
5. Does it even matter if we ARE a bunch of knuckle-dragging, war-profiteering, troglodytes working for Halliburton? Who cares if we're a bunch of hypocrites?! What difference does it make in the context of what is going on here and now?
Here's my answers and you tell me if I'm being a 'pacifist' or a 'dissenter' just because there's a (D) after the prez's name:
1. No, actually I'm pissed because a lot of fine men and women (and their families) were expecting them home and/or not expecting to see them leave so early.
2. No, actually I'm pissed because HE FUCKING LIED TO YOU, ME, AND EVERY OTHER AMERICAN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ROPE-A-DOPE AND, APPARENTLY, ABC AT LEAST, WENT RIGHT ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
3. Yes, I'm pissed and upset because he's going to send under-trained troops into a war zone where, thanks to said under-training, they face worse odds of coming home alive and/or in one piece ALL IN ORDER TO APPEASE BRAINDEAD ASSHOLES LIKE YOU WHO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE TROOPS AT ALL (since, you know, you've been screeching for nearly a decade that you love the troops, but hate the war).
4. See answer 3 plus: we know you hate the troops, hate Bush, hate Iraq, hatehatehatehate and don't care if another bunch of 'knuckle-dragging, war-profiteering, troglodytes working for Halliburton' marches off to an untimely death because you never cared about the troops and ONLY care about your precious Obama (who, incidentally, fucked you over in front of the world!)
5. None of this should matter if you give a damn about our men and women in uniform (which you don't) because they're the ones being fucked in this deal, regardless if we're every bit as bad as you think we are. It doesnt matter how cartoonishly monstrous we are IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE TROOPS MORE THAN YOUR PRECIOUS OBAMA (who, incidentally, fucked you over in front of the world!)
The 'best' part is, he made ALL Americans in general look like the bunch of rubes you've been calling us in the 'Red States' for the past 8 years and at the expense of our soldiers' lives, you asshole. And the biggest joke is that, instead of being upset about the little political theater he gave you (before he gave you the hook), you're mad at us because we don't want to see the troops take it like you like it.
Some amplifying information that changes the spin a little: the diversion of a brigade from Iraq to Afghanistan was in the works with the previous administration. In this case, Obama was merely executing the plan that was already rolling (and taking credit for it). Separately, you will note in his big Iraq speech that he did indicate that levels will stay essentially status quo through the end of the national elections (through '09). That means we now need to replace the brigade he diverted. So no real drawdown until '10.
Realist, you are an ass (in the donkey sense).
When Rumsfield was screwing things up by not listening to the generals, I seem to remember a lot of conservatives griping about it. Obama is doing even stupider things now, and for purely political reasons.
For the sake of my Marine son, my Navy husband, and my Army brother, I hope to God someone talks some sense into him before he starts getting our soldiers killed. And make no mistake: every drop of blood from these brigades (and future deployments) resulting from inappropriate training, language barriers, and the wrong equipment will be on Obama's hands. Not Bush's. Time for the slacker-in-chief to sit his butt in the chair and learn his job.
I am a 4/2 SBCT mom, and now I am hearing on the comments here that this a 12-month deployment? We were told 8-months since they are going back way ahead of schedule.
Their training has been cut short. Their time of preparation has been cut short. Their time in garrison and with their families has been cut short, and my confidence in this CiC is nonexistent. It's going to be a long couple of years.
It might be worth pointing out that the last time 4/2 deployed it was also accelerated, that time due to the "surge." The media about wet its collective pants because the troops were missing out on valuable training because they were being rushed into the combat zone. Why no hand-wringing this time, I wonder?
Did the Obamessiah tell us that they speak Arabic in Afghanistan? So no problem here. Move along you racist Obama hating neocons.
SFCMac, you just proved my point about laugh value!
And,no, they're not that liberal. They all supported the Bush bottom line on the invasion. Other than a fairly liberal stance on abortion, they're not liberal, not really liberal, on gay rights.
If I want really progressive info on foreign policy and such, I read The Nation and Counterpunch.
And, being a shithead, you'd know about proctologists.
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Patrick, actually he DID lie. I guess if you tell enough yourself, you don't recognize them in other people.
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ECM, especially, Kywhite and others: Why is it that everybody who hates Bush supposedly hates the military, too? Realist said nothing of the sort.
How does him pointing out the lies count as "treason" or whatever?
BUT, by you all CLAIMING he said stuff like that, you bring on caricatures about yourself.
Know what I mean?
You do, somewhere inside, but you won't admit it.
Why? Because, ultimately, you have a "martyr complex" and like indulging it.
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MorgChop: Somebody is dumb for not sending the Ft. Lewis unit straight to A-stan. I'm sure the stupidity started with Shrub. It would be nice for Obama to overrule it.
Oh, for the record, my sister recently retired from a 20-year career between active duty Army, Reserve and Guard. I've never called her a mouthbreather, either.
Geez, you folks do feel persecuted.
It's not the lying by folks like Gadfly and Realist that bothers me. I'm used to it by now. It’s like having an enema (Gadfly will be thrilled by the scatological reference) - just ignore it and it will soon be over.
Of course peacniks hate the US troops - it's their trademark. We have nearly a decade of anti-military rants from the Far Left loons that has not yet been stuffed down the memory hole. Hate is their gist to America.
No - it's the fact that Gadfly and Realist are stupid and clumsy liars that bothers me. It is way too easy to disprove what they say. They honestly believe that we are stupid enough to swallow whatever swill they dish out. Such shoddy workmanship! Their mentor Joseph Goebbels would be disappointed.
SocraticGadfly breaks the irony meter with:
Ah, more projection. Typical.
(Anyone suspect "Gadfly" here is "Realist" posting under a different pseudonym? Or am I just hoping there isn't more than one of these... individuals floating around the net.)
I hope to God someone talks some sense into him before he starts getting our soldiers killed.
Hmm. Maybe 4,300 of them?
As a soldier in 3/2 SBCT we knew that one of the Stryker Brigades at Ft. Lewis was likely to be bumped to Afghanistan and the rotation for the other six Stryker brigades adjusted to fill the gap.
The Army only has 7 Stryker Brigades, and they are much better than "armored cars". They are Armored Fighting Vehicles, 20 tons of rolling steel that bring the pain. That is why Stryker Brigades are in demand in both theaters. We hit harder for longer than Light brigades and have a smaller logistical/maintenance footprint than Heavy brigades.
Since we were schedule to Iraq only a month or two behind 5/2 we were hoping to get the Afghanistan mission, but that didn't happen because the Powers That Be wanted a Stryker Brigade "right now" instead of "Right Now plus 6 weeks".