US has rotated more than 1 million troops though Iraq

[Alexander's Horse]

I saw this in a media report. Its a big number and the conflict is only a couple of years old.

How long can the US military go on replacing its garrison with a volunteer force?

[Dinner]

I doubt that number since many troops are on thier second or third rotation. That means some people are being counted two or three times.

[DeathByTheSword]

i thought the US was going to withdraw soon? because the elections were held and stuff?

[Dinner]

Don't hold your breath. They'll be there 10 years from now.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I doubt that number since many troops are on thier second or third rotation. That means some people are being counted two or three times.

but isn't that the point? - the same guys having to go back over and over

[Dinner]

The thread title said 1 million troops so I believe that was the original point. The real number is likely 500,000 or less.

[Alexander's Horse]

nope 1 million rotations

[DeathByTheSword]

Don't hold your breath. They'll be there 10 years from now.

yes 10 years will be to long to hold my breath i smoke you know

[el freako]

Well that's the point you are both making isn't it?

AH the thread title says 1m troops but what you mean is 1m rotations.

As an aside that's less than 1 rotation per minute so surely the US needs to speed it up 33-fold if it's message there is going to be understood

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
nope 1 million rotations

1 million rotations != 1 million troops. As Oerdin said, a good chunk of those soldiers have been there before. A half million is probably a good number of soldiers.

[Atahualpa]

The US is using iraq as training zone because they plan something bigger

[chequita guevara]

So you better behave.

[Atahualpa]

Behave like in "bombing other countries"... or behave like in NOT bombing other countries.

[chequita guevara]

Do as we say, not as we do.

[DanS]

Well, what are the other ways of going about staffing the warzone? Would you not rotate these guys, even though the ultimate timeframe is uncertain?