Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times

10th Mountain brigade extended in Afghanistan

The Army has extended 3,200 10th Mountain Division soldiers in Afghanistan, doubling the size of American combat ground forces available to battle Taliban fighters in the country.

The 10th Mountain’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team will remain in Afghanistan alongside its incoming replacement unit, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, for up to four months.

“The Army is very proud of the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and will ensure that they and their families have all the support and resources they need during this challenging time,” said Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody, according to an Army press release Thursday.

“These soldiers have accomplished a great deal in Afghanistan and will continue to get the mission done for our Army and this nation. … I am thankful every day for their professional and selfless commitment.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered the extension Wednesday, a week after he met with commanders in Afghanistan and heard a request for more troops.

Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, at first asked for about 1,200 troops. Gates said he was “strongly inclined” to meet the commander’s request but wanted to consider other options before deciding how many to hold over.

Ben Abel, a spokesman for Fort Drum, N.Y., where 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, is based, confirmed that Gates had decided to extend the brigade’s tour.

The 82nd’s brigade of about 5,000 paratroopers began deploying Saturday for its Afghanistan tour.

President Bush’s plan to send more than 21,000 additional troops to Iraq is already running into criticism on Capitol Hill as he struggles to persuade the Democratic-controlled Congress and a weary public to have patience with his war policies.

The decision further stresses a military straining to wage major wars on two fronts. Army and Marine Corps leaders, meanwhile, are telling Congress they are concerned about the readiness levels of their units at home.

The extension also raises questions about the future course of the conflict in Afghanistan. NATO and U.S. troops have struggled to control an increased flow of Taliban fighters into the country and a stubborn drug trade that has financed the insurgency.

According to several military officials, the decision was made to extend 3rd Brigade rather than hold over about 1,200 soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division — which is about halfway through a scheduled four-month tour in eastern Afghanistan. The soldiers from Fort Polk, La., are part of Task Force Boar.

That regiment is now expected to go home as planned, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details had not been released.

About 24,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, the highest number since the war began in October 2001. The U.S. gradually has been transferring control of the forces to NATO.

Of the 31,000 troops under NATO command in Afghanistan, about 11,000 are American. The U.S. has an additional 12,000 or 13,000 in the country to hunt down al-Qaida terrorists and to train the Afghan army.

The additional troops are expected to be used to prevent the Taliban from crossing the border from Pakistan.

Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., whose district includes Fort Drum, said the news was “a disappointing development.”

McHugh recently traveled to both Afghanistan and Iraq with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

“The fact is that we simply don’t have enough troops. Thankfully, Secretary Gates has recognized the need and is open to expanding the size of the Army, but this will take time,” McHugh said.

Clinton said the deployment extension was evidence the Army was overextended.

“During my recent trip to Afghanistan, this is something that commanders on the ground reported that they needed,” Clinton said in a written statement. “This announcement is another indicator that our Army is stretched too thin and another reason why I have supported increasing the size of the Army.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.