82d Airborne Division going to Iraq

I'm so old that I remember when the president told us he had "ended the war in Iraq."

Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq—tens of thousands of them—will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home. The last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq—with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops. That is how America’s military efforts in Iraq will end.

Yeah, that statement is no longer operative: "Army to Deploy 1,700 Paratroopers to Iraq."

The U.S. Army announced Thursday it will deploy 1,700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division this winter to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces currently trying to retake Mosul from Islamic State fighters.

The 82nd Airborne's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to take part in Operation Inherent Resolve, according to an Army press release.

The unit will replace the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, in training, advising and assisting the Iraqi forces.

Last spring there were 5,000 US troops who had returned to Iraq to help fight a war that we were told had ended. You will search in vain to find the number there today. But rest assured, it's higher, likely much higher.

The 82d Airborne Division is, of course, the world's premier parachute combat force. They get to the battlefield like this:



The problem is, from then on you walk.