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Special Defense Department Briefing

Apr-15-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Speaking at the Pentagon today, General George W. Casey, Army Vice Chief Of Staff, described some of the recent troop movment in Iraq. An unknown number of Strykers have been allocated to the 1st Armored Division.

[Link to Full Transcript]

Q General Abizaid earlier in the week described his request as one of -- for a strong, mobile combat capability. How do these three brigades' worth of Army troops meet that goal? Are there any force enhancements besides up-armored Humvees? I'm thinking, you know, UAVs or any other capabilities to make this a strong, mobile combat capability?

GEN. CASEY: Well, the heart of this formation is the 1st Armored Division, which is -- and two of its armored brigades, which are Bradley and tanks primarily, although for this particular mission they've been given some up-armored Humvees. The 2nd Light Cavalry Regiment is a light Humvee, largely Humvee-mounted force. Again, they are all mobile operational forces.

Q Yes, but you're not complimenting them with any additional capabilities that they didn't already have in Iraq, like more helicopters or even Air Force assets?

GEN. CASEY: No, I don't --

GEN. CODY: No, the only thing we have done, to show the flexibility of the plan that was in place, is we have moved Strykers and shopped them to the 1st Armored Division. And the commander on the ground, General Sanchez, has reallocated his combat capability throughout the region to deal with the threats that they see out there. So he has a very, very mobile force that he's repositioned.

Q How many Strykers?

GEN. CODY: I won't comment on that, but he has moved Strykers in.


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