U.S. Army secretary rules out Iraq deployments longer than 15 months

WASHINGTON. Army Secretary Pete Geren yesterday ruled out extending U.S. troop deployments beyond the current 15 months, saying that longer tours in Iraq put stress on soldiers and their families, and have contributed to an increase in suicides.

But Geren, who was confirmed in the Army’s top civilian post in July, also criticized any congressional efforts to mandate deployment lengths or rest time at home.

In his first extensive interview since taking the job, Geren offered his most definitive rejection of keeping soldiers at the warfront longer than 15 months, saying he sees “no possibility of that happening.”

“Our goal is to move it the other direction — move it back to 12 months,” he told The Associated Press, observing that 15 months is “asking more than we want to ask” of the soldiers.

After ruling out deployments longer than 15 months, Geren would not say what options are under consideration to maintain current troop levels beyond spring of 2008 if that is what the Army is asked to do.

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