Yahoo! News - Army Lengthens Iraq Tours Despite Pledge
WASHINGTON - For about 21,000 American soldiers, the Army's promise to limit tours of duty in Iraq to no more than 12 months has fallen victim to the surge in anti-occupation violence.

Approximately 18,000 soldiers of the 1st Armored Division, which is based in Germany, and about 2,800 of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Polk, La., have been told that they will remain in Iraq for another three months instead of coming home this month, a senior defense official said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The decision, which has not been announced publicly, breaks the Army's pledge to soldiers and their families that assignments in Iraq would not exceed one year. The affected soldiers already have been in Iraq for a year.

The Army is so stretched by its commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and elsewhere that it has few, if any, forces immediately available to substitute in Iraq for the 1st Armored or 2nd Armored Cavalry.

This should do wonders for morale and re-enlistment. Sorry guys.