Close to half of Maine's Army National Guard soldiers are preparing to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Maine Adj. Gen. Bill Libby told the Lewiston Sun Journal that 800 soldiers will be deployed in the coming months, with more than 300 of them going to Afghanistan. Libby told the paper that he felt confident that enough troops would be left in Maine to respond to emergencies.

He said the 172nd Mountain Infrantry Company, based in Brewer, is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in December, and the 1136th Transportation will follow in early 2010.

Libby said while the risks in Iraq have subsided, units in Afghanistan will face a dangerous situation. "Unless you live in a cave, you know that Afghanistan is a very dangerous place right now," he told the paper.

Maine Guard spokesman Capt. Shanon Cotta told the paper that the Maine National Guard has sent more than 2,300 men and women to Iraq and Afghanistan, and eight have died. The guard currently has 2,100 soldiers, he said.