MADISON, Wis. -- The head of the Wisconsin National Guard said up to 40 percent of his soldiers may be headed overseas next year.

Brigadier General Don Dunbar said 3,200 soldiers are expected to be mobilized to Iraq in early 2009. He said a few other Guard units might also get deployed during the year.

Dunbar said 35 percent to 40 percent of the Guard's 10,000 nearly soldiers could be gone at once.

Gov. Jim Doyle said the deployments present long-term challenges for the Guard, but he's not worried that it will imperil its response to an emergency in Wisconsin.

Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Tim Donovan said 3,000 soldiers were in Iraq in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck but the Guard was still able to send 500 troops to help.