US army 'degraded' by Iraq deployments: defense experts

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A group of prominent US defense and national security experts sounded an alarm about the strain on US combat forces of lengthy deployments to Iraq, saying the problem has reached crisis levels.

The National Security Advisory Group, chaired by former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, alleged in a letter to top congressional Democrats that the US administration's underfunding of the army represents "a serious failure of civilian stewardship of the military."

"Two-thirds of the army's operating force, active and reserve, is now reporting in as unready," the group wrote in their letter to lawmakers.

"There is not a single non-deployed Army Brigade Combat Team in the United States that is ready to deploy.

The letter continued: "The bottom line is that our army currently has no ready, strategic reserve. Not since the Vietnam era and its aftermath has the Army's readiness been so degraded."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060801/ts_alt_afp/usiraqmilitary

[gratuitous]

1. A humorous blast from the past

What Republican candidate for president said this during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in 2000:

Little more than a -- little more than a decade ago, the Cold War thawed, and with the leadership of President's Reagan and Bush, that wall came down.

But instead of seizing this moment, the Clinton-Gore administration has squandered it. We have seen a steady erosion of American power and an unsteady exercise of American influence. Our military is low on parts, pay and morale. If called on by the commander-in-chief today, two entire divisions of the Army would have to report, "Not ready for duty, sir."

This administration had its moment, they had their chance, they have not led. We will.

_____________________

Mr. Bush, you certainly have led. But I don't think the country really wanted to follow you into that particular corner of Hell.

[neverforget]

3. They led alright. Right off of a cliff.

[underpants]

6. The question that must be asked is-Why would you attack with that army?

If it was in such a state if disrepair (the House and Senate have NOTHING to do with this of course :eyes: ) why would you attack with that force? Is it really the Army you have not the Army you want?

I know it is all bullshit but their bullshit is piled so high that they need to dig down to get out of it.

[cliss]

8. You said it very well, gratuitous.

I can't add anything....and that's rare for me.:smoke:

[bluedeminredstate]

2. How does this man

score the highest with the American public on "terrorism" issues? Sweet Jeebus, this bullshit about "fighting them over there" leaves us exposed. Why don't people see this?

:mad:

[Tyrone Slothrop]

7. I would have thought that 9-11 would have woken people up to this

Seriously, we supposedly have the most powerful armed forces (including the Air Force) in the world and yet 4 major airliners are hijacked and terrorize the country for about 2 hours with ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE from any of the armed services??????

[bluedeminredstate]

9. That question has haunted me since that day.

Where was the Air Force? Why no military response? I'll never get over it; what little faith I had after 12/12/2000 was lost on that day over that very lack of response. The other question that goes with the military response question is why did the press not ask? It was as though this was a normal thing.
Seriously, how is the most heavily fortified building in the world (presumably) able to have a plane fly into it with no attempt at real and effective defensive procedures and why did Peter Jennings et al forget to ask Rummy? He should have been hounded until they wore him down, but poof! all gone...

I have often thought that if I had five minutes with Bill Clinton and he HAD to be truthful, I would ask that question.

[Barrett808]

12. Even stranger, considering the Air Force intercepts stray jets often

Iirc, there were something like 60 interceptions a year before 9/11. Of course you'll recall the Payne Stewart incident; various reports had the Air Force escorting his plane within 15 minutes of deviating from its flight path.

[alfredo]

4. I have not seen America as weak as it is now. bush couldn't have done

this accidentally. Nobody is that stupid.

[BigDDem]

5. Wait....

I thought they were all happy to be there, being greeted as liberators and "fighting for our freedom."

[mom cat]

10. This sounds like the prelude to a request for more money.

Hey, how about working on finding the trillions that are missing from the Pentagon?

[lovuian]

11. Bush and Rumsfeld has destroyed our army

isn't that the whole crime