Philadelphia Inquirer: Republican war rhetoric devoid of reality

[marmar]

Republican war rhetoric devoid of reality

Leonard Boasberg
lives and writes in Wayne

Defending his stay-the-course policy in Iraq, President Bush declared: "I believe the American people understand that success is necessary for the long-term security of the American people."

The American people, whose mentality he claims to understand as well as he once understood Vladimir Putin's soul, will next November elect a Republican who will "keep up the fight," he predicted.

The GOP nominee-in-waiting, John McCain, agrees. The American armed forces must remain in Iraq as long as it takes to achieve victory, he insists. How long? Maybe not 100 years, as he once said. Maybe 50? Anyway, as long as it takes. To achieve victory. Whatever that is.

Otherwise, McCain emphasizes, al-Qaeda will take over Iraq (despite the Shiites, the Sunnis and the Kurds, who may have other ideas) and follow us here.

Let us now return to reality. How long can we sustain our armed forces in Iraq?

"The cumulative effects of the last six-plus years at war have left our Army out of balance, consumed by the current fight, and unable to do the things we know we need to do to properly sustain our all-volunteer force," said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., testifying last fall before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Foreign Policy magazine and the Center for a New American Security recently conducted a survey of more than 3,400 current and former Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine officers, ranking from major and lieutenant commander to generals and admirals, more than two-thirds of whom have combat experience.

The survey found 60 percent saying that the U.S. military is weaker than it was five years ago and nearly 90 percent believing that the demands of Iraq and Afghanistan have "stretched the United States military dangerously thin."

Suppose another crisis should erupt in one of the world's simmering hot spots?

More than 80 percent of the officers say it would be unreasonable to ask the military to wage another major war today, the survey reports.

So much for the military side. How long can we sustain the civilian side? ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080317_Republican_war_rhetoric_devoid_of_reality.html

[acmavm]

1. Yeah, but how will KBR and Halliburton make money if we leave?

edit: To add - they need this war. And more wars. And more contracts!