Guard facing troop shortage for Iraq in 2006

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON — The Army National Guard will run short of troops for Iraq in 2006 unless the situation there improves or the 24-month limit on callups is changed, its top general said Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Roger Schultz said in an interview that planners are assuming in 2006 the Army will need fewer than the 52,000 Army Guard members in Iraq now — roughly a third of the 155,000 U.S. troops battling insurgents.

But if the demand remains the same, the Army Guard would be unable to meet it "without recalling previously mobilized soldiers" covered by the 24-month callup cap, Schultz said.

Other Army leaders have suggested relaxing the callup cap, too. But Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said earlier this month there were "no plans" to take that politically touchy step.
...
....Schultz acknowledged that because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and mobilizations for homeland security duties, "the all-volunteer concept is being tested today."

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050224/NEWS/502240347/1002

[Toots]

1. I find this one of Bush*'s most appalling acts.

National Guard is just that "National Guard" They did not sign up to fight foreign wars. They signed up to protect the Nation from within against Nature as well as man. Why would someone join the Guard these days? If they want to be in the Army why not join the Army? It is going to take quite some time to restore people's faith in the Guard. Those that pretend to "Love and Support" the military are sure doing everything in their power to break it.

[DS1]

2. "the all-volunteer concept is being tested today."

and if it fails...

/rhetorical

[lovuian]

3. I think people were fooled into signing their life away!!!

and the word is out and not as many fools are running in those offices!!!

[LynnTheDem]

4. Draft the 60 million bushlers. They WANT to die for bush-god's bullshit.

So let em.

[amber dog democrat]

5. Fool me once....

It will be interesting to see if the Guard meets it recruiting goals.
Volunteer means volunteer - not an open ended committment to involuntary servitude prey to imperial war needs.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Why is the "national guard" sending people to "guard" Iraq?

The US is bailing water out of a sinking ship.

[Roland99]

7. My daughter's boyfriend just signed up...he's off for 6 months' training

He told me that they told him he would not have to go overseas.


I told him they'd say anything to get you to sign up. He ended up going w/the Guard because of the $10k up-front.

[struggle4progress]

8. kick