IRAQ: A Risky Strain on an Overstretched Army (Wash. Post)

[diamond14]

A Risky Strain on an Overstretched Army

Sunday, October 12, 2003; Page B03


Retired Marine Gen. Joseph Hoar, a former commander of U.S. Central Command, and retired Air Force Col. Richard Klass are independent national security consultants.

-snips-

But the president does not have a constitutional duty to make Iraq a better place. He does have a constitutional duty to protect and defend the United States. So, regardless of the final outcome in Iraq, the administration's case for going to war -- and now, for how it deals with the aftermath of "major combat operations" -- must rest on whether Americans are more secure. In our judgment, we are not.

The argument that America is safer rests on two premises: first, that Iraq posed a threat to this country that has now been eliminated; second, that the war did not increase or create other threats. We believe both are incorrect.

The most urgent task is to relieve the heavy burden on the U.S. Army, the troops and their families. They are virtually the only Americans now sacrificing in this war. The new Iraqi army will help but not soon enough. If we are unable or unwilling to make the political compromises to secure a U.N. mandate that will allow substantial international participation, we will have to call up more National Guard and Reserve units in the short run and expand the Army as soon as possible. We simply must reduce deployment rates and end "stop loss" orders that keep service men and women in the military involuntarily, to the detriment of their family life and their jobs. If we do not act soon, we may not be able to achieve recruitment levels to sustain the Army's current size, let alone expand it.

The task in Iraq is to transfer decision making at the local and national levels to Iraqis, to reduce the visibility of the U.S. presence and dampen hostility. This will be easier if the United Nations is engaged and troops from countries acceptable to the Iraqi authorities participate....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11012-2003Oct10.html

[benddem]

1. This is great

I hadn't thought about the fact that Bush has no constitutional authority to make Iraq a better place. Great put down to Bushies.:bounce:

[The Zanti Regent]

2. But Israel is ordering us to attack Syria and Iran

* has to do what his TV Preacher masters tell him to do.

Gotta get that Armageddon thing going!

[tabasco]

3. The Army knew the deal going into this war.

They are the ones stuck with the occupation after the bulk of the Marines, Navy, and Air Force goes home. Shinseki tried to persuade the administration how many troops would be required for conquest / occupation, but Rumsfeld thought he knew better than the generals. The dissent in the Pentagon was mostly from the Army, and as an Army vet, I am proud of the officers who spoke their mind. Those senior officers that did resist the administration were forced into retirement. Was that a service to the country? Did that enhance national security, to fire the generals with moral courage? I think not. Just another reason this country is less safe due to the mismanagement of the Bush cabal.