"There is a growing backlash in the Army"

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army is showing growing signs of strain as it tries to sustain troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan, including stress on soldiers, lower unit readiness, equipment shortfalls and money worries.

snip:
Army leaders are expressing concern over getting sufficient resources to sustain overseas deployments and replace and fix tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment battered in Iraq.

The Army has warned of declining combat readiness of units as soldiers face less time at home bases for rest, training and re-equipping after a yearlong combat tour. In fact, a brigade due to deploy in January will have spent barely a year at its home base between tours in Iraq.

snip:
"The main problem at this point is over-deployment," said Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"I think more and more as time goes on, the problem is going to be retention (reenlistment) because there is a growing backlash in the military -- a lot of anger not so much at the war but at the deployment schedule, the impact on family lives, the uncertain career prospects."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060926/ts_nm/iraq_usa_army_dc

[donco6]

1. The war with Iran will get them pumped up again. No? n/t

[LynnTheDem]

2. Yes there is; recent words from a US officer in Iraq...

"Soldiers starting to ask more questions every day. The infamous "why" is starting to rear its ugly head. Not a good sign that. Soldiers should only ask how high not why. (sarcasm)

I can see already the chain of command starting to crack down. Emails are flying to and fro directing commanders at lower levels to start policing their ranks for uniform violations and trash in their area of operation.

That's the first sign of fear of discipline problems. Punishing for mild insubordination is next."