http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/analysis/199Bush Says Dem's Iraq Bill Hurts Troops, but his Own "Surge" Plan will Leave Troops Underequipped, even if Fully FundedSubmitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 04/03/2007 - 4:29pm.
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
In a White House press conference today, President Bush said that the military would be faced with massive shortages if the "irresponsible" Democratic leadership fails to pass additional funding for his wars in the next few weeks. But Bush also promised to veto - and thus delay - any bill he does not like.
Besides, the troops would be grossly underfunded and undersupplied even if the "surge" plan gets all the money Bush is asking for. The Washington Post reported in January that "the Army and Marine Corps will be short thousands of vehicles, armor kits and other equipment needed to supply the extra forces."
Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Speakes said the military is not only short on armor kits for trucks, they don't even have enough trucks to armor up in the first place. New combat units will have to share what is already there. One commander said troops will not have the equipment they need "unless five brigades of up-armored Humvees fall out of the sky."
The Post also noted that the "accelerated deployments would mean less time for units to train and fill out their ranks. Brigades are required to have an aggregate number of soldiers before deploying but may still face shortages of specific ranks and job skills."
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