Air Force feels pinch of Iraq ground war

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon's bolstering of its ground forces in Baghdad by borrowing money and people from its sister services is further straining an already tightly stretched Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley said Tuesday.

The result, Moseley said, is people being assigned to jobs they weren't trained for. He cited Air Force airmen being used to guard prisoners and serve as drivers and cited one instance in which a female Air Force surgeon was assigned typing chores.

"We got her back," Moseley said at a breakfast with a group of reporters.

With President Bush and Congress locked in battle over Iraq spending, the Pentagon is shifting money among services and accounts, including drawing down funds earmarked for other later purposes, including meeting payrolls.

"Somebody's going to have to pay us back," Moseley said.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070424/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/a...

[gratuitous]

1. Somebody's going to pay you back, Mr. Moseley?

And who do you think that might be? Because I have to tell you, what with the disproportionate burden of these fine wars falling on the working classes, we're kind of tapped out. I hear that Paris Hilton and others in her economic stratum have been profiting handsomely these last few years. Are you going to ask the overrich to pitch in and pay a little now? That would be nice, and good luck to you.

[Kagemusha]

2. I'm sorry, I don't want generals telling the civilian government who to tax.

I'll gladly tell the government on my own behalf, but I don't want the military butting into that area. That's for Congress to decide.

[saigon68]

4. Mr Mosely is a Bush Boot Licker

He could give a shit.

The only thing that matters to him-------- is to do his 30.

And get a cushy $500,000.00 plus, a year job, at Boeing etc.

[Miss Chybil]

5. He's talking about the other services...

Each of them are alloted x amount of dollars. If the Pentagon takes Air Force money and gives it to the Army, I'm sure he is saying the Army must pay them (the Air Force) back in order for them to meet their own mission goals.

When my DIL was in Iraq with the Air Force, the Army was constantly trying to redefine her mission. It's an ongoing battle between the two branches.

[Kolesar]

3. "an already tightly stretched Air Force"

Kill Star Wars. Kill the useless satellite budget. Kill the useless high speed interceptors. Kill, kill, kill!

[Sabriel]

6. Don't they know? Family members are exempt from payback.

At least, that's what my siblings always explained to me.

How long before the Iraq conflict reshapes the US military as it currently stands? We're seeing some different shifts already.

[entanglement]

7. "A female Air Force surgeon was assigned typing chores?"

There's more there than meets the eye, methinks

[Heidi]

8. Kick.

[wakeme2008]

9. Air Force Pinched by Iraq Ground War

Source: AP

April 24, 2007
Air Force Pinched by Iraq Ground War
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 8:58 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Air Force's top general expressed frustration on Tuesday with the reassignment of troops under his command to ground jobs for which they were not trained, ranging from guarding prisoners to driving trucks and typing.

Gen. Michael Moseley, the Air Force chief of staff, said that over 20,000 airmen have been assigned worldwide into roles outside their specialties.

With President Bush and Congress in a standoff over Iraq spending, the Pentagon is shifting money among services and accounts, including drawing down funds earmarked for other later purposes.

''Somebody's going to have to pay us back,'' Moseley said. ''I don't have to want to have concerns about getting that money back.''

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Air-Force-Woes.ht...

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Let's Pinch Air Force One

And the rest of The Chimperor's fleet - use it for something useful.

[Theres-a]

11. Who's gonna pay US back?

We and our grandchildren will be paying for this war,long after it's over.As our food supply is being compromised,our infrastructure crumbles,our wounded vets recieve no care,our elderly must work at walmart because they need to eat..I wonder.....WHO IS GOING TO PAY US BACK?

[saigon68]

12. kick