Army Considers Extending Reserve (past 24 month limit)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58913-2005Feb2?language=printer

Massing enough troops for another rotation in Iraq will be "painful" and may eventually require the Pentagon to adopt policies that would extend the two-year limit on the mobilization of reserves, a senior Army leader told Congress yesterday.

"Right now we have 650,000 soldiers on active duty executing missions worldwide, and many of them have met their 24-month cumulative time, so we'll have to address this," Gen. Richard A. Cody testified before the House Armed Services Committee.

Yesterday's testimony underscored a debate brewing in the Pentagon over how to meet the long-term demands of the war on terrorism. The Pentagon now limits reserves to a total of 24 months of active duty, but the Army is considering seeking an extension to allow for longer and more frequent deployments of reservists.

Cody said the Army has not asked for a formal change of policy but made it clear that was under consideration. "We're trying to be very careful before we make these changes" because they would have broad implications, he said after the hearing.

<snip>

Cody acknowledged that shortly after major combat operations in Iraq were declared over on May 1, 2003, the Pentagon projected that the number of brigades required to secure the country would fall from 16 at that time to 11 by December 2003 and four last year. There are now 20 U.S. brigades in Iraq, including an increase of about three brigades deployed only for the period surrounding the Iraqi elections held last Sunday.

Read down - they're having equipment shortages. They've drawn down almost all their pre-positioned armored vehicles and equipment. And Sludge has some developing story that Marines missed January recruiting goal for the first time in a decade,

[mike_c]

1. fucking hell....

It's becoming a race to see which unbelievably stupid fuck-up will be the terminal fuck-up.

[Benhurst]

2. Congress should just repeal the 14th Amendment and declare

the reservists slaves. Problem solved, BushAmerican style.

[Dhalgren]

4. Yeah, freedom in the form of a transfer tube...

[Scurrilous]

3. Marines Miss January Goal for Recruits

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/03/politics/03marines.html

<snip>

"For the first time in nearly a decade, the Marine Corps in January missed its monthly recruiting goal, in what military officials said was the latest troubling indicator of the Iraq war's impact on the armed services.

The struggles of the Army, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard to recruit and retain soldiers have received national attention in recent months. But the recent failure of the Marines, who historically have had the luxury of turning away willing recruits, is a potential problem for the service.

The Marines missed their January goal of 3,270 recruits by 84 people, or less than 3 percent. The Marines last missed a monthly goal in July 1995, and 1995 was also the last full year in which the corps fell short of its annual recruiting quota, said Maj. Dave Griesmer, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

Richard H. Kohn, a military historian at the University of North Carolina, said, "It's most troubling because the Marines tend to attract people who are the most macho, seek the most danger and are attracted by the service most likely to put them into combat."

[yorkiemommie1]

9. i'm waiting for them

to start snatching people off the streets. that's the level of distrust i have in this regime.

[jimshoes]

5. Broad implications would be an understatement

at what point does it become above and beyond the call of duty, 2.5 years 3 years, in the front lines for the duration? This will undoubtedly cause a meltdown in morale among the front line troops. The war cheerleading goopers will have to buy another yellow magnet ribbon to show their support.

[RockStar]

6. Good Keep them over there. We dont need them roaming our streets snapping

on a moments notice on some poor citizen in the USA. Can you image what kind of post trauma these soldiers are going to have when they get back here. Our police are not equiped to handle these out of control soldiers

[TolstoyAndy]

12. re: Police

Our police are going to BE these out of control soldiers, after some time.

We are fucked.

[Yavin4]

7. Um...The Iraqis Voted...Bring The Troops Home...What's The Problem?

They said on my TV...right there on my TV...that the Iraqis voted and now they control their own country. The people on my TV...right there on my TV...said Bush's policies worked and now there's democracy in Iraq.

So, why does the army have to extend the 24 month period?

[Corgigal]

8. explains why they mailed

a letter to my son last weekend. Letter was used on the bottom of puppy crate.

[yorkiemommie1]

10. best use for that pos

so ... when are the bush twins going?

[Xenotime]

11. More agony...

So, let's rip more sons and daughters from the arms of American familys so they can be beheaded over there. All so people over there can dip their fingers in another color. What's it going to be next time? Red? This Administration is DETERMINED to keep troops over there for the remainder of the term.

[Supersedeas]

14. breaking promises and changing the rules as they go

[struggle4progress]

13. kick

[aikido15]

15. Here comes the draft, which might be a good thing...

Maybe then all the apathetic people of this country will publicly revolt against this war...like during the Vietnam War. Students went nuts, protested radically and ended the war.

Gee, I just love the "me" generation. If it doesn't affect "me" why do anything about it...oh except maybe vote for the very politicians that support and fund this war which would be Republicans and Democratic senators.

Wake up progressive America...this is no time for apathy.

[aikido15]

16. Here comes the draft, which might be a good thing...

Maybe then all the apathetic people of this country will publicly revolt against this war...like during the Vietnam War. Students went nuts, protested radically and ended the war.

Gee, I just love the "me" generation. If it doesn't affect "me" why do anything about it...oh except maybe vote for the very politicians that support and fund this war which would be Republicans and Democratic senators.

Wake up progressive America...this is no time for apathy.

[aikido15]

17. Sorry about double post, new laptop...very sensitive mouse pad...

But it won't hurt people to read it TWICE!

[lovuian]

18. We are going to War with Iran lets not release them

What a mess!!!