LAT/AP: General Says Troops in Iraq 'Stretched'

[DeepModem Mom]

General Says Troops in Iraq 'Stretched'
By NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press Writer


DIWANIYAH, Iraq -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq acknowledged on Thursday that the U.S. Army was stretched but insisted forces here were capable of accomplishing their mission and any recommendation to reduce troops further would be dictated by the situation on the battlefield.

U.S. officials said Gen. George Casey was speaking about the Army in general and not specifically about the 136,000-strong force in Iraq. However, his comments are likely to fuel a debate inside the U.S. government over whether the United States can sustain the fight long enough to break the back of the Sunni Arab-led insurgency.

"The forces are stretched ... and I don't think there's any question of that," Casey told reporters. "But the Army has been for the last several years going through a modernization strategy that will produce more units and more ready units."

Casey said he had discussed manpower strains with Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker on Wednesday and that the Army chief of staff feels he can sustain missions around the world. Casey was adamant that the troops in Iraq were getting the job done.

"So, yep, folks are stretched here but they certainly accomplish their mission, and the forces that you've seen on the ground are absolutely magnificent," Casey added....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top12jan26,0,4184280.story

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Rummy will be all over TV dismissing that as hogwash.

[Squatch]

2. No they're not.

[Moderator]

3. DUplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2066708