Senate Votes to Add 20,000 Troops to Army

[UpInArms]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040617_2057.html

WASHINGTON June 17, 2004 — Defying the Bush administration, the Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to add 20,000 troops to an Army stretched thin by the war in Iraq and other commitments around the world.

The 93-4 vote in the Republican-led Senate following a similar action by the House reflected the anxieties lawmakers have been hearing from families of service personnel whose tours in Iraq keep getting extended and whose return to civilian life is repeatedly postponed.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the lack of troops at the end of major combat in Iraq cost the military an opportunity to stop the violence that continues today.

"We didn't have enough people on the ground, and now we are paying a very, very heavy price for that incredible mistake on the part of the civilian leadership in the Pentagon of the United States of America," he said.

The increase was approved as an amendment to a $447 billion defense authorization bill. Under the proposal by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the size of the Army would increase by about 4 percent, to 502,400. Congressional aides estimated the cost at $1.7 billion.

...more...

[bluestateguy]

1. And those soldiers are going to come from?

Will the US be purchasing clone troopers from the cloning base on the planet Kamino?

http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/kamino/index.html

[Sabriel]

2. Help Wanted: Mercenary

At least "Soldier of Fortune" will see an increase in sales soon....

Sabriel

[DarthDem]

3. I Hope Not

Those Clonetroopers have a way of turning against you. Plus, they all look the same, making for a boring Army. How could you pinpoint exactly who was torturing you in Iraqi prisons?

Anyway, anyone have the roll call on this one? I'm curious who the four nays were.

[saigon68]

4. That 20,000 won't accomplish squat

Thats really only 4000 combat troops, a brigade or 2 at best. The rest of them are supply types, short arm inspectors and pay clerks.

LOL

No the Big Chimp's handlers plan to double the size of the military with the draft--- as soon as Osama and his boys blow up Atlanta. Then they will kick some serious ass in Iran , Syria and North Korea. Its all in the PNAC papers.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I hope the freepers all rush down and offer to fill all these new positions

Either that, or they can wait for their kids or grandchildren to be drafted to fight in their fearless leaders permanent war.

Don

[Kolesar]

6. Pentagon spending up 50% in 3-1/2 years !

Was it not about $300 Billion when Bush took over?
> $447 billion defense authorization bill

[phantom power]

7. someone said this could be filled by calling back inactives

faster than it could be filled with a draft. And I suppose there are still more Reserves that could be sent.