Military Update: Lawmakers appear resigned to strains of war

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Military Update: Lawmakers appear resigned to strains of war
By Tom Philpott, Special to The Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, March 1, 2008

Soldiers and families whose lives have been strained beyond imagination by multiple combat tours — the reality of being volunteers in an undermanned Army during a protracted war — might expect lawmakers to still be tossing fire and brimstone on their behalf at Pentagon witnesses.

But a sense of resignation characterized Wednesday’s hearing of the House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, even as the Army’s personnel chief gave his strongest signals yet regarding the depth of stress being felt by his soldiers and their loved ones.

The service personnel chiefs and Dr. David Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, appeared before the subcommittee to discuss recruiting and retention challenges, especially for the Army.

The session was oddly cordial, given the cost being paid by exhausted forces, as though lawmakers and witnesses both understood that only political will, not bigger budgets or new authorities, will bring relief.

The two-hour hearing was 90 minutes old before Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., the subcommittee’s new chairwoman, asked Chu and Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, deputy chief of staff for personnel, how close we are to “doing long-term damage to the Army.” Davis even prefaced her question by citing a recent news magazine item that said Congress is reluctant to ask tough questions about the war for fear of being seen as not supporting the troops.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52949