Finally, something sensible from Washington:
Members of Congress from both parties are pushing for the first significant increase in the size of the active-duty military in 16 years, despite resistance from the Pentagon.
Call-ups of part-time troops from the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve to fill the ranks in Iraq have intensified the bipartisan sentiment that the Pentagon doesn’t have enough troops to fight an extended war on terrorism while keeping enough well-rested, well-trained troops ready for an emergency.“Momentum is building in Congress for” an increase, says Harald Stavenas, a spokesman for Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “Finally, everyone has come around to see enough is enough.”
“This recognizes the reality in the strain and the stretch in all the services,” says Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Skelton promises “positive action by our committee early next year.”
We probably don’t need many more combat troops. But civil affairs, logistics, transport, etc., all need to be increased by the thousands.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member