Also from Poynter's Al Tompkins...
More Troops Needed?
Here is one of those developments that I have a feeling, months from now, we will look back on and recognize as more significant than we realized at first. Late last week, a Pentagon-appointed panel said the United States needs more soldiers if we are going to do all we are trying to do around the globe.
The New York Times said:
Portions of the study, which has not been officially released, were read into the public record on Thursday by Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a leader of Democrats who want to expand the size of the military.
During testimony by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his top commanders, Reed said he found the study "provocative and startling."
Rumsfeld said the report was an "excellent piece of work," and that he had ordered briefings on its findings for senior military and civilian officials.
But he cautioned after the hearing that the section read by Reed was not a comprehensive synopsis, and that the authors of the study may not be fully aware of steps under way by the Pentagon to lessen stress on the force, and actions taken specifically by the Army to increase the number of available combat forces without further expanding the military.
Reed said the Defense Science Board study found "inadequate total numbers of U.S. troops" and "a lack of long-term endurance."
This is a critical issue right now – and one of the most important ramifications resulting from the unnecessary war in Iraq – our military is now so taxed, that we are terribly limited about what we can do elsewhere in the world. Our defenses are stretched too thin that should something serious happen elsewhere in the world, we have few options.
These things make us less safe today.
And all for an unnecessary, misguided war.
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