US Army says it's not 'broken' by Iraq war strains

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18179699.htm

US Army says it's not 'broken' by Iraq war strains


WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The civilian head of the U.S. Army said on Wednesday the service is not "broken" amid ongoing large deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as some critics have charged, and downplayed recent recruiting woes.

Army Secretary Francis Harvey also said the Army decided to field new side body armor plates for troops in Iraq even though it knows of just one fatal gunshot wound to the side of a U.S. soldier that might have been prevented by the new equipment.

"In the ongoing discussion and debate about Iraq, some have said the Army is severely stretched. A few have even described it as broken. I believe these comments are incorrect," Harvey told a Pentagon briefing.

A leading Democratic critic of the Iraq war, Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, has called the Army "broken" and "worn out" by ongoing big overseas deployments and recruiting shortfalls, a view echoed by other critics.

[gratuitous]

1. "I believe" these comments are incorrect

Uh huh, Mr. Harvey. And on what do you base that "belief"? Intelligent design? The Bible tells you so? Your job depends on it? A watery tart flinging a sword at you?

[FloridaPat]

2. Right. Here's how the repubs support the troops: donations by us.

http://www.saluteheroes.org/redesign/

Site is owned by a person who does repub campaigns.

[Crunchy Frog]

9. This is how the Repubs support the troops.

[arbusto_baboso]

3. Something everyone needs to realize about the military mentality..

NO ONE in uniform will ever admit that they are not capable of carrying out every mission assigned to them. It's part of the ethic of America's armed services.

Unfortunately, when unscrupulous bastards like the BFEE attain power, they twist this tendency to their own ends, and act like the lack of protest and/or complaint (which would be prohibited by the UCMJ, btw) equates to approval of their policies by the members of the military. Basically, just because someone in uniform gives you a "HOOAH!" and tells you he can accomplish the mission, doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise sane judgement of your own.

This article is a big lie. Bush and company are hated by a LARGE percentage of today's serving military. At least, by all those who pay any attention to what's going on.

[Lance_Boyle]

4. "I ain't broke"

"but honey, I'm badly bent."

[maxrandb]

5. "It's Only a Flesh Wound"

"I'll bite off your kneecaps"

Still one of the funniest things I ever saw.

[AnneD]

6. So I guess this means

we are now free to take on Iran?????

[pocket]

7. how do you tell when a piece of crap is broken?

just askin

[Army]

8. Piece of Crap?

As in the Army? Ever wonder why Democrats are seen as anti-military? Nice touch of tolerence there, poster. But I digress...

If the military were not in trouble from troop shortages then they would not have just come out and let troops know they are upping the cash bonuses to reenlist and for new recruits. Overextended is about right.

[mikeytherat]

10. He did NOT, repeat, did NOT say that!

Headline:
US Army says it's not 'broken' by Iraq war strains

Reality in the article:
"In the ongoing discussion and debate about Iraq, some have said the Army is severely stretched. A few have even described it as broken. I believe these comments are incorrect," Harvey told a Pentagon briefing.

"I believe" is not a statement of fact, and leaves a whole lot of wiggle room. This guy has GOT to be a lawyer!

mikey_the_rat

[Rex]

11. So now it is official

The Army is 'broken'. Oy! We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO screwed! Oy oy oy oy!

[Betty]

12. It's not broken, in fact,

we're gonna invade Iran just to prove what good shape our army is in. And then, Syria. We can do it with the new lean, smaller army, just ask rumsfeld.

[Orsino]

13. No army ever admits it's broken...

...until it surrenders...if then.

[f-bush]

14. Didn't look like it during Katrina