Rumsfeld: Army Not 'Broken' (it is just dropping manpower goal)

[papau]

So National Guard combat brigades go from 34 to 28, as the goal for deployment drops to 18 or 19 combat brigades around the world from 21, and total combat brigades under the Army drops to 70 instead of the previously planned 77, as the rule is if you can not meet goal with the money left after the current level of theft, drop the goal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012501070_pf.html

Rumsfeld: Army Not 'Broken'
Secretary Disputes Reports Warning Of War's Strains

By Ann Scott Tyson Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, January 26, 2006; A18

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld yesterday strongly rejected warnings in a Pentagon-contracted study that the Iraq war risks "breaking" the U.S. Army, and he said a recent decision to scale back U.S. troop levels in Iraq did not grow out of a need to relieve the strain on American ground forces.<snip>

Rumsfeld's remarks came in response to questions about two studies released yesterday -- one by a Democratic advisory group chaired by former defense secretary William J. Perry, and another by a military analyst contracted by the Pentagon -- that warned of the long-term consequences of strains on U.S. military manpower and equipment from repeated war-zone deployments. Such stress, if not alleviated, could worsen recruiting and undermine retention, threatening the all-volunteer force, the studies found.

"Soldiers and brigades are being deployed more frequently, and for longer periods, than what the Army believes is appropriate in order to attract and retain the number of soldiers necessary," Andrew F. Krepinevich, executive director of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, wrote in a November 2005 study for the Pentagon first disclosed Tuesday by the Associated Press. "It is not clear, even to Army leaders, how long this practice can be sustained."

Krepinevich concluded that "vigorous efforts should be made to enable a substantial drawdown in U.S. force levels" from Iraq, because "the Army simply cannot sustain the force levels desired to sustain the momentum needed to break the back of the insurgent movement."<snip>

[grytpype]

1. What a liar.

Crazy, incompetent, and a liar. "Everything is fine. Iraq is no problem. Dear Leader did not make a mistake, how dare you imply that."

[papau]

2. It is amazing our US Media never reflects the truth of Bush's lies/liars

:-(

[badgervan]

3. Just Keep Talking, Rummy

I believe that we have finally reached critical mass on the repub lying. The moles outnumber the clubs, and even the repub-friendly Big Media has to start reporting factually on what all of us see and hear daily. In small ways, it is already happening.
Too many leaking holes in the dyke; not enough thumbs to stick in 'em. The more that liars like Rummy yap away, the more the American people can compare their yapping to real life facts. So let them keep lying - it is catching up to them. Finally.

[Geo55]

8. Yep,.....sure....

you see that guy stealing that vase....it's the SAME GUY ! , we just keep seeing it over and over and ov...

[coalition_unwilling]

4. Shades of Vietnam deja vu

Exact same dynamic played itself out during the latter stages of our involvement in Vietnam, ca. 1970-73. (Estimates were that as many as 25% of active duty personnel in Vietnam were using heroin daily.)

With Rumsfailed at the helm, bin Laden need not attack, just sit back and let Rummy do the work.

[NYC]

9. That's something I haven't heard about.

Drug use in this war. Any information?

[bemildred]

11. Stressed US troops in Iraq 'turning to drugs'

Two years into the occupation of Iraq the menace of drug abuse appears to be afflicting American troops.

Aware of the debilitating effect drugs had on the morale and effectiveness of GIs in the Vietnam War, the authorities are attempting to stifle a repeat in Iraq.

Aside from random urine tests and barrack room searches, commanders have asked their troops to inform on colleagues.

In the past month a soldier has been arrested for selling cocaine and two per cent of the troops from one brigade have been charged with drug and alcohol abuse.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/23/wirq23.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/07/23/ixportal.html

[Judi Lynn]

5. No, it's not broken.It's merely pining for the fjords of Norway.

You actually must question the "patriotism" of officials who WANT to mislead their fellow citizens.

[truthisfreedom]

14. America is wired to its perch.

[sakabatou]

6. Pot meet kettle.

[rodeodance]

7. this NEW military is his legacy--he is fighting for it.

[tabasco]

10. General Joulwan says it is nearly broken.

I think I will take his word over Rumsfeld, who has been WRONG about everything else.

What puzzles me is how the Army could be having recruiting problems when there are so many brave freepers in the USA :shrug:

The freepers talk tough on the internets - you would think they would be flocking to the recruuiters :shrug:

[Tight_rope]

12. Yes...Rumsfailed or as I call him RummytheDummy is lying!

Who in God's name would believe anything that Jackass Rummy says :shrug:

Maybe the sheeply are still sleeping. :shrug: But I'm sure many of them are awake.

[truthisfreedom]

13. my confidence is inspired! i feel safe! i love it when our leaders defy

all logic and lie their asses off, leaving us both vulnerable and looking like asses! AMERICA, F*** YEAH!