Gates says may expand US Army to cope with strains

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

* Expansion would allow soldiers more time at home

* Gates says expects to make decision within the next week

* Senator Lieberman backs plan to add 30,000 troops

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that he will soon decide whether to order a temporary expansion of the U.S. Army to cope with ongoing strains posed by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gates told Army soldiers at Fort Drum in upstate New York that a larger Army could help increase the amount of time that individual soldiers can spend at home between deployments overseas.

"One of the things we're thinking about to help make sure that happens is whether to provide for a temporary increase in the end strength of the Army," Gates said at a town hall meeting with soldiers.

"Frankly, I expect to be making a decision on that within the next week," he added.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N16427693.htm

[customerserviceguy]

1. The next question is, how do they plan to do this?

Are they going to lower standards, so that more potential recruits can get in? Or are they going to improve pay and benefits to attract more qualified candidates?

Or are they just going to screw over the servicemembers we already have by keeping them in longer when their hitch is up?

[gratuitous]

2. Solution to this military clusterfuck?

More clustering and harder fucking. Brilliant.

[DebbieCDC]

3. so where are these extra soliders going to come from?

Only the young/poor/jobless or RW kill crazies will volunteer anymore.

So where are you going to find these additional soldiers Mr. Secretary?

Can you spell "draft"?

[galileoreloaded]

5. The poor, no civil sector jobs thing really works...

I believe all branches are exceeding recruiting goals and turning people away for the last year or so.

[Tim01]

4. More troops for a now expanding war.

I hope they give them the training and equipment to do their job.

[madrchsod]

6. i feel a draft.....or 75-100,000 a year..

[Fearless]

7. Going to absorb the Salvation Army?

Because that's about everyone who's even remotely related. You want more to join, PAY BETTER. Or guarantee quality health care. Oh... and end a few wars... Idiots.

[winyanstaz]

8. As they are already signing up illegal aliens, the homeless,..

state and federal criminals....it must be they will re-instate the draft.

[Brother Buzz]

10. They military has always accepted legal aliens

What is this illegal alien stuff about?

The big plum for legal aliens joining the military is a fast track course to citizenship. Joe Biden was just in Iraq awarding citizenship to soldiers on the 4th of July, something those future voters will never forget. :shrug:

[Mari333]

9. welcome, aryan nations and KKK..no gays however..nt