And people wonder why there may be a draft? (Military News)

[fishface]

(Bush's lack of credibility notwithstanding)

U.S. May Increase Troops In Iraq
USA TODAY
October 26, 2004

WASHINGTON - Concerned that they won't get enough new troops from allies to help provide security for Iraqi elections in January, Pentagon officials are considering increasing the current U.S. force by delaying the departures of some U.S. troops now in Iraq and accelerating the deployment of others scheduled to go there next year.

The goal is to temporarily raise the number of U.S. troops in Iraq from the current 138,000 to almost 160,000 to help protect international and Iraqi election workers and secure polling locations.

That addition would bring the sustained U.S. troop presence in Iraq to its highest level since President Bush declared an end to major combat operations on May 1, 2003.

Defense officials were reluctant to discuss the options on the record. But Capt. Harold Pittman, a spokesman for Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of Central Command, said, "Obviously, we are looking at all of those options and taking everything into account. There are a lot of options, possibilities and venues on the table to provide additional security during the election time frame."

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_troops_102604,00.html

[tabasco]

1. The personnel problem really hurts at the battalion level.

When a rifle company only has two platoons worth of soldiers, when it should have three, that's a lot more missions for the two platoons. The stress on units is incredible. Ground commanders are screaming to fill the ranks when their units are at such high operation tempo.
Soldiers under stop-loss are NOT volunteers. Neither are involuntarily activated members of the IRR.

Under a Bush second term:
First - the remainder of the IRR will be activated.
Second - an emergency will "change everything" in the War On Terra and there WILL be a draft.

[TahitiNut]

2. Iraq: A 'target-rich' environment.

Obscene.