Bush to call for cuts in military reserves

[Dhampir Kampf]

<snip>
President Bush will use his new budget to propose cutting the size of the Army Reserve to its lowest level in three decades and stripping as much as $4 billion from two fighter aircraft programs.

The proposals, likely to face opposition on Capitol Hill, come as the Defense Department struggles to trim personnel costs and other expenses to pay for the war in Iraq and a host of other pricey aircraft and high-tech programs. Bush will send his 2007 budget to Congress on Feb. 6.

The proposed Army Reserve cut is part of a broader plan to achieve a new balance of troop strength and combat power among the active Army, the National Guard and reserves to fight the global war on terrorism and to defend the homeland.

<snip>

Under the plan, the authorized troop strength of the Army Reserve would drop from 205,000 -- the current number of slots it is allowed -- to 188,000, the actual number of soldiers it had at the end of 2005.

Because of recruiting and other problems, the Army Reserve has been unable to fill its ranks to its authorized level.

Army leaders have said they are taking a similar approach to shrinking the National Guard. They are proposing to cut that force from its authorized level of 350,000 soldiers to 333,000, the actual number now on the rolls.

Some in Congress have vowed to fight the National Guard cuts. Its soldiers and resources are controlled by state governors unless Guard units are mobilized by the president for federal duty, as Bush did after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"I remain convinced that we do not have a large enough force," Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) said in a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11080817


That's one hell of a way to make recruiting efforts look good!

Drop the number of possible slots, to the amount of slots you currently have. And bingo, you have yourself a full reserve, and national guard!

I really can't believe this. I thought republicans were supposed to be 'pro-military'. How does Bush honestly, support, and carry out with a Republican agenda when it comes to a military? Cut the money for it, send inadequately supplied troops into battle, and on top of it, not even have enough troops in place to carry out the job.

I swear.

[Coastie for Truth]

1. Anyone ever heard of Katrina and Loma Prieta? I guess not

Army leaders have said they are taking a similar approach to shrinking the National Guard. They are proposing to cut that force from its authorized level of 350,000 soldiers to 333,000, the actual number now on the rolls.

Some in Congress have vowed to fight the National Guard cuts. Its soldiers and resources are controlled by state governors unless Guard units are mobilized by the president for federal duty, as Bush did after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Oh well - for the inevitable next hurricane and next earthquake ----

we can rely on the
<>

[newyawker99]

2. Dhampir Kampf

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NYer99
DU Moderator

[ComerPerro]

3. So Bush is gutting the military, eh? The Republicans must be pissed

oh, wait, it's ok when a Republican does it...

[Imagevision]

4. Cuts? - Bush to send "cuts in spending directly to Iraq...!