Limited resources challenge Cobra Gold

[unhappycamper]

Limited resources challenge Cobra Gold
By Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, February 26, 2009

CHIANG MAI, Thailand — While Washington is focused on the new administration, Iraq and starting anew in Afghanistan, Cobra Gold ’09 commanders said they are "challenged" by the limited remaining resources to put on the largest multinational joint training exercise in Southeast Asia.

Indeed, Pentagon leaders have spent much of the winter waging a public campaign to frame expectations of the "Global War on Terrorism" with little mention of the Pacific.

But from commanding general to corporal, the more than 7,000 U.S. troops who gathered in Thailand this month for the 28th iteration of the venture said the coalition operations being taught here are more relevant than ever.

Connecting those messages hasn’t been easy.

"Sometimes I think we’re a long way from the flagpole," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Wilson, U.S. Army National Guard, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60963%2e