Iraq roundup
Interesting tidbit today --- they're planning to cut combat tours from 15 to 12 months.
Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, told a Senate panel that the Army is under serious strain from years of war-fighting and must reduce the length of combat tours as soon as possible.
"The cumulative effects of the last six-plus years at war have left our Army out of balance, consumed by the current fight and unable to do the things we know we need to do to properly sustain our all-volunteer force and restore our flexibility for an uncertain future," Casey said.
He also said the move will go on whether Bush delivers on his promised force reductions or not. I don't see how changing the rotation will save any lives, but at least it gives soldiers more time with their families.
The war continues to be a money pit. Cost has been estimated at half a trillion dollars already. You should watch the clock sometime. And of course they're always asking for more.
"We are consuming readiness now, as quickly as we're building it," said Army Secretary Pete Geren, who also testified.
Geren also urged Congress to pass a $100 billion war spending bill this spring, contending that the Army will run out of money by July.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, the Army could probably last until August or September by transferring money from less urgent accounts. Army officials counter that this approach is inefficient and can cause major program disruptions.
Senator Russ Feingold is pushing to cut off their funding.
One of Feingold's bills would require a redeployment of US troops from Iraq within four months, leaving only enough forces to continue targeted operations on al Qaeda, provide security for US officials and train Iraqi police and security forces. Another bill would force the Bush administration to report on its progress against al Qaeda around the globe.
But . . .
Like pretty much every other measure to change course in the war, Feingold's proposals are expected to fail in the Senate, where Democrats hold a razor-thin majority. But Senate Republicans reportedly are planning to use the debate scheduled for Tuesday to engage in some political grandstanding aimed at painting Democrats as weak on national security.
The GOP believes it can hew to claims that President Bush's "troop surge" has been successful in Iraq because of some decreases in violence in and around Baghdad.
"It's hard to see the downside" of forcing an Iraq debate, a Senate Republican aide tells Roll Call.
Business as usual. The U.S. death count is at 3972 and suicide bombings continue.
The new flag sings the blues
The red part shouts old lies
The white part has no use
How many more will die?
Post new comment