Lawrence Korb & Stephen Xenakis: Troop morale a casualty in Iraq

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http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/opinion/ny-opkor025076411feb02,0,2078876.story

Troop morale a casualty in Iraq
Despite general's can-do attitude, U.S. forces feel stress of repeated tours and degraded gear
BY LAWRENCE KORB AND STEPHEN XENAKIS

President George W. Bush has launched his latest plan for success in Iraq and has made major changes in leadership and strategy. Gen. David H. Petraeus - as the Senate has concluded by confirming his appointment this week as Iraq commander - brings to the mission of leading the troops in Iraq an impressive record as a commander and strategist.

But the challenges he faces go far beyond developing the right strategy and tactics. He must recognize that the success of his forces also depends upon their mental readiness. The state of mind of those foot soldiers may not be strong enough to take on an expanded mission, no matter what their will, training or dedication.

Petraeus' can-do attitude may not be able to overwhelm the growing skepticism and deflation that is affecting his troops.

The surge in troop strength is an expansion of the ground forces in Iraq by nearly 20 percent. The troops exist to deploy to the theater for a short term but not to sustain the force over the next year and a half without extending GIs beyond yearlong deployments and putting them at a risk of further morale problems.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has said the "active Army is about broken."

It has been overextended, its equipment is degraded, and its morale is fading; there are not enough soldiers and Marines to keep up this pace indefinitely without doing greater damage to their mind-set.

Some active Army soldiers are returning to Iraq for their third and fourth tours, which imposes undue strain and weakens morale. Support for the war among the troops has fallen. Only a third of the service members approve of the conduct of the war, while 42 percent disapprove, says an Army Times poll.

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