Army Vice Chief Of Staff: Today’s Army is out of "balance".

[walldude]

Apologies if this was discussed yesterday but I wasn't here and thought it too important to miss if it wasn't. From Crooks and Liars:

" Today’s Army is out of balance. The current demand for our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds the sustainable supply and limits our ability to provide ready forces for other contingencies . . . Current operational requirements for forces and insufficient time between deployments require a focus on counterinsurgency training and equipping to the detriment of preparedness for the full range of military missions.

Given the current theater demand for Army forces, we are unable to provide a sustainable tempo of deployments for our Soldiers and Families. Soldiers, Families, support systems, and equipment are stretched and stressed by the demands of lengthy and repeated deployments, with insufficient recovery time. Equipment used repeatedly in harsh environments is wearing out more rapidly than programmed. Army support systems, designed for the pre-9/11 peacetime Army, are straining under the accumulation of stress from six years at war. Overall, our readiness is being consumed as fast as we build it.

And then he added the kicker:

If unaddressed, this lack of balance poses a significant risk to the All-Volunteer Force and degrades the Army’s ability to make a timely response to other contingencies."

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/02/joint-chiefs-change-course-start-draft-or-lose-army/

When the Joint Chiefs Of Staff tell you you have a problem... probably best to listen...


So how long before they "retire" this guy?

[walldude]

1. Wow, a Chief Of Staff talks about needing the DRAFT

to be able to sustain the army and it drops without a single reply? Has this been discussed to death or something?

[Adsos Letter]

3. Not insignificant at all...

I was just talking about the draft with my tax guy and his SO this evening...we all pretty much concluded that if they reinstitute the draft this war will come to a screeching halt...'cause then everyone will have a "materialized" stake in seeing this madness halted.

I know...there is a lot that could be flamed on in this statement...but the simple fact is that when EVERYONE'S kids are potential statistics, people will be moved to action who are, at present, complacent on the matter.

A sad state of affairs, but it's how I read it...

[elleng]

4. That's why Rangel offered such

up several years ago, to make your point: if they reinstitute the draft this war will come to a screeching halt...'cause then everyone will have a "materialized" stake in seeing this madness halted.

[Muttocracy]

2. I'm interested, it's just late

and I'm depressed after listening to military experts at Senate hearing on Iraq about how broken our military is.

edit to add - Lugar and others were referring to the Armed Services Committee info at their hearings, but I missed those - thanks.