Iraq war will leave only two of Army's 10 divisions available

WASHINGTON (AP)/SFGate.com ^ | 12/06/03 | MATT KELLEY, Associated Press Writer

[inPhase]

Only two of the U.S. Army's 10 active-duty divisions will be at full strength for any new conflict next year as battle-weary soldiers return from Iraq, military officials say.

The four Army divisions currently serving in Iraq will need about six months to rest, retrain and repair equipment when they return from Iraq early next year. With three divisions set to rotate into Iraq and another into Afghanistan as replacements, about 80 percent of the Army's fighting strength will be either on the mend or on duty fighting terror and stabilizing the two countries.

[inPhase]

"Still, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other Pentagon officials have resisted strongly suggestions that the size of the U.S. military forces be increased. Rumsfeld says hundreds of thousands of military jobs could be reallocated to civilians or contractors to free up more troops for fighting."

Can someone remind me what Sec Rumsfeld actually did in the service. Was he ever in combat?

[montomike]

It will be interesting to see what the retention rates will be. I have a feeling that the reserves and activated guards will have a lot of troopers that opt out. The wives and kids and employers are getting upset.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Navy Pilot.

[squidly]

Rummy has the right idea, but due to Congressional resistance it may be impractical. Anyhow, is the 25th slated for Iraq? News to me.

[CholeraJoe]

Rummy was a Navy pilot during the Cold War.

[ChadGore]

What Rummy is saying is some of what they are doing does not involve defeating an enemies standing army, and could be done by contractors.

[inPhase]

I do not agree that rum has the right idea. He wants to strip the dignity away from the soldiers and esp officers.

Many many people wonder why he despises Army -- esp he despises our Generals and the talk that has been going on for several years now about Rumsfeld, about his despising Army,
goes on in even more circles.

Thank goodness for Duncan Hunter (R) CA.

[68skylark]

This story is about as weak as the "display turkey" story the Post just published. With the economy doing well, they are making themselves look extra stupid as they try to figure out how to criticize Bush.

If this country really needed forces in a hurry for a real military emergency, the 3d ID or any other these other divisions could be pressed into service right away. And there are a dozen National Guard seperate infantry brigades that could be used, plus our Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and allied military forces.

No adversary is going to think the US is weak -- only the Washginton Post thinks that, and they're deluded.

[inPhase]

I have read that the first indicators are very negative wrt what represented positive retention rates in the past.

Poor planning by OSD has led a lot of called up reservists and guard into poverty -- for their families.

[inPhase]

"Navy Pilot."

I know this much,
but where was he while on active duty, or was he on active duty combat ever?

[68skylark]

The wives and kids and employers are getting upset.

A lot of what you hear is media exaggeration -- trying to paint a gloomy picture. So far, retention rates have been fine.

[APRPEH]

the article ignores the fact there are 2 marine divisions available too. however, the previous force reductions made on the premise that land wars are obsolete have proven to have been very premature. land war army vs. army is on the verge of a big come back. where will the US pick up another 4 or 5 divisions, maybe 10? we cannot drain the national guard and reserves to the level needed to fight a north korea war and say an iran at the same time we are parking 100,000 soldiers in iraq and another 15,000 or more in afganistan? i sense a draft coming...

[Batrachian]

The defense budget is $400 billion. Does any of that go for creating new units and increasing the size of the military, or is it all for "force multipliers"? Why are we limited to 10 divisions? Why not 15 or 20? I should think we could afford any number of divisions with $400 billion per year. Something doesn't add up here.

[DreamWeaver]

Anyone feel a "draft" coming ????

[inPhase]

I know what you are saying and it is a factor,

but not the only factor.

I know about many things that went on in the Pentagon while Rum and Co. were getting ready for this war (since 1997 and earlier, but in print in 1997.)

Forget the Post, because we know that the enemy is always sniffing for fuel to destroy

but there is a big story abot Rum, Feith, Wolf, Perle and others. And the part that is important now has to do with their wanting to destroy Army and
create a Space and Air Command. And a few spec ops. I have read the Rumsfeld Commission Report and you should too. He was talked into thinking that technology that is very very far away if ever -- is in fact at hand -- for the 2004 election no less.

It is a big can of worms. The rats are jumping ship (Boeing) and believe me Army and its really wonderful culture (I will engage anyone on this gladfly)

is at stake. When I say Rum wolf et al bozos hate Army, I am repeating from many many sources,

but it is easy to see. Yeah right, he wants the Generals to go in; after all he made it to what, Captain?

[inPhase]

100 per cent you are.

I read yesterday that the Pentagon has an add

for volunteers to sit on the "local draft board."

I saw it, did not post or save but I saw it. Watch is right.

[inPhase]

Read Clintoon,

and I am putting on my armor as I type, but

Rum wolf perle feith were part of Clintoon's eval for whether he decided or whatever on missile def.

They wrote a big humungous and pompous report full of illogical paths. Just call it war. "The Rumsfeld Commision Report. For Clintoon!

Therefore, they don't want Army, they want technology run by corp interests. What a mess. But ARDEH says it

Army is coming back to prominanace. Rumsfeldism did not work and I will not say quagmire. Armor off.

[Gringo1]

This is called refit.

You come back, DX worn out equipment, train-up newbies,replenish ammo stocks...etc......it is a natural part of deploying to the field.

Panic-masters in action.

[Batrachian]

Military Industrial Complex? Expensive toys rather than boots on the ground? I wouldn't have believed it, but if force size stays the same with this huge increase in spending then maybe I have to believe it.

[68skylark]

Anyone feel a "draft" coming ????

No -- there are more than enough volunteers to fill our new, smaller military.

The one exception might be medical folks. I've heard a rumor or trial balloon from time to time that the military might need to draft doctors and/or nurses -- they're always in short supply.