[GraceCoolidge]

He thinks the military is over extended and suffering a back door draft. He'll fix it by bringing in 40,000 new troops.

I too was wondering where he will get these new troops. Does he seriously think there are 40,000 people waiting to enlist, because they will only join the military if Kerry is the commander in chief? Right....

[mystery-ak]

40,000 new troops...he'll also have to replace the thousands who resign/retire if he is elected..

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I too was wondering where he will get these new troops.

Wrong end of the stick. Congress is the one who sets troop strength levels. It is not that people will not enlist it is that there are no slots to put them in.

The President may not unilaterally decide to bring in new troops.

BTW. Enlistment goals for 2004 for Navy, Air Force and Marines were fulfilled in June of this year and enlistment goals for the Army were fulfilled in September.

If the kerry would like to increase troop strength he has that power right now. All it would take is a bill in Congress. Where is that bill?

[maine-iac7]

Does he seriously think there are 40,000 people waiting to enlist, because they will only join the military if Kerry is the commander in chief? Right....
...

actually, someone should research the enlistment/re-up figures for the Clinton years vs Bush years. (My son-in-law is pilot in military.)
The military was hemorrhaging personel, particularly pilots, during the Clinton years. they hated him and they had p--- poor pay/benefits and falling apart equipment.
They LOVE Bush and are enlisting/re-uping at a fast clip - the LOVE BUSH.
They HATE Kerry - so if he were Pres., he might HAVE to do a draft or we'd have no military....