[gleeaikin]

Regarding troop needs for Iraq. In Jan. 2003 after the fuss over Shinsecki saying we should have 350,000 troops, I asked my son who served in Gulf War 1 from August 9, 1990 to April 1991 how many troups we should have. Remember this was two months before the war started. He said we should have 450,000. This estimate was very close to the 1/2 million that Bremer (sp?) concluded we should have had after a year trying to run the place.

Subsequently, my son served with a special forces unit in Afghanistan, where he was thoroughly disgusted with failures and loss of momentum in that war theatre.

The President had to start the war that spring before the intense heat of summer began especially as we feared gas warfare and the need for protective (hot) suits. Otherwise he would have had to wait until fall which would have put the war too close to the 2004 election to be politically advisable. The result is that there was no time to build up to the necessary troop levels that many military men seemed to think were needed. The top military may have grumbled, but once the dye was cast they shut up and soldiered. Now we have to live (or die) with the results.

[bnelson44]

The President had to start the war that spring before the intense heat of summer began especially as we feared gas warfare and the need for protective (hot) suits. Otherwise he would have had to wait until fall which would have put the war too close to the 2004 election to be politically advisable. The result is that there was no time to build up to the necessary troop levels that many military men seemed to think were needed. The top military may have grumbled, but once the dye was cast they shut up and soldiered. Now we have to live (or die) with the results.

That is very interesting speculation, but you provide not references for it. Is it just that, speculation?

[rocksblues]

I or anyone else cannot fault the Bush Administration for the initial assaults on Afghanistan or Iraq. What we can fault them on is believing that the mission was complete.

[RC2]

If Clinton had not cut our 18 divisions down to 10, we would have had more troops available.

[Tallguy]

I think the logistical footprint of a much larger force would not have been sustainable. Recall that Saudi Arabian bases were not used this time ‘round. The entire invasion was staged out of Kuwait.

That said, it might have been possible to pour in reinforcements immediately after the invasion to prevent the escalation of the guerilla war. I say ‘might’ because our entire force is STILL dependent on a single supply route running from Kuwait. It’s the Old Saw that “amateurs study tactics & professionals study logistics”.