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Army chief says troops strained, calls pace 'unsustainable'
Gov Exec.com ^ | Dec 5, 2007 | National Journal's CongressDailyAM

Posted on 12/05/2007 6:49:41 AM PST by RDTF

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To: af_vet_rr; joe fonebone
In the '70's we were underfunded, understaffed and our equipment was falling apart. The Carter military.

But we, perhaps foolishly, thought if we were called upon to fight the Sov's in Germany (the primary mission my unit trained for) we could get the job done.

41 posted on 12/05/2007 10:06:16 AM PST by colorado tanker
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To: RDTF

I like Gen Casey, I trust Gen Casey, I’m certain Gen Casey is right about the deployment and funding crisin that the army faces.

The right answer is more than just money and optempo, though:

1. First, the force is the wrong size and has been since it was cut from 18 divisions. If we currently had 18 divisions, that would spread the deployments out to once every 3 years. That would be more than sustainable.

2. The current length of deployment is 15 months for active duty. My son-in-law is on one of these deployments, and it isn’t necessary. A deployment need not be for more than 4 months if the Country felt like putting the money behind it. These guys are all so familiar with Iraq by now that they could swap out the people on the same weapons just by flying the personnel in and flying the departing out. They do it with SpecOps all the time.


42 posted on 12/05/2007 10:07:13 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain! True Supporters of Our Troops Support the Necessity of their Sacrifice!)
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To: maine-iac7
It seems to be Casey who's balking on it - Territorial imperatives?

More like where does he get the troops from? The army is on a 15 months overseas and less than 12 months home rotation right now. The only way to staff the surge and find extra troops for Afganistan is to cut the at-home time even more.

43 posted on 12/05/2007 10:13:22 AM PST by Non-Sequitur (Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
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To: joe fonebone

Still and all - you’re appreciated! Thanks for serving our country.


44 posted on 12/05/2007 10:17:02 AM PST by fishergirl (My warrior, my soldier, my hero - my son. God bless our troops!)
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To: trooprally

God bless your son and prayers for his safety!


45 posted on 12/05/2007 10:17:40 AM PST by fishergirl (My warrior, my soldier, my hero - my son. God bless our troops!)
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To: joe fonebone

I thank you for your service and all soldiers who have and are sering. I am sick of seeing the soldiers from vietnam being treated like dirt it is long over do to you and others for a proper home coming. So I will say it again thank you


46 posted on 12/05/2007 10:26:30 AM PST by molette67
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To: Wonder Warthog; joe fonebone
Well, "here" as in Free Republic. I'm sure a lot of folks on "Daily Kos" and "DU" consider it worse than hollow.

Correct. I mean't "here" as in FR and the great majority of places in the US.

I don't consider "Daily Kos" and "DU" to be real since they are fact-free zones. They're more like comic book porn.

47 posted on 12/05/2007 10:45:14 AM PST by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: StarCMC
I’ve often wondered about the WWII Vets and their families. This is one reason they are called “The Greatest Generation”.

But every generation of Vets is “The Greatest” just for protecting the freedoms of us and ones they don’t even know, all over this World.

[Mr] T

48 posted on 12/05/2007 10:45:17 AM PST by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: fishergirl

Thank You.

Thinking about it, two weeks from today, he’ll be home, just in time for Christmas.

[Mr] T


49 posted on 12/05/2007 10:47:42 AM PST by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: xzins
Prayers that your son-in-law returns safely.

[Mr] T

50 posted on 12/05/2007 10:49:43 AM PST by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: trooprally

Thank your son for his service and please tell him that we are beginning to see what Michael Yon has been saying for a few months that Iraq is a victory and Afghanistan is fast reaching the point of a “do-over” due to Taliban-Terrorist resurgance.


51 posted on 12/05/2007 10:52:38 AM PST by KC Burke (Men of intemperate minds can never be free...their passions forge their fetters.)
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To: xzins
Posting again so I didn’t mix messages with my first one. But as you mentioned, the troops are familiar with Iraq because of the length and number of times in Country. Actually that is good because it saves lives not having to “learn” a war zone every time a new soldier goes in. Experience is invaluable.

I personally don’t know what is a good length of time or number of times to be deployed, but you don’t want to replace a knowledgeable soldier with a newbie.

And I do agree with you about needing a bigger standing military, but to be used to show force in other problem areas. I doubt if Iran and North Korea would be antagonistic if we had large forces on their door step.

[Mr] T

52 posted on 12/05/2007 11:00:35 AM PST by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: KC Burke

Thank you and we’ll relay your message.

[Mr] T


53 posted on 12/05/2007 11:01:53 AM PST by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: trooprally

And I will pass along your son’s thoughts to my son who is in the process of deploying for 15 months to Camp Salerno near the Pakistani border in Afghanistan as a Sat-Com specialist.

Its good to know that they want to all pitch in


54 posted on 12/05/2007 11:08:00 AM PST by KC Burke (Men of intemperate minds can never be free...their passions forge their fetters.)
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To: af_vet_rr

I completely understand that side of things too — my brother was there for a year. We couldn’t hear from him often enough — even if it was twice a day. We waited on pins and needles when we knew he was moving from one safe location, thru “Indian Country,” to another safe spot until we heard that he’d arrived ok. I guess I’m not really saying that it’s better when we get no news, it’s just that I think in WWII our country was more protected from the everyday bad news, and we were able more easily to focus on Victory. Maybe I’m looking thru rose colored glasses, too. I wasn’t alive then, I’m just going on what I see in the movies from back then. Everyone wanted to WIN.


55 posted on 12/05/2007 11:09:43 AM PST by StarCMC (http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com; http://starcmc.wordpress.com/ - The Enemedia is inside the gates.)
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To: af_vet_rr

Whoops — I forgot to ask you to thank your daughter for me — and thank YOU for raising a hero.


56 posted on 12/05/2007 11:10:31 AM PST by StarCMC (http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com; http://starcmc.wordpress.com/ - The Enemedia is inside the gates.)
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To: KC Burke

And we’ll pray for your son and for his safe return.

[Mr] T


57 posted on 12/05/2007 11:11:04 AM PST by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: RDTF

>>The Army’s top general Tuesday acknowledged that his soldiers and their families are “stretched” and “stressed” by six years of war and will need a steady commitment of increased funding to keep the Army from sliding into the “hollow” force of the 1970s.<<

We also need to attract more volunteers by returning to broad policies that treat soldiers and veterans well.


58 posted on 12/05/2007 11:12:03 AM PST by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.)
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To: trooprally

You’re correct about that, Mr.T. HUG


59 posted on 12/05/2007 11:13:05 AM PST by StarCMC (http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com; http://starcmc.wordpress.com/ - The Enemedia is inside the gates.)
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To: trooprally

Hey Mr.T — that’s great news!! Please thank him for me!


60 posted on 12/05/2007 11:13:59 AM PST by StarCMC (http://cannoneerno4.wordpress.com; http://starcmc.wordpress.com/ - The Enemedia is inside the gates.)
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