Posted on 12/14/2006 5:55:20 PM PST by KantianBurke
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1697034/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1708307/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1565370/posts
The "peace dividend" ain't paying dividneds any more. We need 5 more divisions. Period. End of story. The democrats and Americans want to sacrifice? Well they can sacrifice by paying the Regular Army guys with good wages and a return to the old GI bill and by cutting spending on illegals and shirkers.
We can have none of that. That was a recommendation from the ISG. The cheerleaders will be along promptly to thrash anyone that dares to give merit or credence to such a preposterous idea.
ping
The shortsightedness exhibited by Bush Sr and the military hatred by Clinton resulted in an Army the size of our 1940 version. And we all know what happened shortly thereafter. Now history has repeated itself, with no corresponding increase in the military size. So yes, the Army is near the breaking point in many areas, and only a sizable increase, several divisions at a minimum, will bring any relief. The American people had the will after 9/11 but not now I fear.
We are very fortunate Iran hasnt invaded a neighbor and North Korea has held back also. There is little Army left to fight them and in Iraq too.
The army should be a minimum of 5 divisions bigger (100,000 troops + tail).
If we had about a 775,000 man army with 18 divisions, and we have a 450,000 man army with 10 divisions, then the math says tooth + tail should be in the neighborhood of 650,000 troops.
Only 5? We probably need at least 10 more divisions, not tot mention a few more MEFs.
10 extra divisions + MEFs? What the hell are you planning to do, invade Russia?
The only real surprise here is the public statement of what many already knew. The military, and the Army in particular, is too small to effectively attain U.S. foreign policy goals.
So, what are we going to do about it? The military is already lowering standards to meet mission, and offering reenlistment bonuses in the tens of thousands of dollars. How are we going to field large new units? Are we ready to really look at what's hurting retention and recruitment? Are we ready to fix the horribly malfunctioning military HR system?
It's a lot more complicated than just asking for more troops, but that's the vital first step. It's good that we're finally here. But the fight to make it happen will be uphill all the way, unless we're ready to fight the bureaucracy and make much needed changes.
Additional steps:
1. Go back to the ~1960 distribution of GDP - ~7% on Military / ~3.5 % on Social Programs instead of the current ~7% on Social Prgrams and 3.5% on the military
2. Eliminate the "no G.I." GI Bill - i.e. if you want tax payer money for college, you earn it up front with service.
3. Eliminate welfare for men between 18 and 40.
How large is an Army division? How much equipment does it have (tanks, artillery, trucks, etc.)? How many troops (officers and enlisted)? It is my belief that America is going to need a 2 - 4 million man army to meet our defense needs in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and now for the first time in many decades Latin America. I expect hell to break loose in 5 to 10 years. Our enemies have been testing our defenses lately.
10 extra divisions would effectively double the Armys' current budget, once they're up and running. Theoretically, of course, because that's assuming we could fill 10 divisions (or 30ish new Brigade Combat Teams). And to get them up and running would be a huge expenditure in and of itself.
In order to attract even half that number, we'd require some serious interal overhauls that would drive that price up considerably. They we'd need to equip and train them from scratch. A very expensive proposition, and one that will take some time.
The American voters, in their infinite wisdom, handed control of Congress and the purse strings to the DEMOCRATS.
The military is not their favorite group - period.
Oh, we all can expect money to spent like crazy, but one abortion mills, AIDS funding, payoffs to union thugs, and trial lawyers.
The military will get platitudes - that is about it.
I'd like to defeat the Jihad forces, drive them to unconditional surrender and make them as likely to threaten the US or the world in the year 2025 as the Germans or Japanese were in the year 1965, or as they are in the year 2007 for that matter.
Is that a bad proposition?
It will likely take way more than 10 divisions. 10 is a good start, though.
"What the hell are you planning to do"
Hopefully revert back to a US military capable of fulfilling a "2 war strategy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/05/politics/05strategy.html?ex=1278216000&en=cbd5f62d90f10f06&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Under Rumsfeld and Bush, this capability was withdrawn. The foolishness of such a policy is pretty evident and should be reversed.
In 1991 we had 18 RA divisions, today we have ten. In 1991 we weren't fighting a global war on terror, today we are. You seeing what I'm seeing?
SteelWolf is right, we will have trouble finding the personnel to fill 5 more divisions plus support. Ten ain't gonna happen unless you draft them. I would oppose that at this stage.
I'm not kidding people. I want to go, we want to go. I'd sign a waver, I don't care. If they need troops I can still do the job. I'm a good doc, and I always have been, and I can still be a good Ranger.
I get so sick of these assholes making armchair general decisions in some newsroom. I've been there, I've done it! Let's get this thing over with....NOW, before the politicians cluster f*#k this thing into a defeat (just like the Nam)!
Sir, I volunteer Sir!
The low wages paid to the grunts that take the hot lead has always bothered my conscience, now that you mention it. Tax the "rich" to raise their pay - substantially. There I said it. I have never minded writing checks to the IRS, hard as that may be to believe.
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