"The ten billion would not be included in the costs for the grunts and support." This still does not address where we are going to staff, train, equip, and mobilize a full combat division of Army troops, and two Regiments of Marines. And such an undertaking is not simply "grunt" work. You are looking at a minimum of 6 Brigadier Generals, 3 Major Generals, and 2 Lieutenant Generals on the Army side. Toss in a few dozen Colonels and a gaggle of Lieutenant Colonels. Let us dismiss the cost in US dollars for now (what is another $600 billion or so?). Kagan and the AEI offer up these simple remedies:
1. The ground forces must accept longer tours for several years. National Guard units will have to accept increased deployments during this period.
2. Equipment shortages must be overcome by transferring equipment from non-deploying active duty, National Guard, and reserve units to those about to deploy. Military industry must be mobilized to provide replacement equipment sets urgently.
3. The president must request a dramatic increase in reconstruction aid for Iraq. Responsibility and accountability for reconstruction must be assigned to established agencies. The president must insist upon the completion of reconstruction projects. The president should also request a dramatic increase in CERP funds.
(Note- CERP is Commander's Emergency Response Program. USAID participates in the distribution)
4. The president must request a substantial increase in ground forces end strength. This increase is vital to sustaining the morale of the combat forces by ensuring that relief is on the way. The president must issue a personal call for young Americans to volunteer to fight in the decisive conflict of this age.
http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.25292/pub_detail.asp
So now we must conclude that the costs will continue to spiral with absolutely zero accountability, and the President will simply issue a new personal call for young Americans to volunteer to fight without pay or equipment in the decisive conflict of this age. While unemployment is hovering around historical lows, and Congress has not allocated any funds for this "substantial increase in ground forces end strength". Brilliant plan!
So now we must conclude that the costs will continue to spiral with absolutely zero accountability, and the President will simply issue a new personal call for young Americans to volunteer to fight without pay or equipment in the decisive conflict of this age. While unemployment is hovering around historical lows, and Congress has not allocated any funds for this "substantial increase in ground forces end strength". Brilliant plan!This is of course all nonsense. First of all you are conflating US Armed Forces end strength with a buildup in Iraq of 20,000 soldiers and Marines. You understand the difference, no? There are currently about 150,000 in Iraq, another 10,000 or so in Afghanistan. Including the National Guard and reserves we have a million troops available. If the United States can not reinforce Iraq with 20,000 troops we are in deep kimshi.
As for "zero accountability", that is also nonsense. Congress funds the war, if they decide not to fund it, it will no longer be funded. Pretty simple stuff. It is how this particular constitutional republic works.
As for "volunteers" there are always volunteers. Will there be enough volunteers to fill the 8 divisions that were decommissioned prior to Clinton and a shortsighted Congress? Probably not. But that isn't Bush's fault.
Where does the money come from? We used to spend 6% of GDP on the military and 3% on welfare. Now we spend 6% of GDP on welfare and 3% on the military. There is no "peace dividend" and there never was one. The sooner you and your compatriots understand that the better off America will be.