Posted on 01/29/2007 9:48:45 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Boosting U.S. troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 would create major logistical hurdles for the Army and Marine Corps, which are short thousands of vehicles, armor kits and other equipment needed to supply the extra forces, U.S. officials said.
The increase would also further degrade the readiness of U.S.-based ground forces, hampering their ability to respond quickly, fully trained and well equipped in the case of other military contingencies around the world and increasing the risk of U.S. casualties, according to Army and Marine Corps leaders.
"The response would be slower than we might like, we would not have all of the equipment sets that ordinarily would be the case, and there is certainly risk associated with that," the Marine Corps commandant, Gen. James Conway, told the House Armed Services Committee last week.
President Bush's plan to send five additional U.S. combat brigades into Iraq has left the Army and Marines scrambling to ensure that the troops could be supported with the necessary armored vehicles, jamming devices, radios and other gear, as well as lodging and other logistics.
Trucks are in particularly short supply. For example, the Army would need 1,500 specially outfitted -- known as "up-armored" -- 2 1/2 -ton and five-ton trucks in Iraq for the incoming units, said Lt. Gen. Stephen Speakes, the Army's deputy chief of staff for force development.
"We don't have the [armor] kits, and we don't have the trucks," Speakes said in an interview. He said it will take the Army months, probably until summer, to supply and outfit the additional trucks. As a result, he said, combat units flowing into Iraq would have to share the trucks assigned to units now there, leading to increased use and maintenance.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Well damn I guess we need some more euqipment.
Maybe till we get the equipment we could get creative and use car bombs and drones and shrapnell laden IEDs on the vermin?
It is the negativism of the left in this nation that gives our enemy hope, aid and comfort.
I read that these are not really "extra" troops. They are troops already deploying, only now they are deploying early, while troops already in theatre are going to stay longer, providing an overlap.
They would of course still need weapons and tanks and stuff, but I imagine they have what they need, or the general will make sure they do.
Somehow, this news seems a little too convenient for the Left-Wing-Losers. THEY LIE ALL THE TIME.
As long as our Commander and Chief, President Bush,keeps his resolve to kill the bad guys over there we'll prevent the killers from killing us over here. America has got a lot of stupid sheep leading stupid sheep. MSM, demorats, rinos...a sick bunch that are playing into the hands of our enemies. God help America.
When we jumped into WWII, we didn't have enough equipment. So we made it, quickly. Maybe we could try that same idea again and see if it still works. Maybe the WaPo could look into that.
BS! Quit blaming the press for the logistical problems our military is experiencing. Did you even read the article? The Army DCSLOG is saying there is a big problem.
The administration has tried to fight this war on the cheap (manpower and equipment) and it's really starting to show.
"When we jumped into WWII, we didn't have enough equipment."
True, but in short order the country, including it's war industry, was mobilized.
Do you still believe what you read in the WashPost? We had as many troops in Iraq during their election as we will have after the surge begins. The left didn't howl then. Their opposition is political.
This is not a crock. Not by a long shot. If you lack the equipmeint you need, you can't do your job. This isn't about having exceess stuff you don't need. It's like having a fire department with leaky hoses, worn and inadequate flame suits, and trucks that need maintainance.
This isn't about having extra stuff you don't need. It's about not having the basics you need to do your job.
So, just send the troops off without what they need? Admitting it might sound like we don't have our act together, and the enemy might enjoy hearing it? This isn't some kind of leftist spin. The Army Chief of Staff has already made clear that this is a problem.
FR is in a deep paranoia funk. It's not all about leftists. There are problems in the world that aren't MSM inventions.
I give up. Try reading for content instead of bias.
I believe the Army DCSLOG. Is he working for the Post?
If there's one thing that I've learned in my time on FR, it's that FReepers have a schizophrenic relationship with the MSM. If it's good news for us, then it's a rare example of MSM getting it right. If it's not good news, then they're obviously lying liberal bastards.
We had as many troops in Iraq during their election as we will have after the surge begins. The left didn't howl then. Their opposition is political.
Of course their opposition is political, but that doesn't mean that there isn't some truth to this report. We've spent four years in Iraq, and four years of wear and tear in a combat zone is the equivalent of 20 years peacetime. I've no doubt that we're short equipment of all sorts, and that what we have on hand needs some major repair work. If you're going to rap the WaPost for anything, rap them for not reporting the length of time that it will take to get everything that we need and for presenting a problem without presenting a solution.
I believe the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Army Chief of Staff, both of whom are quoted in the article. This isn't fictitious political opposition. It's a practical military readiness problem.
We actually do...normally. It is called War Reserve Materiel.
It's easier to blame the ubiquitous "them" for our problems then it is for us to admit that we've gotten to where we are through our own mistakes. There's paranoia involved, but the right in this country is also in a state of deep denial.
"Well, I certainly hope so! I would hate to think there are guns, tanks, missiles, airplanes, ships, etc. just sitting in warehouses somewhere with no one to use them as their shelf life expires! What a crock! Of course we lack the equipment you silly people of the press. Why would you buy equipment you don't need?"
You must be kidding. Do you have any idea how big our defense budget is? over $470 BILLION DOLLARS!!
You don't think it is reasonable to have guns, tanks and equipment to fit 21,500 troops? What the heck would we do if someone invaded our shores, put in a RFP for guns?
The DOD is an administrative joke. They are embarrassing. They chew up so much funding for administrative crap and pork that there is not enough equipment for the troops that are actually risking their lives. Efficient and effective operation of the DOD is critical to ensuring the security of our nation and the safety of our troops
Denial is right. Our military is stretched thin, because we tried to fight a war on the cheap. We're screwing the troops to save some cash, then blaming the media when things don't go well. America needs a bigger, better funded military, or we need fewer global commitments. Otherwise we're setting them and ourselves up for failure.
And blaming someone else for it.
Your posts are spot on.
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