Comments on: Is The Army At The Breaking Point?

Combat Tours In Iraq Lengthened By 45-60 Days For Nearly 4,000 Soldiers

[midwestview]

I can only laugh at many of the opinions posted here. I wonder how many of you with such strong opinions either way have actaully served in the military yourselves? You all can certainly scream about the military or backseat quarterback the decisions of GWB. So other than yelling "nukem all," or "We've been lied to," what is your suggestion on how to fight the war on terrorism? Or as many of old 60's types that just won't go awayseem to want, should we just hold hands and sing Kumbia???

[jasperrdm]

Rumsfeld say "you go to war with the army you have". That's like inviting 100 guests for dinner and all you have is a loaf of bread on the table. %u2026 exumscsgt I have to disagree with you here sgt. It like have 10 friends over for poker night and some punks fragging the smokers on the front porch. And your two pistols and rifle are lock at the range so all you got is your wife%u2019s plunking pistol. Or if go back to WW2 how out class in weapons was the U.S compared to the enemy. Ex army spoon

[kernahan2]

What I find so disgusting is the fact that the president the vice president who avoided service in Vietnam have presided over the distruction of our Army.

This Army took over 20 years to rebuild after the Vietnam disaster. Yet these two who avoided service now expect others with a commitment they never had to preform forever.

[gslinger3]

LWSUTTON,
You are more than welcome to move to Canada today. You might want to go ahead and do so to make sure that you have room. Will you actually do that? Probably not.

[lwsutton]

As soon as this election is over in November, since President Bush is determined to "stay the course" in Iraq, we will have no choice other than to reinstitute the draft of all eligible 18 to 26 year olds in this country. If it must be, then it must be with no exceptions or exemptions for college students or for any other reason. Universal service, similar to that in Israel, must be put into place. We must make sure that every dependent child or grandchild of every Senator and Congressman is drafted first.

Then, and only then, will you see this war end. This time I won't jeer at the protestors, I will be there leading them. I just Canada has room for us all.

[gslinger3]

You say that the people running the war (President Bush) are ineffective. Let%u2019s answer a few questions:

1. What would be the ultimate weapon for the terrorists in this war? Answer: Nuclear Weapons.

2. If Saddam Hussein (A terror Supporting Dictator) were still in power, would he be seeking Nuclear Weapons? Answer: YES!

3. Will Saddam (a terrorist supporting Dictator) ever have nuclear weapons? No

4. Will Iran ever have nuclear weapons? Answer: Not under GWB's watch.

5. Has there been a terrorist attack on US soil since 911 under GWB's watch. Answer: NO

6. Will Osama Bin Laden live to see the end of this Decade? Answer: NO.

Do not sit there and try to tell me that George Bush is an ineffective Leader, the Facts and Answers to the above questions simply do not support that statement.

[long_rider]

It is evident that there is a total lack of quality in the people managing this war. This lack of management runs from the top all the way down through the gererals who are afraid to stand up o the chimp and his gang.

Therefore it is up to the people to step up and protest the war. We sould not protest the troops, but protest the lack of decisive action, substandard leadership of the war. Protesting in mass in Washington DC will bring results quicker than anything else.

And the American sheep keep grazing.

[gslinger3]

Man, CBS, what a haven for you Bush haters who have no clue what it means to fight for what is right. You people would love nothing better than for operation Iraqi Freedom to be a loss for the US. You know what, that stinks, and if you wonder why people question your patriotism, there you have the answer. We will win the war on terror, and yes the war in Iraq is part of it. All of this will happen despite you liberals who are fighting against us simply because you hate GWB. In 10, 15 or 20 years this man will be regarded as one of the greatest presidents this country has ever seen. He has the will and courage to stand up to you people who have no clue how to fight a war, or run a government, plain and simple! You underestimate our military and try to paint them as not having the strength and courage to fight this war, let me tell you, our boys will prove all of you wrong, they will stand fast and kick the living daylights out of our enemy, despite your undermining their efforts every chance you get.
THEY WILL PREVAIL, and you will be left in wallowing in ignorance and shame!

[ianw32]

The army MAY be exceeding their recruitment goals, but 'quantity' of people doesn't make up for experience in a combat zone. Blaming the existing 'political' leadership for the current shortage of trained people isn't necessarily the answer -

This goes back to the early '90's, when ALL branches of the military began to 'downsize' at the end of the Reagan era (oh, excuse me, the military used the term "right-sizing") - This executive order was given by those in office at the time, due to the end of the cold war era.

Those of us still in at the time, (or who were in a transition stage), knew this to be a mistake at the time because the concept of trying to 'do more with less' due to advances in technology, would be no substitute for experience and wisdom;

"So saith I".

[themooniac]

Arlen Specter???? ...let me tell you about Sen. Specter. He's used to B.S. He was Ira Einhorns attorney for one and more famously (or infamously) he was the creator,inventor of the original "single bullet" theory on the Warren Commision in 1964. Yes, that single bullet theory, that's his theory. And Ira Einhorn's DEFENSE attorney, yikes. Now he can spin some tales. Don't believe it? Google it out.

[drgoodwin12]

For everyone that is against Bush because he deliberately mislead us into war in Iraq,go online and contribute $10,25 or any amount of money you can afford to the Democratic Party and do so before the elections.There are good republican senators like Specter and Warner however in order for this country to change course we have to change it's leadership first.It's crunch time for the elections and in order to restore this country we need new leadership in the house and senate.

[drgoodwin12]

For everyone that is against Bush because he deliberately mislead us into war in Iraq,go online and contribute $10,25 or any amount of money you can afford to the Democratic Party and do so before the elections.There are good republican senators like Specter and Warner however in order for this country to change course we have to change it's leadership first.It's crunch time for the elections and in order to restore this country we need new leadership in the house and senate.

[jpporter]

Meade95 - you got the wrong station, dude. You were looking for F-O-X, not C-B-S. Just goes to show the education level of those who actually believe the propaganda King George II, Duke of *** and Court-Jester Rummy (probably an appropriate nickname) have been spoon feeding them.

WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!!

We've been lied-to for 6 years. But things will change in November.

IMPEACH THE WHOLE *** BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

[grazinggoat]

In answer to the question of the article: Are you krazy? The whole country will collapse before the army does. Does somebody know how much the USA is spending per capita on military? It's the most militarized country in hte world.
Click on the link for 2002 spending comparison for the many countries in the world, and tell yourself how long this be sustained. Despite it all our GW-LBush is failing.

http://www.cdi.org/issues/wme/spendersFY03.html

This next link gives you the hawkish government priority over other sectors, at least as essential as the military.

http://www.g2mil.com/Oct2003.htm

At this trend, not only the army will collapse, but the whole country will.

[pyrofyter]

Rummie won't be fired or quit. He is G.W.'s favorite hemmoroid just as far up as one can get. The real problem was the first Gulf War when Daddy Bush refused to go into Bagdad and finish the job when on the doorsteps. This resulted in Saddam killing numerous Iraqis for supporting the Good Ole USA, which in turn made many Iraqis hate us for leaving them hanging. This is why there are so many against us. The Army is so short money it's not funny. No wonder we have to lengthen tours and fail to keep promises to our troops or their families.

[exusmcsgt]

A year in combat is an eternity. We will have, as a result of these forced extensions, more abuse, rape, etc. from troops taken beyond a limit that any sane commander would never wish on his personnel.

Rumsfeld say "you go to war with the army you have". That's like inviting 100 guests for dinner and all you have is a loaf of bread on the table.

And they wonder why they can't hit recruitment goals.......

[siddin-2009]

an extension of 45-60 days is NORMAL, hell, in a 90 day tour, i had to do over 210, its mainly to get everybody acquainted with what their position and duties will be during their stay after the others leave.

[rrussocki]

My brother in-law was approved for retirement. Family flew in for the ceremony. Has a signed certificate by Major Gen. Fil. Everything he owned in TX was shipped home to Illinois, gear handed in. You get the picture. The day he was to leave he was told he was not approved anymore and they tried to convince him to reprocess in. He took a leave and is home in IL and is in contact with Congresswoman Bean. No one in the Army will let him know what happened. Won't even take his calls. I wonder why enlisting is down?

[tejasdemo]

Rumsfeld,Bush,Cheney, Fox news and all the other war mongers.....I dont know how these creeps sleep at night.

[themooniac]

another group of GI's rat-f**ked by our favorite civilian Generals. I guess you won't be home for the holidays after all guys - but hey, "you go to war with the Army you got". You know, if you enlisted after you heard Rumsfeld say that you should have asked for a bigger enlistment bonus to pay for the grief you knew was coming. How would you like to be doing that tour of duty? Geez, what morons. You can't believe a word out of their mouths. If they are hitting recruitmant goals (supposedly) then why do these guys have to be extended? Consumate liars and incompetants. Even the lowest E-1/Private can see that.