Time For A Bigger Military?
This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.
As President Bush urges new Defense Secretary Robert Gates to look into expanding the size of the Army and Marines, we have a question: What took you so long?
A new survey by the Army says that soldiers returning for a second tour of duty in Iraq are twice as likely to be affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. A full third already suffer from some form of depression or anxiety.
The Army's Third Infantry Division is prepping right now to go back to Iraq for a third time. One of the reasons the Army brass is balking at sending more troops in Iraq is because it will mean longer tours for the men and women who are already there, and the ones to come.
Gen. Peter Schoomaker said last week that the Army will break with more Iraq duty. On Sunday, Gen. Colin Powell said the Army is "about broken." Here's a question for the Commander-In-Chief: What took you so long?
Harry's daily commentary can be heard on many CBS Radio News affiliates across the country.