Is The Army At The Breaking Point?

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

(CBS/AP)  The Army is stretched so thin by the war in Iraq that it is again extending the combat tours of thousands of soldiers beyond the promised 12 months — the second such move since August.

A brigade of the 1st Armored Division – about 3,800 troops – is having its one-year tour of duty extended by 45 to 60 days, reported CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. That will allow the 3rd Infantry Division to have a full year at home before going back to Iraq.

Soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division had been expecting to return to their home base in Friedberg, Germany, in early January. Instead, they will stay in Iraq at least until late February, several officials said Monday. The soldiers are operating in western Anbar province, one of the most violent and dangerous parts of Iraq.

"The Army is coming to the end of its rope in Iraq," said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute, a private research group. "It simply does not have enough active-duty military personnel to sustain the current level of effort."

Of the 142,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq, nearly 120,000 are Army soldiers. The tour extension affects between 3,500 and 4,000 soldiers in the brigade, officials said.

The Army's original goal was to give soldiers two years at home for every year in Iraq, reports Martin. It first slipped to 18 months at home, and now it's just 14 months between tours.

Last month, the Army's 172nd Stryker Brigade was ordered to extend its tour in Iraq by up to four months. Some members of that unit had already returned to the brigade's home base in Alaska when the decision was announced. About 300 soldiers had to go back to Iraq, drawing public complaints from some families.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld hinted at other adjustments to the troop-rotation plan.

"We're also bringing some other units in earlier, which is another way of dealing with that issue" of how to keep a sufficient number of troops in Iraq with a limited number of combat brigades available, Rumsfeld said.

The extension reflects a dilemma for Army leaders: either keep one group of soldiers in Iraq longer than promised, or replace them with another group that has not yet had its minimum 12 months at home between combat tours. Either choice risks upsetting some soldiers and their families. And the fact that the choice cannot be avoided is a sign that troop rotations in Iraq are squeezing the Army from several directions.

But the Army is also running short of money, reports Martin. It will need $66 billion over the next several years just to repair or replace all the equipment torn up in Iraq.

Some members of Congress are expressing concern that the military is over-stretched by the war. On Monday, Sen. Arlen Specter, said the situation in Iraq is "disintegrating" into a civil war. "My instinct is once the (November) election is over there will be a lot more hard thinking about what to do about Iraq and a lot more candid observations about it."

In more bad news for the Defense Department, a group of retired military officers on Monday bluntly accused Rumsfeld of bungling the war in Iraq, saying U.S. troops were sent to fight without the best equipment and that critical facts were hidden from the public.

"I believe that Secretary Rumsfeld and others in the administration did not tell the American people the truth for fear of losing support for the war in Iraq," retired Maj. Gen. John R. S. Batiste said in remarks prepared for a forum conducted by Senate Democrats.

A second military leader, retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, assessed Rumsfeld as "incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically. ..."

"Mr. Rumsfeld and his immediate team must be replaced or we will see two more years of extraordinarily bad decision-making," he added at the policy forum, held six weeks before the Nov. 7 midterm elections in which the war is a central issue.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Armed Services Committee, dismissed the Democratic-sponsored event as "an election-year smokescreen aimed at obscuring the Democrats' dismal record on national security."

"Today's stunt may rile up the liberal base, but it won't kill a single terrorist or prevent a single attack," Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. He called Rumsfeld an "excellent secretary of defense."

[vincent2999]

I have been following the progress or lack there of concerning this administration. The un-ending lies, distorting the facts to support going to war/invading another country will force me to vote to get this administration OUT!!! This report form the National Spy Agency comfirms that the invasion is fueling the trrriorists.

[nothappyatall]

Remember: it was largely the Christian right wingers who voted the moron BUSH not only into office but BACK in! this is what you get when you allow right wing neocons and groups like "Focus of the phallus" to vote- you get god and the bible shoved down your throat, you get rights curtailed, privacy invaded with illegal wiretap programs. You get a president and lawmakers who can't seem to concentrate on DOMESTIC issues but go halfway around the globe to fund schools, bridge, infrastructure and road building while ours fall apart. You get neoconic poloticians who can't seem to keep their minds off women's wombs, nor the *** marriage issue.
Remember that when you vote like I will in November across the board- DEMOCTATIC! Do you want a DEMOCRACY, or a REPUBLIC where the Govt with the politicians who have their hands in the cookie jar and women's wombs-do the thinking for you?
Come November vote these morons OUT, we've seen what 6 years of Re-PUBIC-CON controlled WhiteHouse has done- half a trillion dollar debt, LESS safe than we were, 2600 of our guys DEAD, tens of thousands of others and so much more.

[nothappyatall]

Imagine that, they filter out the word G-AY here like it's a dirty word, my post said ..."g-ay marriage issue"

[joehawkinson]

Well lets see how Limbaugh and other Neocon Fascist wild-dogs respond to this? Are you going to label those top generals as unpatriotic too? You little chicken hawks who never served in the military and you know better?. I think not.

But Hey Bush told Pat Robertson that there would be no casualties in Iraq. (right?) Because his holiness Bush knows better. and we should never critisize our President because it is UNPATRIOTIC LOL :)

[axing-2009]

Why complain Now?
Americans voted for Bush, He won, If anyone is the moron America is.
We're already in a full-blown war...
The president cant declare war without the consent of the house and/or congress.
Its not only to blame on us or Bush...
It's the people we voted for,
We might as well finish what we started and not leave in the middle of something like this

[a2fly]

I don't think there is anything further that we can do to free the peoples of Iraq. I no longer beleive that these people can handle a Democracy. They are simply to tribal and sectarian. I truly think that it is time to Get Out! Spend the money that is being spent there on securing our own borders and helping Americans rebuild.

[random_radar]

Is anyone keeping count? The war in Iraq has now claimed more American lives than the World Trade Center attack. Ever heard the phrase "The cure is worse than the disease?"

[getcentered]

We do need to send more troops to Iraq.
Allot more, but it's not going to happen in a critical election cycle.

Republicans everywhere love letting Rumsfeld take the fall for this, but to HELL with them ALL if they won't do what's right.

We will continue to die in countries for reasons we don't completely understand.

Message to Bush, Chenney, Rumsfeld, and all the rest of the White House fools:

I put the blame solely in your hands for the cursory war in Iraq, which you and your sloppy administration led us into.

I WANT FAMILY OF MINE TO COME HOME ALIVE FROM IRAQ. I NEVER WANT CURSORY LEADERS PUTTING MY FAMILIY IN HARMS WAY, WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHY OR FOR DISPUTED REASONS.

Shame on Republicans for their lack of imagination, their poor performance as leaders and their willful ignorance when adapting policies that effect the lives of every American.

Americans need to vote with their minds and not their emotions so Congress can be made up of leaders that will do the same. Think, Get Centered, Vote.

[lollibop]

Axing, YES. brilliant. It's simple plain as day.

[cathaleen]

Hindsight is always 20/20. Where were all these geniuses when this war was being planned. I would have save thousands of mothers and fathers and husbands and wives and children horrendous heartaches.

[rebornagain-2009]

the war is not about the people but about business 500 billion spent in iraq to date.

there were never weapons of mass destruction. just oil Saddam (I am not a fan of him) spent the last 10 years rebuilding all his oil fields his sanctions were up in 2005 which means he could sell oil to anyone in the world (x factor) he had the most advanced oil fields in the world and could produce more oil than the great saudi's he had the compacity to produce 70% of the worlds oil by himself.
weapons of mass destruction NO to DAM much OIL for the want to be OIL gods yes.
so with all this oil making potential why are we giving them 500 billion to rebuild and not just buying oil sending engineers trading off supplies and machines and letting them build there own country. ( which makes gas for us cheaper the saudi's pay 44 cent a gallon in this day and age. )
cheany's ex employer has the contract to rebuild iraq with no other counter bids ooookkkkaaayyy! sometimes we can be a little stupid at times i am not a republican or a demo i am a american for america.
we must take our country back we are in great crisis and we don't even see it MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL AND BELIEVE ONE MAN CAN CHANGE A PLANET FOR BETTER OR WORSE! (ITS BEEN DONE LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD BUSH)

[joehawkinson]

"Hindsight is always 20/20. Where were all these geniuses when this war was being planned. I would have save thousands of mothers and fathers and husbands and wives and children horrendous heartaches.Posted by Cathaleen"

Cathaleen, THERE WERE NUMBER OF EX-GENERALS WHO OPPOSED RUMMY FROM THE FIRST DAY. Even General Shinseki who was in duty during the initial phase of Iraq war loudly opposed the low number of troops and gave testimony in the Senate. Where were YOU when those soldiers telling the truth. The fact that you were not aware of the facts does not make it like you think.

[falcore1]

bornagain is right. This is about corporate america making money. They salivatate when war was anounced at the money to be made. They got Saddam, so why not leave then? The same reason none of the countries oil is going to the people of Irag. Corporate America wants it for themselves. And who is in Corporate oil? daddy Bush

[houser123]

Finally we have a definitive document (NIE)that states the war in Irag is indeed escalating the jihad. It remains to be seen how the republicans will respond with their talking points to counter this NIE. Until we elect officials that have the fortitude to stand up to this inept administration, our problems will only get worse. These guys will do and say anything to stay in power and avoid oversight. Let's make our votes count this time and do something to change directions this administration has lead us on.

[joehawkinson]

how about starting with the voting machines! Everybody knows they are hacked. WE WANT PAPER BACK UP.

[ronniehm]

Yes, we finally have a definitive document ... except for that minor detail, Houser, that we don't actually have the document since it's classified. Don't let that stop you. Carry on.

[teddo62]

For all you people out there that still say there wasn't WMD's take your head out of your ***** and go here and look at the report:

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/Iraq_WMD_Declassified.pdf

This info has been out there since June 22nd.

And to joehawkinson, before you accuse someone of not thinking try putting a complete sentence together first. Your responce to Cathaleen looks like a grade school kid wrote it.

[oleander8]

President Clinton was IMPEACHED for lying to the American people about an affair with an intern - and Bush and his administration continue the lies and deceptions to the American people and no one even mentions the word "impeach". I don't get it.

[ronniehm]

Teddo, it doesn't matter. Bush gave more than a dozen reasons to take down Saddam. You can spot the Dems ten of them and you'd still have a good argument for going to Iraq. 12 UN resolutions, firing at American planes in the no-fly zone, failure to allow unrestricted inspections, killing Iraqis, financing terrorism in Palestine ...

(now watch ... someone will say, 'but-but-but that was the MAIN reason')

[flautus]

To the moron Teddo62. Typical Fox lackey- intellectually lazy, convenient interpretation- these agents were already public knowledge before 9/11. There are no nuclear (not nucular)ramifications, another lie- there is no connection to El-Q, and due to Bush's War of Incompetence, as verified by The Defense Department, there are now many more thousands of newly radicalized young Muslims who may very well want to buy these leftovers and us them against us.

[one_american]

This is the most recycled story of the last 3 years. Who in their right mind cares what b EX-GENERALS /b think? It has no bearing whatsoever on current operations of the military. They should take the direction of a prominent WWII General and "just fade away".

If left to the Liberals, we would have a severely downsized, weakened military.

Get over it, Liberals. Rumsfeld is not going anywhere, so just bite the bullet and deal with it.

[diverinnl]

Had the sanctions in Iraq been lifted in 2005, you can be sure that Saddam would have sold chem/bio agents, weapons, and technology to terrorists and/or their supporters. Heck, he used them on over 100,000 of his own people to quell an uprising.

As far as Clinton getting impeached, he was impeached for lying to a Federal Grand Jury while sworn. What crime is that called again? Oh yeah, "Purjury". It may have been a witch hunt but he didn't have to hand feed them the ammo they needed. He's too pompous for his own good.

[annabanana-1]

These Generals, when they were active duty, did not speak out against the c-i-c. They are not allowed to. As SOON AS they left, and were allowed to tell us what was going on over there, they started speaking.

These are the Generals "on the ground" that the idiot in cheif claims to have been responding to. He told us he was listening to them. Now, it is clear, he was not.

[mjv2944]

Retired or retarded / its a toss up. These guys had their chance but didn't want to rock the boat. They aren't the ones bleeding and dying. If all the wars were fought with generals and politicians only, there wouldn't be any wars. These guys couldn't lead a thirsty horse to water.

[ronniehm]

The ex-generals are clearly in the minority. The military voted overwhelmingly for Bush ... and they know better than anyone; they're in Iraq. Must have something to do with why the generals "retired" in the middle of a war. Nobody just quits two years into a war, especially if you think you're undermanned.

[houser123]

To deverini:

You are making assumptions of which you know what that does . First off, you assume the sanctions would be lifted. Do you actually think those sanctions would be lifted? I think not. As far as Clinton being quilty of perjury, I agree he did lie under oath and was appropriately charged. Keep in mind that Clinton was hauled in front of a grand jury by the Republican lead House. Expect the same after this election.

[diverinnl]

Houser123:
Do I assume the sanctions would have been lifted? No but I do know that they would have expired in 2005. The ensuing delay between the expiration and the UN actually extending or reinstating them would have allowed enough time for Saddam to seize on the opportunity. I am not trying to justify the war. We could have gotten a lot farther with the EU and UN by air dropping Cheeseburgers and Color Televisions (I know it's a silly example). My point is that we should have gone after hearts and minds within the Iraqi populous BEFORE we dropped bombs, not after. The government has fed it's own fire.
And yes, I can see the Dems turning GWB over to the world court for war crimes, maybe charging him with 3000 counts of capitol murder, or something crazy like that. I wouldn't put it past them.

[gtorlando]

Sad thing is, 2 years from now, we will all be fighting over the same problems, stuck in Iraq, bad decisions and still be stuck with a Republican President.

[flautus]

Not all conservatives are ignorant- but most ignorant people are conservative. anon. pol. 1845

[sagethrasher]

Sure the Dems are partially promoting this as a partisan issue. But the fact is Bush could easily solve the problem by hiring a competent secretary of state. No one, repeat, NO ONE outside of Rummy's direct line of command has ever praised the planning or staffing levels of our post-invasion occupation of Iraq. To say it isn't being done right is only to state the obvious.

But REPUBLICANS are the ones who should be calling for Rumsfeld's head; they're the ones who will pay politically for his ineptitude. Unfortunately, all Americans pay the price if we continue to blow it in the war on terror. Write your REPUBLICAN members of Congress and demand competent Sec. of Defense.

[joehawkinson]

"The ex-generals are clearly in the minority. The military voted overwhelmingly for Bush ... and they know better than anyone; they're in Iraq. Must have something to do with why the generals "retired" in the middle of a war. Nobody just quits two years into a war, especially if you think you're undermanned.Posted by RonnieHM"

Well you talk as if this administration gives a rat's *** about what other think. Generals or any soldier cannot talk publicly against their higher ups. Only when they are retired can they do that. and voting for a party and approving every single action of them are two different things. According to recent polls even hard-core Republicans in general are not happy about the war or Rummy's performance but they'd still vote Republican . You worry about the independents , Repubs will get wiped out next elections -you note my word down-, of course if the Diebolt cr*p machines work properly for a change.

[rsoxfan1123]

Rumsfield is a lackey. Sitting and throwing darts at him while the one who gave him the orders sits and watches is ridiculous. Whomever sat in his chair would've done as he was told by the Bushmaster or he'd have been replaced by now.

[angryliberal-2009]

We are liberals, lets do some name calling!!! I cant wait.

[angryliberal-2009]

Rumsfeld is an Oil Munger, RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN, He is part of the RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN CONSPIRACY that is overtaking the country. We God-Hating liberals should stand up and get this moron out of office. Bill Clinton should take his place, he really knew how to fight a war, we need some one like Bill who will stand up to the terrorist. Maybe Ned Lamont can be our new Defense Secretary.

[rsoxfan1123]

I am not calling Rumsfield a name, merely stating the obvious. He is a lackey.

[lightnin38]

Firing Rumsfeld would not take care of any "problem", as you so honorably called this fiasco of a war. The real "problem" is the narrow-minded, elitest and exclusionary vision that our President and VP so self-rightiously propagate to us, (saddly, too many ignorantly buy into it.). I'm convinced that arrogancy like this is limited to 10% of the U.S. population, yet somehow they have highjacked our society and made us into the scourge of world peace and prosperity. For shame.

[angryliberal-2009]

rsoxfan1123, I agree with all your conspiracys! good job making up all your support, we need more liberals like you in our party. Rumsfeld deserves all the criticsm he is getting, what does he know about wars, we left-wing bloging liberals know better than him.

[rsoxfan1123]

Didn't the "terrorists" try to blow up the world trade Center when Clinton was in office?

[rsoxfan1123]

ANGRYliberal- Much more so than a facetious, incognito crass,ignorant and quite possibly inbred convervative!

[angryliberal-2009]

The lame right wing conspiracy has some how managed to get all their people in office, I cant be because the majority voted for them, I cant stand it anymore! Why do they keep talking about terrorist, they are trying to scare us into thinking that Islamic terrorists are trying to kill us. I havent seen muslims fighting in every country in the world, only like 20. Look at all the rights we have lost we cant talk to people in Afghanistan or Iraq without being monitored and we cant even take toothpaste on our carry on luggage anymore... I am so mad.

[angryliberal-2009]

rsoxfan1123, how dare you call me a conservative! I am as liberal as H. Clinton herself. Hey, I even support Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, dont call me a conservative you NEO CON.

[rsoxfan1123]

lightnin38, I hope you're right about the 10%. I suspect, though, that the support this party has been able to maintain is a symptom of our general IQ dropping. The ability to think for onself vs. the ability to recall facts on a standardized test is reaping its rewards, I fear.

[rsoxfan1123]

ANGRYliberal-Long live Enron and Halliburton!

[angryliberal-2009]

Yeah Rumsfeld is throwing darts at himself. George Bush is dumb,

I am so liberal that I hate:

1. George Bush
2. Wal-Mart
3. Neo Cons
4. Global Warming
5. Christians
6. George Bush
7. Mike Walace
8. The Pope
9. George Bush
10. Republicans

just like all the rest of you.

[drgoodwin12]

Removing Rumsfield may not help end the war in Iraq.Who knows what other idiot Bush will put in there and if the Democratic party does not get it's act together (and I am a democrat)and start talking about solutions that are not cut and run which is as good as an option as stay the course,they may not win the seats they need.The NIE report when read in it's entirity states that we are spending less time and money into detterment of Terrorism than we are military.These are not the first and will not be the last of Generals who will critic Bush,Rumsfield and Cheney.Anyone remember Wesley Clarke?

[angryliberal-2009]

I also hate Rush limbaugh, the salvation army, Jerry Falwell, Bob Jones, Pat Robertson, Fox News, Wal-Mart, Big Business, Low Taxes and all their NEO CON FRIENDS. They are the real threat in this country not Islamic Terrorists.

[joehawkinson]

ANGRYliberal , or should I say DISGUISE-NEOCON-Mor*n, it looks like you ate a little too much of Limbaugh Bull sh*t today. Go on chicken hawk, we are listening. :)

[joehawkinson]

well you sound too much like "stopneofatbs" that I chatted the other day. Any chance of knowing him :) what a Mor*on this guy is. :)

[angryliberal-2009]

In a perfect world every one would be homosexual, have abortions, pay high taxes, be regulated by the government on how to spend their money, have government handouts and housing, and have no jobs because all the employers would be shut down. Thats the Liberal way and that is why I am proud to be a liberal.

[angryliberal-2009]

I am A LIBERAL! I voted for John Kerry and want Noam Chomsky to run for president!!! How dare you call me a NEO-CON I am a Homosexual, enviornmentalist, nudist, atheist, how could you call me a NEO CON