Report: U.S. Military Readiness Worsens
Quick Response To Possible Third Crisis Unlikely Because Of Strains From Iraq And Afghanistan Wars
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U.S. Marines patrol outside Fallujah, Iraq. A new report to Congress says the U.S. military might not be able to respond to a potential third crisis because of demands from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an anonymous source. (AP / file)
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The assessment, done by the nation's top military officer, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, represents a worsening from a year ago, when that risk was rated as moderate.
The report is classified, but on Monday senior defense officials, speaking on condition on anonymity, confirmed the decline in overall military readiness. And a report that accompanied Pace's review concluded that while the Pentagon is working to improve its warfighting abilities, it "may take several years to reduce risk to acceptable levels."
Pace's report comes as the U.S. is increasing its forces in Iraq to quell escalating violence in Baghdad. And top military officials have consistently acknowledged that the repeated and lengthy deployments are straining the Army, Marine Corps and reserve forces and taking a heavy toll on critical warfighting equipment.
The review grades the military's ability to meet the demands of the nation's military strategy — which would include fighting the wars as well as being able to respond to any potential outbreaks in places such as North Korea, Iran, Lebanon, Cuba or China.
The latest review by Pace covers the military's status during 2006, but the readiness level has seesawed back and forth during the Iraq war. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the risk levels are classified, said the risk for 2005 was moderate, but it was assessed as significant in 2004.
His assessment was submitted to Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the beginning of this year, and therefore does not reflect the latest move to pour 21,500 more troops into Iraq over the next few months.
Gates delivered Pace's assessment to Congress, along with a six-page report on steps the Pentagon is taking to address the problem —including new efforts to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps, and requests for more money to repair and replace equipment. On Monday, the Pentagon released most of Gates' report, except for a few sections that were classified as secret.
That report concluded that "world events and regional trends add up to increased challenges to our nation's security." And it said the decline in readiness is also affected by whether other federal agencies and other nations are fulfilling their commitments.
There have been long-standing complaints that the State Department has not met its responsibilities in Iraq, particularly in reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, as well as buttressing the political development of the Iraqi government.
In his report, Gates also discussed efforts to repair and replace equipment worn out in combat, beef up recruiting and retention, and make better use of the National Guard and reserve forces. It also details how the Pentagon will use billions of dollars in the proposed budget, including plans to modernize aircraft and weapons, develop better detection and countermeasures for weapons of mass destruction, increase the size of the special operations forces, and boost the nation's missile defense.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



There has alwasy been a problem with these forces measuring up to active duty standards. They only train 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year.
I would withhold judgement on this report until you know the full scope and context.
Bush is playing all of us against each other! In one hand he is touting the Red White and Blue war on Terror against everyone who attacked us on 911 and on the other hand he is funding Al Qaeda to destabilize other governments in the Middle East! Here is the stream read it yourself!
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh
Just copy up to the Hersh on the news stream this web site is adding a n on the end of the paste!
SO DO SOMETHING EXCEPT SIT ON THE COMPUTER AN COMPLAIN! Write Congress Now! //www.visi.com/juan/congress/
This is exactly opposite of what you were suppose to be doing. Of course you won't admit that your stupidity has led us to the current state of military overload and strained foreign relations. Oh no, according to you, the US is safer today. Let no clue of the truth enter into your world! Why, that might cause your fantasy to unravel.
Hell, you think the US would be even more safe if we invaded Iran! Let's take our already exhausted military and have them attack a fresh army (News alert here! Iran is not Iraq. Iran's army is in much better shape than Iraq's) and by doing so, unite the Arab world against us and Israel.
You think we are safe now, just wait. Bring on the Iranians you stupid *** and we'll be 10 times safer.
Posted by olebd at 11:43 AM : Feb 27, 2007
YOU think WE the People shouldn't know this? Look you clowns have defended this INCOMPETENT LOSER and his Administration and you are putting the safety of this nation at risk. HE's INCOMPETENT even a 6 year old can see that.
I would withhold judgement on this report until you know the full scope and context.
Posted by US_Infidel at 09:36 AM : Feb 27, 2007
Man! Talk about denial!! You are turly a classic case. Love that PARTY don't you? ROFLMAO Go down with the ship and all huh? ROFLMAO It's not going to change... INCOMPETENCE never does. Sir Lies-A-Lot will be just as incompetent TOMORROW as he was yesterday... you can count on it. ROFLMAO.
Posted by grumpas at 10:42 AM : Feb 27, 2007
Great post!! Thank you!
Posted by gunnerv1 at 11:54 AM : Feb 27, 2007
Our Military was not designed to fight when the mission changes every other day. Our Military was not designed to be a Police Force. Our Military was not designed to fight carrying and Incompetent Sleaze Bag like Bush on it's back. End of story.
I look at the region and ask who's really pulling the strings. Every time it comes up Saudi. Too many connections ther between the ruling elite there and here. Every time oil slips in price the fires of war are stoked by our administration. OPEC (led by the Saudis)had threatened to cut back production unless the price went up. Bin Laden was a windfall for his family's country -Saudi.
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by david1737
February 28, 2007 2:50 PM PST
- Yet another example of how Bush's failure in Iraq has made the world much more dangerous.
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