Skelton Frets That Iraq War Is Eroding Military

Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has told defense writers that his chief concern as the war in Iraq enters its fifth year is troop readiness.

"We are stretching ourselves almost beyond recognition," he said. Though President Bush initially requested some 21,500 additional troops to go to Iraq, that figure will end up being closer to 30,000, said Skelton. "I think you're going to end up with a lot more sailors and airmen doing security work."

The early mistakes of the war continue to haunt troops and today, he said, it's "far too late" for more troops.

"To do it right, we should have had a lot more troops [in Iraq] three years ago," the chairman said. The mistakes made there in the immediate aftermath of the invasion are "irretrievable" and the outlook for fixing the country is dim, he added. "I don't see a solid hope for democracy ... and peace spreading all over Iraq."

At best, he added, U.S. troops can bring violence down and "get the baton handed over" to the Iraqi government. But though he says he respects Gen.
David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, he doubts that "even someone as able as Petraeus, and I wish him well, can make a dent." He remains concerned, too, that the grinding war will erode the spirit of soldiers and their families.

"If morale's not good at home," says Skelton, "that's going to affect you staying in the military."

By Anna Mulrine