News story: Pentagon commissions study on readiness. Study finds that the Army is beginning to show evidence of structural problems due to long and oft-repeated deployments of the same troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, mid-grade offices bailing out; divorce rates up due to family separation; and the Guard and Reserve are becoming sparse as their soldiers vote with their feet instead of being asked to go back in to combat as what they (the Guard and Reserve soldiers) perceive as being second-class citizend compared to the RA soldiers.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday disputed a Pentagon-commissioned study that warns the Army needs more troops for Iraq and Afghanistan, telling reporters the service is nowhere close to its breaking point.
...
Rumsfeld said he has not read the study but took issue with its conclusions.
Wow. The old Imperial Hubris at work. It's wrong because he says it is. I guess when the report comes out on CD, Ol'Rummy can just toss it into the CD player in the limo on a trip over to get his Medal of Freedom. Because that Secretaryin' is Haaaard Work.
The author of the study makes a some interesting points about the status of the military, but not from a nya-nyah, you're all fucked up point of view, but from a sober "fix it or you're gonna have trouble" perspective. Since the 1600 Crew is absolutely never wrong, how could the author even be a little right?
posted by Jo Fish on 01.25.06 at 07:16 PM
Comments:
Well, since they don't care, it doesn't matter WHAT they do.
posted by: Palolo lolo on 01.26.06 at 08:02 AM [permalink]
Draft. Start the draft. Dammit, start the draft!!! Oh, we can't, because Vietnam showed its inequities. The rich don't want it if they can't get deferments, if its going to have to be done radomly and fairly this time (think Jenna and Barbara, Jr.). So forget the draft. The folks in service will just have to suck it up. Displaying yellow ribbons on your vehicle mean little if you've never had or will have any serious ass on the line!!!