Pentagon Assesses Strain on Military

[BettorsChat]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 9, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — A classified Pentagon assessment has concluded that long battlefield tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with persistent terrorist activity and other threats, have prevented the American military from improving its ability to respond to any new crisis.

The Pentagon contends that efforts to increase the size of the military, replace equipment and bolster partnerships overseas will help lower the risk over time, defense officials said Friday.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has completed the risk assessment, which is expected to be delivered to Capitol Hill this month. Last year Admiral Mullen’s predecessor, Gen. Peter Pace, upgraded to “significant” from “moderate” the risk of failing that the military faced in carrying out tasks in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The risk has basically stayed consistent, stayed steady,” Admiral Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee. “It is significant.”

He said the 15-month tours in Iraq and Afghanistan were too long and must be reduced to 12 months, with longer rest periods at home. “We continue to build risk with respect to that,” he said.

[ULikeApples]

This is shocking. Who would have thought that being involved in two different war theatres for 5 year would put a strain on the military? That's shocking.

Next thing you now people will say that drugs and alcohol lead to unprotected sex.

[jordanrules23]

This is shocking. Who would have thought that being involved in two different war theatres for 5 year would put a strain on the military? That's shocking.

Next thing you now people will say that drugs and alcohol lead to unprotected sex.

[BettorsChat]

This is shocking. Who would have thought that being involved in two different war theatres for 5 year would put a strain on the military? That's shocking.

Next thing you now people will say that drugs and alcohol lead to unprotected sex.

I agree that's just another reason they should be brought back home as we need protection over here. Our troops can't protect us when their in another Country.

[jordanrules23]

I agree that's just another reason they should be brought back home as we need protection over here. Our troops can't protect us when their in another Country.

i have an idea lets downsize the military
signed Billary Clinton

[flarendep1]

I agree that's just another reason they should be brought back home as we need protection over here. Our troops can't protect us when their in another Country.

We need protection here We have not had a terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11. Get your head out of the sand. Better to wipe out the terrorists over there than wait for them to come here.

[jordanrules23]

We need protection here We have not had a terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11. Get your head out of the sand. Better to wipe out the terrorists over there than wait for them to come here.

[Celtics86]

We need protection here We have not had a terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11. Get your head out of the sand. Better to wipe out the terrorists over there than wait for them to come here.

Keep touting the party line.... Facts don't matter. What matters is what's in your gut... Like John Wayne, great republican American war veteran and war supporter.....Wait, He never served, actually.... Anyway, do as he says, not as he does.... Flare doesn't need to worry about all these "little people", Bush said we were fighting terrorists round the world and flare has no reason to doubt him...All those americans that are dead or crippled, don't matter, out of flare's sight, out of flare's mind. "Other than me" fatalities don't matter to conservatives unless it can be used to push another war.
You don't consider Cho at Virginia Tech an act of terrorism...Was Tim McVeigh an Iraqi? Were any of the hijackers on 9-11 Iraqi......Al Qeada didn't attack from '93 to '01, and we weren't murdering brown people overseas during that time period...How can you explain 8 years of no attacks then, with the HORSESHIT logic you're using now.

Terrorists are fought with intelligence, not the military. When China or North Korea comes with a surprise attack and our military is on the other side of the world, killing half a million innocent Iraqi civilions that had nothing to do with 9-11, we will be shit out of luck over here.
Monte, you can't talk to these people...... They are a part of an occult.

[flarendep1]

Talk about the party line, you put down the military every chance you get with your "terrorists are fought with intelligence not the military" line. Many in our military are some of the brightest minds in the world. You can never admit that though. No you wont change my mind and I wont change yours. Dont sell our military short, do you really think North Korea would attack us and we would not stomp them? Or China?? Keep getting your info from Michael Moron and CNN, they are very reliable sources.

[BettorsChat]

We need protection here We have not had a terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11. Get your head out of the sand. Better to wipe out the terrorists over there than wait for them to come here.

Yeah, let's keep troops over there for the next 100 years and make them more pissed & hate us more

And how many attacks on US soil prior to 911?

[BettorsChat]

Talk about the party line, you put down the military every chance you get with your "terrorists are fought with intelligence not the military" line. Many in our military are some of the brightest minds in the world. You can never admit that though. No you wont change my mind and I wont change yours. Dont sell our military short, do you really think North Korea would attack us and we would not stomp them? Or China?? Keep getting your info from Michael Moron and CNN, they are very reliable sources.

You mean Colin Powell who quit on Bush, because he knew he was a dumbass.

[Celtics86]

Talk about the party line, you put down the military every chance you get with your "terrorists are fought with intelligence not the military" line. Many in our military are some of the brightest minds in the world. You can never admit that though. No you wont change my mind and I wont change yours. Dont sell our military short, do you really think North Korea would attack us and we would not stomp them? Or China?? Keep getting your info from Michael Moron and CNN, they are very reliable sources.

I used to not think on my own, like you.... I used to be a conservative idiot. I reallized I was taking the easy way out.. I reallized I was allowed to change my mind. That's what intelligent people do, when new information arises....
Fighting with "Intelligence" means the CIA and FBI.... You would try to turn my comments around to look like I am criticizing the military. Don't ever question my patriotism...Thats what you people do. You want to see some serious flag waving patriotism? Watch a clip of one of Hitler’s Nuremberg Rallies.... Hide behind patriotism and religion and 9-11, live in fear your whole life, fall for their tricks, not me.... not a lot of us...
Those in the media deciding what information to give us are in the top 5% of our income structure.....Our news is not presented, it is marketed....to people like you. 5 corporations own our media.... And they ain't liberal, bud.
Conservatism to me is the distrust of progress and opposition to change so that establishment may continue.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AXN3...eature=related

[grandmama]

Flare, I served two tours in Iraq. I want my friends back here ASAP. We have done all we can over there, and it's time we use all that money we're spending over there, here. We have a 300 trillion dollar deficet. Baby-boomers are starting to retire. If we don't spend that money on Medicare we will go broke.

[Celtics86]

You mean Colin Powell who quit on Bush, because he knew he was a dumbass.

I still think Powell is a slimebag and that he knew he going to LIE in front of the U.N.
I have watched the video many times of him walking into the auditorium with the biggest grin on his face.... I still sometime try to give him the benefit of the doubt though....

Just watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsVKD...eature=related

then........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r27963OijWg

then......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGqZO...eature=related

[flarendep1]

Flare, I served two tours in Iraq. I want my friends back here ASAP. We have done all we can over there, and it's time we use all that money we're spending over there, here. We have a 300 trillion dollar deficet. Baby-boomers are starting to retire. If we don't spend that money on Medicare we will go broke.

Thank you for your service bro! You guys are the real heroes and I agree with you that we should finish the job and get out. I just dont have much faith in the Iraqi government, hope I'm wrong. I think McCain will blow the election on this issue. Ready for President Obama??