Troop Strength

[Thiebear]

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1203/121003cdpm1.htm

Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., introduced legislation Monday that would increase

Army troop levels from 482,400 to 522,400,

Air Force from 359,300 to 388,000, and

Marines from 175,000 to 190,000.

The bill is co-sponsored by 25 House Democrats, including House Armed Services ranking member Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member John Murtha, D-Pa.

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What do you think about the above numbers.

I don't even understand the reason for such small numbers?

If this was one step amongst 5 to 6 more steps it would be o.k.

She forget about the Navy?

We need Rumsfeld to SAY absolutely not, then they will up it another hundred thousand or more...

[TC4]

I can tell you in two words why we do not have enough troops:

PEACE DIVIDEND

Back in 1992, when Bill "Let me help you with that zipper Monica honey" Clinton became president, and the Democrats still controled the House and Senate, they all got a big hard on from the idea that we no longer needed a big miiltary after the Gulf War, and so they began to cut out a lot of the military budget and close bases and lowered the number of personal in the armed services, so that they could have more money for their idiot liberal programs, like trying to turn our medical care system into a socialist, government run boondoggle.

When we fought the Gulf War in 1990-91, no more than 1/3 of the troops were National Guard reserves. Now that number is 1/2, all because we do not have the man power to prevent us from having to dip into the reserves so deeply. And this fact too comes right down to those two words again:

PEACE DIVIDEND

[joe]

Why would we get more troops if Rumsfeld says no?

This is but a step in the right direction. It's too little too late, but better late than never.

[Thiebear]

Whoah hold on a minute there... I was in from 86 - 97 and It started waaay before Clinton... It started with Bush Senior and it kept going and going and going.. Everyone in at the time started shaking their heads and pointed back to the end of WWII.

Every time there is extended peace we throw everything away.

Then we have to ramp up at 10x the cost when something happens...

Now that were back...

I would like to see a couple of bases opened

I would then like to see open bids for contract work there

I would then like to see troops put in those bases

I would then like to see a

750

500

200

force above myself.

[Joe Sick]

Originally posted by Thiebear

Whoah hold on a minute there... I was in from 86 - 97 and It started waaay before Clinton... It started with Bush Senior and it kept going and going and going.. Everyone in at the time started shaking their heads and pointed back to the end of WWII.

Every time there is extended peace we throw everything away.

Then we have to ramp up at 10x the cost when something happens...

Now that were back...

I would like to see a couple of bases opened

I would then like to see open bids for contract work there

I would then like to see troops put in those bases

I would then like to see a

750

500

200

force above myself.

Don't try to interrupt the Clinton-hating and liberal bashing with facts.

From Bush the Smarter's 92 State of the Union address...

"Two years ago, I began planning cuts in military spending that reflected the changes of the new era. But now, this year, with Imperial Communism gone, that process can be accelerated. Tonight I can tell you of dramatic changes in our strategic nuclear force. These are actions we are taking on our own, because they are the right thing to do.

After completing 20 planes for which we have begun procurement, we will shut down production of the B-2 bomber. We will cancel the ICBM program. We will cease production of new warheads for our sea-based missiles. We will stop all production of the peacekeeper missile. And we will not purchase any more advanced cruise missiles.

This weekend I will meet at Camp David with Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation. I have informed President Yeltsin that if the commonwealth,the former Soviet Union, will eliminate all land-based multiple-warhead ballistic missiles, I will do the following: We will eliminate all Peacekeeper missiles. We will reduce the number of warheads on Minuteman missiles to one and reduce the number of warheads on our sea-based missiles by about one-third. And we will convert a substantial portion of our strategic to primarily conventional use.

President Yeltsin's early response has been very positive, and I expect our talks at Camp David to be fruitful. I want you to know that for half a century, American presidents have longed to make such decisions and say such words. But even in the midst of celebration, we must keep caution as a friend. For the world is still a dangerous place. Only the dead have seen the end of conflict. And though yesterday's challenges are behind us, tomorrow's are being born.

The Secretary of defense recommended these cuts after consultation with the joint chiefs of staff. And I make them with confidence. But do not misunderstand me: The reductions I have approved will save us an additional $50 billion over the next five years. By 1997 we will have cut defense by 30 percent since I took office."

[Mr. S]

im a liberal, but military spending is something i agree with full heatedly. We should never have cut troop numbers to rely on reserves and guard members. Not sure who to blame, but the problem now is that we want to increase numbers.

[du7st]

The Bush admin knew how many troops we had before we invaded Iraq. If we didn't have enough to get the job done, we should have delayed or changed tactics. Ultimately you have to be responsible for the decisions you make. It's called being a leader.