Iraq reveals chinks in Army's armor

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/news/ci_2618493

WASHINGTON — Two years after the United States launched a war in Iraq with a crushing display of power, a guerrilla conflict is grinding away at the resources of the U.S. military and casting uncertainty over the fitness of the all-volunteer force, according to senior military leaders, lawmakers and defense experts.

Unexpectedly heavy demands of sustained ground combat are depleting military manpower and gear faster than they can be fully replenished. Shortfalls in recruiting and backlogs in needed equipment are taking a toll, and growing numbers of units have been broken apart or taxed by repeated deployments, particularly in the Army National Guard and Reserve.

"What keeps me awake at night is, what will this all-volunteer force look like in 2007?" Gen. Richard Cody, Army vice chief of staff, told a Senate hearing this week.

The Iraq war has also led to a drop in the overall readiness of U.S. ground forces to handle threats at home and abroad, forcing the Pentagon to accept new risks — even as military planners prepare for a global anti-terrorism campaign that administration officials say could last generations.

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[bemildred]

1. "crushing display of power"

They just never tire of the dick-waving do they?

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Sure they "crushed" Iraq, however 2 years later there are more

troops in there than at the start. It would be interesting to see what would happen if the US military tried to "crush" a country that had some semblance of a defense, however, it would never happen, they don't "do" real wars.

[Voltaire99]

15. Starve and bomb a country for ten years, and then racing to its capitol...

...is a "crushing display of power"?

Well, gotta have some scraps to throw the NASCAR droolers while your splendid little invasion is going belly up.

[amber dog democrat]

2. Robots

disposable robots. We need to start building them now.

[tubbacheez]

3. Sounds like...

"Attack Of The Clones"

[amber dog democrat]

4. Yes, we will need Geneal OB-ONE

for the coming clone wars. He's our only hope.

[tubbacheez]

5. Was that a veiled reference to...

Obama, Barack - as the One?


:)

[amber dog democrat]

6. well, uh......

Yes. It IS. It all begins somewhere in a republican theocracy far, far away.

[tubbacheez]

7. It doesn't feel all that far, far away to me.

Nor all that long, long ago.



Then again, maybe I should get myself an attention span like the Freepers have.

Maybe the election, the terrorist attack, the war, and the other election really were long, long ago.



Ancient history, even.

[amber dog democrat]

11. No, its too close for comfort and

the obese woman has not sung yet. These nitwit ideologues and fundy fanatics are determined to exploit the gullible and mis informed American Sheeple - for their own gain and private agendas.

This war is more like Italy going into Ethiopia and Abassynia and Greece. Surely we are taking on more than we can manage - for a hidden agenda.

[Wright Patman]

14. Military robots planned

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=4&display=rednews/2003/02/18/build/technology/40-robots.inc

As you ordered.

[phantom power]

8. This isn't about "chinks in the armor". It's about the fact that

occupying a foreign country is a losing proposition, no matter how formidable your army is.

They still don't get it.

[amber dog democrat]

9. But it was gonna pay for its self !

People would toss flowers ! It was going to be so friggin easy !

Kindly remind me why we went in the first place. Wasn't oil was it ?

[Voltaire99]

16. Why not ask John Kerry?

Let us not forget: he was an enthusiastic backer of the war.

For that matter, he was going to fight the war even better than Bush!

The short answer, in any case, is that Democrats, trembling before GOP demands of war, collaborated in this despicable crime.

[amber dog democrat]

17. This is one of the reasons why I could never support Hillary C.

When Democrats pander & wimp, they accomplish nothing. I'd rather see a real fight and lose if need be , based on principles. Kerry was not my choice - I held my nose and voted against Bush the same as last time.

Still wondering if its time to start planning to leave the country.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. It ain't the "chink" - it's the "CHIMP" that's the weakness!

.
.
.

I mean, ya really think that the world wouldn't notice that the SUPERPOWER attacked a basically DEFENSELESS country

- and can't handle it ??

China, Russia and a few more countries must be laughing their asses off at the USA's fumbling attempts to dominate a country of just over 20 million - WITH JUST REBELS !!

No real organized military is keeping the USA at bay, it's a bunch of disorganized groups just fighting to KEEP OCCUPIERS OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY.

So

China, Russia, Korea, Iran - - whomever, are not really "scared" of the USA anymore

USA is just fumbling around like the overgrown bully in the schoolyard, and the only reason that he is bigger than the rest - is cause HE FAILED HISTORY LESSONS 3 years in a row . . . .

I'll Say it again,

USA started it's downward plummet when they dropped the first bomb on Baghdad in that "Shawk N Awwwww" thingie

:eyes:

[leveymg]

13. We are so NOT ready to fight 2 1/2 wars, or 1 1/2 wars, or even

20,000 Iraqi irregulars simultaneously. Bush has shown the US to be the ultimate "Paper Tiger" Mao described.

Is Bush TRYING to prove Mao correct?