Breaking the Army in Iraq
Posted 15 weeks 4 days ago byThe New York Times reminds us today that the Army is in danger of cracking up over the strain of the Iraq war.
The Army study of mental health showed that 27 percent of noncommissioned officers — a critically important group — on their third or fourth tour exhibited symptoms commonly referred to as post-traumatic stress disorders. That figure is far higher than the roughly 12 percent who exhibit those symptoms after one tour and the 18.5 percent who develop the disorders after a second deployment, according to the study, which was conducted by the Army surgeon general’s Mental Health Advisory Team.
Senior officers warn that time at home must be increased from the current 12 months between combat tours. Otherwise, they say, the ground forces risk an unacceptable level of retirements of sergeants — the key leaders of the small-unit operations — and of experienced captains, who represent the future of the Army’s officer corps.
I have to admit, my first thought upon reading this was: "I wonder if Gen. Omar Bradley ever asked Franklin Roosevelt to ease up on the war against the Germans and the Japanese to preserve the mental health of the Army." My guess: No.
Then again, World War II can plausibly be depicted as a war for national survival -- Bradley and Roosevelt were on the same page about that. By raising their concerns so publicly now, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are signalling that they see Iraq as anything but -- and that they increasingly see our committment there as not being worth the cost we're paying. Not that they'd ever say it like that, of course -- they properly defer to the civilian commander-in-chief in the setting of national priorities. But how else can you interpret these warnings?
“Our readiness is being consumed as fast as we build it,” Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army vice chief of staff, said in stark comments delivered to Congress last week. “Lengthy and repeated deployments with insufficient recovery time have placed incredible stress on our soldiers and our families, testing the resolve of our all-volunteer force like never before.”
The danger here goes beyond the Army's capabilities, because it reveals some important problems:
* There's a disconnect between the Bush Administration and the military's senior commanders over the importance of Iraq. That's troubling.
* There's a disconnect between the president's rhetoric about the war and his actions. If Iraq were that important, President Bush wouldn't just be "surging" troops there: He'd be raising all-new brigades and divisions to ensure that America could more than meet the challenges offered by Iraq or any other potential adversary. There's been a slow and small increase in the size of the Army, but it's clearly not been enough. He either doesn't think it's important enough, or he doesn't think he could muster the political support -- in which case, he doesn't think it's important enough.
And that's a good sign that it is time to leave.
Thoughts
Insights
Submitted on April 8th, 2008 by CORNFINGER66Yes all I have is insights. When Cheney goes againts the Law and will not release his notes. What else do I have too go on.
How about his record of lies.
We are suppose too have a Nation of open government. Why is everything so secret?
You can keep hiding your head in the sand, and think Bush and Cheney are on the up and up, not me.
When they open up, you will see they are crooks, just like 70% of the rest of this country.
Thanks for correcting my spelling, Cornfinger
Reply: Shots
Submitted on April 7th, 2008 by AnonymousYes and I take it you have been sitting in the briefings with President Bush, Vice President Cheney and rest of staff. I appreciate the insight because it sounds as if you really know what is going on behind the scenes.
"they where (were?) planning on attacking Iraq well before 9-11."
"That is why Cheney will not release the notes from his meeting with energy mogules (moguls?)."
Please keep us posted with updates on this inside information.
Shots
Submitted on April 7th, 2008 by CORNFINGER66The way President Bush lied us into this war, it is not hard too shoot down his mistakes.
If he was a CEO, he would of been fired along time ago, with a big bonus and sevirance package though.
He and Cheney are war mongers, they where planning on attacking Iraq well before 9-11.
That is why Cheney will not release the notes from his meeting with the energy mogules.
Keep the shots coming
Submitted on April 7th, 2008 by AnonymousNothing personal, but it looks to me that you are jumping on everything possible to denigrate the current administration. If President Bush authorizes more troops for the surge no doubt he would be called a bigger war monger than he already is, when he does not call for more troops the Army is breaking, cracking and "hypothetically" we may need to institute the draft. In my estimation, the NY Times has nothing positive to say about any entity not on the left side of the universe. If President Bush called for more troops, the NY times would have presented the Bush war monger story and kept the Army is cracking up story in it's back pocket. Better yet, the NY Times could have really thrown out a double zinger and hit us with a combined Bush war monger "story" followed with the Army is cracking up article on the same day.
As many of us, I have people close to me serving as well. It is extremely angering when media outlets are more concerned about their own agenda than the people serving and protecting our country.
Re: Insane
Submitted on April 7th, 2008 by JoelYou misunderstand me. I'm not saying -- exactly -- that there should be a draft.
I'm saying that there would be one if this war was as critical to our nation as our leaders have told us.
Are you insane?
Submitted on April 6th, 2008 by AnonymousHow the hell could one even remotely call for a draft. It isnt enough that this country is following Germany's blueprint for a fascist state already and now you say that a draft to pull hundreds of thousands of people most of whom know this war is a farce into a meat grinder? Everyday I become more and more ashamed of this country and its attitude toward human life. I guess no one wants to research any longer to find out important reasons as to why we are in the mess we are and why others throw there life down to protect their country. Its called patriotism and we are not the only ones with resolve. But we will be ending this empire soon for as the wise old man that thinks before he speaks says We cant afford this controlling of other countries any longer we are going bankrupt. Let it not be said we did nothing - Ron Paul the only man with experience and wisdom to be able to lead this nation out of the financial bind we are in and the illegal invasions that we were propagated into.
Im afraid we wont wake up until it is too late -Ron Paul
Back-door draft for Iraq.
Submitted on April 6th, 2008 by AnonymousMy 44 year old uncle, who has served his whole life, just got back-door drafted the other day. He's on his way to Iraq as we speak.
He was up for retirement in October, but he was given deployment orders in May to be in Iraq for 1 year, plus 4 months of training beforehand. He was told that if he didn't sign up again for a 6-year term, they would cut off benefits to his family while he was in Iraq.
So he trained for 4 months, was allowed to see his family for 2 days, and then was forced to enlist for another 6 years by way of blackmail.
Talking to him it was apparent that he no longer agreed with the war, and neither did many of the men in his unit going back for their 2nd and 3rd tours.
I can't image the above situation makes for mentally healthy and prepared soldiers.
Freedom
Submitted on April 6th, 2008 by AnonymousOur nation has had to fight for its own freedom. No one ever did it for us. If some one had, we would still not be free, we would be under the control of whomever it was that was doing the fighting for us.
It is time to let the Iraqi's to fight for their own freedom even if it involves a civil war. We fought our civil war to free ourselfs from a part of us who did not believe in freedom for all.
We need to get out and stay out of it. Freedom must be won by and for themselves. If it isn't, it is not real freedom.
Draft
Submitted on April 6th, 2008 by CORNFINGER66President Bush would never allow a draft. If that would happen some of his supporters children may get caught up in it.
Also the children of Reps. Verry little Congressmans or Senators has any children in the armed forces.
If the Draft Boards are as crooked as the Vietnam boards. They will be able too keep some of them out, but not all.
As Steve Earl said in one of his songs "They draft the white trash here first"
A matter of priorities
Submitted on April 6th, 2008 by JoelI think if this war is as important as we're told, then yes -- we'd not only start a draft, but we'd raise taxes and/or start a "war bond" campaign (remember World War II) to pay for it.
The fact that it's not happening suggests to me that the Bush Administration doesn't take its *own* rhetoric all that seriously...
Should a draft be considered?
Submitted on April 6th, 2008 by MercyphotographyConsidering that the US military is showing signs of incredible strain, I see two options to sustain US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
1- Keep using "contractors"( mercenaries) such as Blackwater.
2- A draft: I think it would be the best option, of course no politician on either sides would have the audacity to bring it up.
I would put in place a two years mandatory National service for men and women, with the option to iether serve in the US Army or do community work ( in org. such as the peace corp, teach for America, habitat for humanity etc).
I am convinced that if a draft was set up, the war in Iraq would end very quickly.
Mercyphotography