Bush plans to increase size of U.S. military

[EagleEyes]

Bush plans to increase size of U.S. military

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Tuesday he plans to increase the overall size of the U.S. military, which has been stretched by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so it can fight a long-term battle against terrorism.

Bush said he has asked his new defense chief, Robert Gates, to report back to him with a plan to increase ground forces. The president did not say how many troops might be added, but he said he agreed with officials in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill that the military is stretched too thin to deal with demands of fighting terrorism.

“I’m inclined to believe that we do need to increase our troops — the Army, the Marines,” Bush told The Washington Post in an Oval Office interview. “And I talked about this to Secretary Gates and he is going to spend some time talking to the folks in the building, come back with a recommendation to me about how to proceed forward on this idea.”

The White House said Bush’s decision about expanding the size of the military was separate from his search for a new approach to the war in Iraq. “This is necessary for the long term obligations in the war on terror,” presidential spokesman Tony Snow said.

Different schools of thought
Snow acknowledged that Bush is considering sending more troops to Iraq, an option that worries top generals because of its questionable payoff and potential backlash.

Top generals have expressed concern that even temporarily shipping thousands of more troops would be largely ineffective in the absence of bold new political and economic steps, and that it would leave the Army and Marines Corps even thinner once the surge ended.

They also worry that it feeds a perception that the strife and chaos in Iraq is mainly a military problem; in their view it is largely political, fed by economic distress.

Bush said he has not yet made a decision about a new strategy for Iraq, which he is expected to announce next month. He said he was waiting for Gates to return from his expected trip to Iraq to get a firsthand look at the situation.

“I need to talk to him when he gets back,” the president said. “I’ve got more consultations to do with the national security team, which will be consulting with other folks. And I’m going to take my time to make sure that the policy, when it comes out, the American people will see that we ... have got a new way forward.”

Bush cites an ‘ideological war’

Bush said his decision to increase the size of the armed forces was in response not just to the war in Iraq but to the broader struggle against Islamic extremists around the globe.

“It is an accurate reflection that this ideological war we’re in is going to last for a while and that we’re going to need a military that’s capable of being able to sustain our efforts and to help us achieve peace,” he said.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., criticized any decision to send more troops to Iraq.

“Instead of changing course for the better, the president’s plan for more troops will make matters worse in Iraq — as many generals agree,” Kennedy said in a statement.

“We need a political solution that brings these warring factions together and makes Iraq take responsibility for their own future. (Former Secretary of State) Colin Powell and General (John) Abizaid agree that more troops will just delay that process. Right now, we are a crutch for the Iraqis and our troops are paying the price,” he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16287392/

 

[Adux]

The right decision, Otherwise we have a Afghanistan in the making

 

[Neo]

Imho already have a disaster a la Vietnam in the making, increasing US Armed Forces will only intensify the civil war.

Its better for US to leave now she can.

 

[Adux]

Lets imagine they pull out tommrow, what do you think will happen from the very next day,
They need the Americans.

 

[Neo]

Total chaos, ethnicities fighting eachother and in time the strongest will take control of the government, probably fighting proxy war financed by Iran and Saudi Arab.

US has kept the ethnicities together but clearly its not working, let them fight their own war and decide their own future.

 

[Adux]

The World Community will Eat the US alive, This even they cant dodge, they will have more terrorist attacking them,

Iran and Saudi will play with Iraqi population, and they wont have any remorse on that.

Honestly Maybe the Americans are there for the OIL, but they are better off with them...Americans have better track record than the UN, look at Japan, South Korea

 

[Neo]

Pentagon wants $99.7B more for wars

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon wants the White House to seek an additional $99.7 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to information provided to The Associated Press.

The military's request, if embraced by President Bush and approved by Congress, would boost this year's budget for those wars to about $170 billion.

Military planners assembled the proposal at a time when Bush is developing new strategies for Iraq, such as sending thousands of more U.S. troops there, although it was put together before the president said the troop surge was under consideration.

Overall, the war in Iraq has cost about $350 billion. Combined with the conflict in Afghanistan and operations against terrorism elsewhere, the cost has topped $500 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

The additional funds, if approved, would push this year's cost of the war in Iraq to about $50 billion over last year's record. In September, Congress approved an initial $70 billion for the current budget year, which began Oct. 1.

A description of the Pentagon request was provided by a person familiar with the proposal who asked for anonymity because the person was not authorized to release the information.

The cost of the war has risen dramatically as the security situation has deteriorated and more equipment is destroyed or worn out in harsh conditions. The Army, which has borne the brunt of the fighting, would receive about half of the request, a reflection of the wear and tear that the war has had on soldiers and their equipment.

An additional $9.8 billion is being sought for training and equipping Iraq's and Afghanistan's security forces.

The administration's request for more Iraq money will be submitted along with Bush's budget in February for the 2008 budget year, which starts next Oct. 1. The White House can add or subtract from the Pentagon request as it sees fit, and the total could grow if money is added for reconstruction costs.

In a memo several weeks ago, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England encouraged the services to include in their budget requests projects connected to the broader fight against terrorism, as opposed to costs strictly limited to Iraq and Afghanistan. Critics have said that could be interpreted to cover almost anything.

The budget request includes:

_$41.5 billion to cover the costs of ongoing military operations.

_$26.7 billion for replacing and repairing equipment damaged or destroyed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

_$10 billion for body armor and other equipment to protect U.S. troops from attack.

_$2.5 billion to combat roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices.

_$2.7 billion for intelligence activities.

Whatever request emerges from the Bush administration will go to a new Congress controlled by Democrats highly critical of the Iraq war and Bush's handling of it.

Even so, there is much sentiment among Democrats to protect troops and much fear about being portrayed as unsympathetic to men and women in uniform. These factors probably would overwhelm any efforts by anti-war Democrats to use the debate over the Iraq money to take on Bush's conduct of the war.

Democrats have promised, however, to give the upcoming request greater scrutiny than Republicans did when considering Bush's previous requests.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061220/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_spending

 

[Neo]

The World Community will Eat the US alive, This even they cant dodge, they will have more terrorist attacking them,

Iran and Saudi will play with Iraqi population, and they wont have any remorse on that.

Honestly Maybe the Americans are there for the OIL, but they are better off with them...Americans have better track record than the UN, look at Japan, South Korea

Main concern should not be the future threat to the US but the fate of innocent Iraqi's dieng by thousands every month.

Is it hard to accept that the world including Iraq was a better and safer place when saddam was in power?

 

[Adux]

I have to agree with you there, Saddam had nothing to do with War on Terror. But he could let the Inspectors in the complex, he thought the West was bluffing, unfortunatly for him they werent.
Thats done, so no use talkin about it

Neo,
More people of Iraq will die if America leaves.
Americans will have no problem wasting the whole of IRAQ if it means saving their population. Humanity stops when your own life is threatened.

 

[TomCat111]

Main concern should not be the future threat to the US but the fate of innocent Iraqi's dieng by thousands every month.

Is it hard to accept that the world including Iraq was a better and safer place when saddam was in power?

What is done is done. The trick is, the world community will have to figure out a way, how to cleanup the mess without making it worst.

Nobody doubts that if Americans would leave, the country would be divided into Sunni, Shia and Kurdish areas. But that’s not where the mess will end. The Iraqi mess has every possibility of turning into regional wars.

Iran and Syria are already actively involved in turning Iraq into a Shia state. Sunni states like S. Arabia has already announced they would support Sunni population, because they don’t want to see a contiguous Shia belt encircling them, starting from Iran and ending in Lebanon.

On the north, Turkey has already made it clear that they will not allow creation of a Kurdish state. Neither will Syria. Because they don’t want to see their own Kurdish populations getting any ideas of merging with the newly created Kurdish state.

Nobody, including china and Russia will be able to sit back and allow such turmoil in the heart of oil-supplying nations; therefore, in such a scenario, a global peace force will try to step-in, which Americans won’t allow and the possibilities from thereon paint even gloomier pictures.

In short, it’s in everybody’s interest to let Americans cleanup the mess they created. Of course, the Americans won’t be able to cleanup their mess till Bush accepts the reality and brings fundamental changes in how to tackle with the situation. And the changes will have to be consistent with the recommendations of Iraq Study Group.

 

[Bull]

Main concern should not be the future threat to the US but the fate of innocent Iraqi's dieng by thousands every month.

Well you said that Saudi and Iran will play the iraqi population,wont civilians die then?

Oh yeah then the arab ranting wont be there bcoz its only when the US/Israeli kill a arab blood is spilled and not when hamas kills fatah or sunni kills a shia,its perfectly ok.

 

[Adux]

What is done is done. The trick is, the world community will have to figure out a way, how to cleanup the mess without making it worst.

Nobody doubts that if Americans would leave, the country would be divided into Sunni, Shia and Kurdish areas. But that’s not where the mess will end. The Iraqi mess has every possibility of turning into regional wars.

Iran and Syria are already actively involved in turning Iraq into a Shia state. Sunni states like S. Arabia has already announced they would support Sunni population, because they don’t want to see a contiguous Shia belt encircling them, starting from Iran and ending in Lebanon.

On the north, Turkey has already made it clear that they will not allow creation of a Kurdish state. Neither will Syria. Because they don’t want to see their own Kurdish populations getting any ideas of merging with the newly created Kurdish state.

Nobody, including china and Russia will be able to sit back and allow such turmoil in the heart of oil-supplying nations; therefore, in such a scenario, a global peace force will try to step-in, which Americans won’t allow and the possibilities from thereon paint even gloomier pictures.

In short, it’s in everybody’s interest to let Americans cleanup the mess they created. Of course, the Americans won’t be able to cleanup their mess till Bush accepts the reality and brings fundamental changes in how to tackle with the situation. And the changes will have to be consistent with the recommendations of Iraq Study Group.

The only time i agree with you

Electercity and Clean Water for the population will be a start and if he can throw some jobs in there tooo

 

[Neo]

What is done is done. The trick is, the world community will have to figure out a way, how to cleanup the mess without making it worst.

Nobody doubts that if Americans would leave, the country would be divided into Sunni, Shia and Kurdish areas. But that’s not where the mess will end. The Iraqi mess has every possibility of turning into regional wars.

Iran and Syria are already actively involved in turning Iraq into a Shia state. Sunni states like S. Arabia has already announced they would support Sunni population, because they don’t want to see a contiguous Shia belt encircling them, starting from Iran and ending in Lebanon.

On the north, Turkey has already made it clear that they will not allow creation of a Kurdish state. Neither will Syria. Because they don’t want to see their own Kurdish populations getting any ideas of merging with the newly created Kurdish state.

Nobody, including china and Russia will be able to sit back and allow such turmoil in the heart of oil-supplying nations; therefore, in such a scenario, a global peace force will try to step-in, which Americans won’t allow and the possibilities from thereon paint even gloomier pictures.

In short, it’s in everybody’s interest to let Americans cleanup the mess they created. Of course, the Americans won’t be able to cleanup their mess till Bush accepts the reality and brings fundamental changes in how to tackle with the situation. And the changes will have to be consistent with the recommendations of Iraq Study Group.

Wellsaid Tomcatt! :thumbsup:

 

[Neo]

Well you said that Saudi and Iran will play the iraqi population,wont civilians die then?

Civilians will remain the major casualty no matter who is fighting whom.

Oh yeah then the arab ranting wont be there bcoz its only when the US/Israeli kill a arab blood is spilled and not when hamas kills fatah or sunni kills a shia,its perfectly ok.

The only difference here would be that the Saudi's nor the Iranians would be fighting for oil, which is the major jack pot US is after.

 

[Adux]

You are wrong in assuming that, Anybody will fight to get the largest of reserves of OiL in thier Hand. Imagine its impact on world