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[tvoivozhd <tvoivozd AT infionline.net>]

The military idiot in the White House who calls himself "Commander in 
Chief" continues to sicken me with his uninterrupted litany of military 
blunders, beginning with making it impossible for our best Fourth 
Armored Division to attack the Sunni Triangle from Turkey, ignoring 
General Shinseki's advice on number of troops required to avoid creating 
a power vacuum and chaos throughout Iraq, causing 10,000 American deaths 
and casualties by denying them protective armor---and predictably 
destroying the Military Reserve System which supplies forty percent of 
military manpower in Iraq---weakening the U.S. not just in Iraq, but all 
over the world.


US army reserve a 'broken' force
* The commander of the US army reserve says it is rapidly degenerating 
into a "broken" force. *

Lt Gen James Helmly, in a leaked memo to the Pentagon, says the reserve 
has reached a point where it cannot fulfil its missions in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.

Reservists provide a large share of US troops in Iraq. The army says Gen 
Helmly's concerns are being addressed.

But analysts say they will fuel criticism that Pentagon policies are 
harming the US all-volunteer military.

The army reserve is a force of about 200,000 part-time soldiers who 
chose not to sign-up for active duty but can be mobilised in time of need.

Together with National Guard troops - who also serve part-time - 
reservists account for about 40% of US troops in Iraq.

* Burden *

The internal memorandum was first reported on Wednesday by the Baltimore 
Sun newspaper, and appeared on the internet later in the day.

In it, Gen Helmly says that under current procedures his forces will be 
unable "to meet mission requirements associated with Operation Iraqi 
Freedom and Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan.


	* The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of the Army Reserve's 
inability under current policies... to meet mission requirements *
Gen James Helmly

Gen Helmly takes issue with a number of "dysfunctional" Pentagon 
practices, including:

   * Financial incentives to attract and retain reservists on active
     duty, which the general says confuses "volunteers" with "mercenaries"

   * Reservists being called to active duty at only a few days' notice

   * Reserve troops being required to leave equipment for other forces
     after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The BBC's Nick Childs in Washington says such blunt words from a senior 
general are likely to provide further ammunition for critics who argue 
that the current policies are doing long-term harm to America's 
all-volunteer military.

US armed forces have been placed under considerable strain by the wars 
launched by President George W Bush during his first term.

Some commentators have accused Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of not 
accepting that huge troop deployments were needed, notably in Iraq.

Reacting to the leaked memo, Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat, told the 
Associated Press news agency: "By consistently underestimating the 
number of troops necessary for the successful occupation of Iraq, the 
administration has placed a tremendous burden on the Army Reserve and 
created this crisis."

In its response, the army said it acknowledged that changes have to be 
made in the way reserves are used and mobilised to deal with the new 
threats.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/4150749.stm

Published: 2005/01/06 09:30:39 GMT