Global War on Terror Watch: Army & Marine Corps To Ask for More Troops

Washington Post (Via Hugh Hewitt): Army, Marine Corps To Ask for More Troops

The Army and Marine Corps are planning to ask incoming Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Congress to approve permanent increases in personnel, as senior officials in both services assert that the nation’s global military strategy has outstripped their resources.

In addition, the Army will press hard for “full access” to the 346,000-strong Army National Guard and the 196,000-strong Army Reserves by asking Gates to take the politically sensitive step of easing the Pentagon restrictions on the frequency and duration of involuntary call-ups for reservists, according to two senior Army officials.

The push for more ground troops comes as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have sharply decreased the readiness of Army and Marine Corps units rotating back to the United States, compromising the ability of U.S. ground forces to respond to other potential conflicts around the world.

So, enlarge the Army, the Marine Corps and National Guard. What is so difficult to understand?

It is a dangerous world and the United States is fighting a war on terror.

Will the new Democrat Congress vote for the increases?

You betcha but watch the Earmarks and Pork attached to the bill. And the bellowing from Charlie Rangel to re-institute the draft.

Technorati Tags: GlobalWaronTerror, Army, MarineCorps, NationalGuard