Defense Sect’y Gates: Military To Grow By 22,000

Is this what we signed on for when we elected Barack Obama to get us out of Iraq?  Now we are being told by Defense Secretary Robert Gates that the Army will add 22,000 to meet needs in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world.

Gates noted that while progress in Iraq will lead to a reduction in the number of troops there, more troops are needed in Afghanistan because of the worsening violence in that conflict. He said the persistent pace of operations in the two wars over several years has meant a steady increase in the number of troops who are wounded, stressed or otherwise unable to deploy with their units.

Also causing a shortage is the decision earlier this year to stop the unpopular practice of keeping troops beyond their enlistment dates, a practice known as ”stop-loss.”

”The cumulative effect of these factors is that the army faces a period where its ability to continue to deploy combat units (with enough troops) is at risk,” Gates said.

Gates says it’s temporary and the need for additional troops will abate over the next three years.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.