http://www.blackfive.net/main/2004/10/will_increasing.html

Cao’s note: I couldn’t resist sharing this, compliments of Blackfive-

In response to Kerry’s Backdoor Draft nonsense (Did you take an oath or what?), I decided to look at what the new appropriations bill will do for our military. Remember that John Kerry wants to increase the Active Duty Army by 40,000.

First, take a look at what our current strength levels. From the 2005 Defense Authorization Act, as of August 31, 2004, America’s military personnel includes (approximately):

1.. . 375,000 Active Duty Sailors
2.. . 82,000 U.S. Navy Reserve
3.. . 176,000 Marines
4.. . 40,000 Marine Corps Reservists
5.. . 379,000 Air Force Personnel
6.. . 75,000 Air Force Reservist
7.. . 107,000 Air National Guard
8.. . 497,500 Army Soldiers
9.. . 207,000 Army Reservists
10.. . 342,000 Army National Guard

The House Armed Services Committee approved the 2005 Defense Authorization Act (Adobe Acrobat pdf file). The bill will increase benefits across the board (imminent danger pay, separation from family pay, 3.5% increase in basic pay), but it’s not as much as I wanted to see. It will soon be in front of the House and Senate for votes. Essentially, the troop increases are as follows (paraphrased from the House Authorization Act):

Increase in Active Army Troop LevelsTo address the Army’s manpower shortages and to promote efforts to increase the numbers of modularized brigades, the conference recommended an increase of 20,000 in fiscal year 2005, and a total increase of 30,000 active personnel over five years. In sum, the committee would increase active Army end strengths from the present authorization of 482,400 (currently at 497,500) to 502,400 in 2005, and authorize further increases to 512,400 by 2009. Does any of you see a problem here?

Increase in Activy Marine Corps Troop LevelsThe committee also believes that an increase in manpower is essential to the Marine Corps’ ability to provide and sustain the force levels required of it by our national security strategy. Accordingly, the conference recommended an increase of 3,000 active Marine Corps personnel in fiscal year 2005, and authorized a total increase of 9,000 over five years. In sum, the conference would authorize a Marine Corps increase from the present level of 175,000 to 178,000 in 2005 and to 184,000 by 2009.
Now, looking at the percentages of Active Army to Reserves and Guard, increasing the Active Component will result in the following changes in 2005:

502,400 Active Soldiers
208,700 Army Reservists
342,000 Army National Guard

Overall an increase to 502,400 is only 4% up from the authorization of 482,400, HOWEVER, our current level is 497,500 so the actual increase is only 4,900 troops or a measely ONE PERCENT INCREASE.

Gee, thanks a ton, Congress. You really solved THAT problem…

Therefore, if you are looking to see if the troop increases are going to ease the responsibilities of the Reserves and Guard, you are greatly mistaken.

The only thing that will improve the lot of our Reserves and Guard is to win the peace quickly. I believe that we can do this by spending billions after the election in November to rebuild the infrastructure, create jobs, and win hearts and minds in Iraq. Only then will we be able to reduce dependence on our Citizen-Soldiers and improve the quality of life for our Active Duty components.

NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

Killer pic–I started another blog and I’m trying to figure out how I can get this into the new template. I think it’s a kick ass picture of a kick ass girl…who is ready to doing some ass kicking…and that’s exactly how I feel right now….the blog can be found at http://caoilfhionn.tblog.com –there’s quite a community there, and if I can get that template to look better, I’ll be posting there in addition to over here.

BTW, of course I know what that picture’s from….do YOU?

NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said that unduly harsh political attacks from likely Democratic nominee John Kerry are undermining the morale of U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Asked whether charges by Kerry and his supporters that Bush “lied” about and “hyped” pre-war intelligence are hurting the war effort, Powell told Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes,” “It doesn’t help.”

While U.S. soldiers will continue to serve with honor no matter what, Powell said, “they want to know that the American people are supporting them.”

He then warned, “Let’s not misuse an issue for the purpose of political advantage in a way that will undercut the efforts of our brave young men and women out there or affect their morale.”

The top Bush official also took issue with former Vice President Al Gore, who has accused President Bush of “betraying” America in going to war against Iraq, telling Sean Hannity that Gore’s comments were “very disturbing.”

“I mean, Vice President Gore was in an administration that believed there were weapons of mass destruction, to the extent that they bombed the facilities that they thought those weapons of mass destruction were in back in 1998.

“That was President Clinton and Vice President Gore,” Powell emphasized.

“So to now scream that there is something wrong with the Bush administration because we finished the job, as opposed to just have a four-day bombing campaign, and we’ve eliminated the problem forever, I think is incorrect.”

This mom cares about her son in Iraq, as 160 thousand other families care about their family members in the military. I am ashamed of John Kerry for what he’s doing to our boys in Iraq. He should shut up!

NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.