The Washington Times reports that President Bush had to be "pressured" into agreeing to the idea that more soldiers and Marines are needed to fight our long war in Iraq and elsewhere.
President Bush only acceded to a jump in the number of U.S. Army and Marine Corps ground troops after intense pressure from senior officers, active and retired, including the Joint Chiefs, defense sources said.Mr. Bush, who announced Wednesday that he will increase an active force that now stands at 1.4 million personnel, this month heard about the stressed Army and Marines Corps from a group of retired officers at the Pentagon.
But the deal-clincher came when he traveled to the Pentagon and met with the six-member Joint Chiefs inside the super-secret "tank."
Why the need for "pressure" when the need for more forces is so stunningly obvious and has been since Sept. 12, 2001? The Rumsfeld world view is part of the answer, but only part.
Mark Helprin said it clearly back in 2004.
The military must be reconstituted so that it has a surplus of power without having to choose between transformation and tradition, quality and numbers, heavy and light: All are necessary. This is expensive, and would require more plain speaking and less condescending manipulation from those who govern, but would allow for the quick and overwhelming application of force, unambiguous staying power, coverage of multiple contingencies, and, most importantly, deterrence. It is always better to deter an enemy than, by showing weakness, to encourage him to take the field.Posted by Alan at December 22, 2006 07:17 AM