Army Reserve chief raises concern about 'broken force'
CNN News
I have no doubts the unhappy left will seize on this headline to, once again, blast Bush and the military capability. I'd like to take a moment to set the record straight.
I watched Lt. Gen. James Helmly on Lou Dobbs' show last night. I sure wish the transcript were available, but alas... CNN stops short of including his interview.
Gen. Hemly's concern is not that we have a shortage of those willing to serve. Indeed, he emphatically states exactly the opposite to Mr. Dobbs in his interview.
Instead what we have here is a "failure to communicate". He points to the problem replacing those who wish to volunteer being usurped by those currently active, whose contract with America is renewed to meet the need. In another article he says:
Helmly recommended extending the mandatory retirement dates for reserve officers, rather than having to recall and retrain retired officers; and making more use of retirees who have volunteered to return to duty. Current policies have "hamstrung" the reserve as it tries to manage its force, he wrote.
Gosh knows that, while I support the war efforts en toto, I know there are bureaucratic regs in place that need to be altered for inefficiency. And I'm not one to think that Bush needs to sit down and read every regulation and decide what needs to be tossed out personally. He's one busy guy these days.
I'm all for giving this man a serious listen on his suggestions to get those who wish to serve in the forefront, and get those who deserve a rest back home.
But all should take great care to not become the "sound byte" educated. Ignore the political wrangling that are sure to take place over this issue, twisting it into half-truths to be used for Democratic subdiversion.
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