Who Among The Republicans Is Looking Out For The Troops?

All I hear from the Republicans is how safe they feel. How George W. Bush has kept them safe and that to lose the White House to the Democrats would result in their being less safe. Pardon me for thinking more about my loved ones than myself, but who is looking out to keep the troops safe?

My understanding is that the surge was only made possible by extending tours to fifteen months, by all accounts putting additional strain on an already strained military. The number of “high-quality” recruits has continually fallen. As a military family member, when I hear this, I think about what would happen if the situation in Iraq or Afghanistan suddenly worsened, who would be ready to help? What “quality” of people are being sent to watch the troops’ back?

Never mind that a recent report by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves says the nation "’does not have sufficient trained, ready forces available’ to respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear weapons incident, ‘an appalling gap that places the nation and its citizens at greater risk,’” and that, “Even fewer Army National Guard units are combat-ready today than were nearly a year ago.” They are still drastically short of equipment. To me, this means that my loved ones could be put in a position made even more dangerous by a lack of proper equipment and trained, battle-ready soldiers.

The current situation has resulted in an “unprecedented” reliance on our citizen soldiers – the National Guard and Reserves. Yet, the Commission’s first recommendation - pointing to the “continued strain on the military as it fights wars on two fronts” and saying there is "no reasonable alternative" - is to rely heavily on the reserves to supplement the active duty forces because it would be cheaper! What kind of gratitude is this?

John McCain, the war hero, says we will stay in Iraq 100 years, if that’s what it takes, and that it shouldn't be difficult to expand the U.S. military despite a shortfall in recruitment. Is he going to be just another flowery, patriotic orator who will not ask any sacrifice of the people?