Reed Calls on President Bush to Increase Size of Army
Reed Calls on President Bush to Increase Size of Army
Thursday, January 13, 2005
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The United States military is too small for the missions it faces. Accordingly, we write today to urge you to include funding for an expanded active duty Army and Marine Corps in your FY2006 budget request.
The men and women of the American military have performed magnificently. Their selfless service, sacrifice, and professionalism are in the best traditions of this country, and we are all proud of them. But pride and best-case planning must not blind us to the fact that the Army and Marine Corps are stretched dangerously thin with too few men and women in uniform.
Today, the United States confronts an enormous challenge in Iraq, seeking to defeat an insurgency and create the conditions of security vital to the reconstruction of that country. While this conflict has affirmed that a lightening-fast, information age force can smash an opposing military, there is no substitute for an appropriately sized and equipped ground force to secure strategic victory from tactical success. Simply put, success in modern war requires sufficient boots on the ground. With nearly 150,000 troops and Marines in Iraq, nearly 20,000 in Afghanistan, and tens-of-thousands more in Korea and elsewhere, we are left to conclude that the American military is too small, not simply for the challenges we face today, but also as an appropriate hedge against future dangers.
The Department of Defense has relied on the National Guard and Reserves at historic rates. At present, more than 185,000 reservists are mobilized and deployed around the world. They constitute more than 40% of our forces in Iraq, and the services continue to rely on "stop-loss" while also activating members of the Individual Ready Reserve.
Congress acted last year to add 20,000 troops to the active duty Army and 3,000 to the Marine Corps. In doing so, Congress required that if the Secretary of Defense plans to increase active-duty end strength in any given fiscal year, it must be reflected in the budget materials submitted to Congress.
Mr. President, the need to further expand the American military in this time of war is apparent for all to see. As you prepare your FY2006 budget request, we urge you to include a plan and additional resources to further expand the active duty end-strength of the Army and the Marine Corps.
The men and women of the American military deserve wise leadership, the best equipment, and an appropriately sized force. Begin now, Mr. President, to build the larger American military that will protect this country in the decade ahead.
Sincerely,
NOTE: Signed by Senators Kerry, Reed, Levin, Clinton, Leahy, Dodd, Durbin, Kennedy, Biden, Lieberman, Bill Nelson, Rockefeller, Schumer, Kohl, Johnson, Lautenberg, Akaka, Wyden, Carper, Feinstein, and Landrieu.
http://reed.senate.gov/EndStrenghtLetter1-13-05.htm