“But what if I need it sometime?”
Iraq Troop Boost Erodes Readiness, General Says
Outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker said yesterday that the increase of 17,500 Army combat troops in Iraq represents only the “tip of the iceberg” and will potentially require thousands of additional support troops and trainers, as well as equipment — further eroding the Army’s readiness to respond to other world contingencies.
I guess that the context and the thrust of the general’s remarks did not come across. As an argument against Bush’s escalation in Iraq, the idea that using troops for it will “erode our readiness to meet other contingencies” is pretty stupid. I am no fan of the “surge.” But we have a military so that we can use it, as Madeleine Albright noted a few years ago.
Sometimes when I am fixing something around the house, I might need a 2×4. But, when rummaging around the basement, if find one, exactly what I am looking for, I catch myself saying “But what if I need it sometime?” … Then I whack myself on the head with the 2×4, and go ahead and use it.
The escalation might be a good or bad idea, but to oppose it because we might face some other contingency seems pretty weak.
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