Bush/McCain and the hollowing of the American Military

In sum: The Bush/McCain Iraq policy is destroying our force structure. Obama's policies are needed to make our military whole again.

FPPFO members got a preview last week from Lawrence Korb about John McCain’s biggest blind spot in his Iraq argument. Dr. Korb, formerly Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower, spoke to hundreds of FPPFO members (on his birthday no less) about the hollowing out of the Army and Marine Corps. In short, the Bush/McCain approach is destroying our force structure which will limit America’s ability to protect our interests around the world, and at home.

This article from yesterday documents the fact that 11% of new recruits have moral waivers, including convictions of serious crimes. The extra trouble they are causing is wasting time and resources in the ranks. And Dr. Korb told us last week that the Army is losing many of its brightest young officers at an alarming rate.

Remember, the civilian leadership sets policy, and generals execute the military component of that. Bush and McCain are focusing on what the general in a particular theater wants, without regard for how the rest of the defense establishment is suffering. The reverberations will continue for years.

Barack Obama will set the policy that strengthens America at home, rebuilds our alliances, pulls out of Iraq responsibly, and focuses military resources on assaulting terrorists.