Bush Wants To Increase Size Of Military

Bush Calls for Increasing Size of U.S. Military - AOL News

He also said the military would be expanded to fight a long-term battle against terrorism.

I think Rumsfeld's biggest mistake was trying to transform the military too quickly. The transformational ideas are good but he made it an all or nothing proposal. I understand he did that because of all the opposition he would get on his ideas. It just couldn't be done. We need more troops to be able to continue to fight the war on terror.

It Is Still Not Safe To Vote Democrat

Pajamas Media: STAR WARS REDUX: Democrats to Gut Missile Defense / Bush to Announce "Orbital Battle Station"

When multiple countries, some of which are sworn enemies of us, are trying to develop ICBMs why would anyone even consider gutting missile defense. It goes to show that it is still not safe to vote for Democrats.

WP - Moms Serving In Iraq

WP: Military mothers yearn for home - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com

When war started in Iraq, a generation of U.S. women became involved as never before. More than 155,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan - in a wider-than-ever array of jobs, for long deployments, in a conflict with daily bloodshed.

Among their ranks are more than 16,000 single mothers, according to the Pentagon, a number that military experts say is unprecedented.

I'm going to sound old fashioned but I really don't believe moms should be serving in combat or in such a hot zone. There is something special, sacred and necessary about moms. Of course dads are important (I'm one) but mom is the one that needs to be with their children, even more than dad.

This is a disturbing issue and I believe women in the military, especially mothers, need to be treated.

HH on Rumsfeld

Hugh Hewitt - Secretary Rumsfeld - A great send off to Donald Rumsfeld.

Hitting a Bullet with a Bullet

As we ponder North Korea being ready to test a missile that could reach the United States we must consider our resources to defend ourselves. Around 23 years ago one Ronald Reagan proposed a missile defense system and the Democrats said it was stupid. It helped to end the Cold War with the USSR and led to the Patriot Missile which was used in the Gulf War in 1991 to defend our troops and Israel. Of course, once Bill Clinton took office he put a halt to missile defense at the urging of the Democrats. Fortunately, when George W. Bush took office he decided to deploy a missile defense system. It's just too bad we lost 8 YEARS of development due to the wrong person winning an election. At least we are taking steps to protect our coast now.

Forget any other issue, I will never vote for a Democrat until that party gets serious about defense. On this issue, the Democrats are just plain wrong.

Tomb of the Unknowns

One of the true highlights of our trip to DC was watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The tomb is guarded and just watching the soldier do his job was pretty cool. When they change it's a real ceremony that lasts for just a bit. It was something I'll never forget and I will see it again when I get back there again.

Thoughts on Caspar Weinberger

I know that it's been a few days since the passing of Caspar Weinberger but I have a few memories to share. The first was that, at a distance, he looked like Ronald Reagan. The main memory is his major role in the rebuilding of the military which led to the fall of the Evil Empire. It took a man of personal strength to fight off the Beltway beliefs about the military. Eventually, he paid a heavy price for his beliefs and loyalty to the country and to President Reagan. We owe him a big thanks.

Veterans Day 2005

I'm just winding down from a long but good day and am watching Saving Private Ryan. Many blessings to all our veterans especially the ones in harms way right now.

Woman Marine Association

Women Marine USMC - a site about Marines that are women. Check it out.

A Greater Freedom

Check out some very cool and interesting stories from and about our military at A Greater Freedom.

Malkin - Survivor Benefit Increase

Michelle Malkin: PAYING MORE THAN LIP SERVICE TO THE TROOPS

Michelle Malkin is trying to rally her readers to support legislation to increase survivor benefits to families of military members who are killed in action. I can't see any reason not to support this legislation.

Again, Phone Cards for the Injured Troops

UPDATE: Sounds like there are enough cards according to Snopes. Thanks to Jema for the update.

Broken Masterpieces: Something For The Wounded Troops For Christmas

As we see the headlines this morning about the attack on the US base with more than 20 killed, please remember to do something meaningful for the troops. Get some phone cards (check the calling limits) and send to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

Something For The Wounded Troops For Christmas

MAJOR UPDATE: The Dollar Tree store I went to only had cards for calls from California, Nevada or Arizona. Do not buy these. Costco has 14 120 minute MCI cards for $50.00.

UPDATE: Store locator for Dollar Stores.

UPDATE: From "ncccterri" - "you can get phone cards for 99 minutes for 99 cents at Dollar Tree stores".

From HughHewitt.com:

Finally, from a naval officer I respect a great deal, an e-mail on how to aid wounded troops in the two weeks left before Christmas:

Please pass this portion on, copy and paste it into your e-mail."

Another idea for Christmas.

Asleep While Good People Sacrifice

The American Spectator - The Land of $800 Haircuts

Back here at home, if you don't read the newspapers or watch TV, it is as if nothing had happened. But something is happening. Our best and bravest are fighting magnificently and sometimes dying. I wish there were some national effort to make us at home reach into ourselves to help -- with money, with love and affection for the families, with anything the men and women in the field need. These men and women who are losing their lives are not foreign mercenaries. They are our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, friends, and heroes. They do more for us in two minutes on Sinai Street in Falluja than every player in the NBA and every star on every TV show does in a year. Please, Mr. President, think of a way we can help them, make common cause with them, let them know we're all in it together. It is only common decency.

The mighty Ben Stein is spot on. There needs to be a movement to support the people that are sacrificing so much. Ideas anyone? I know there are some smaller efforts but wouldn't it be great to have non-partisan national effort to show how much we care and are thankful?

MyWayNews - U.S. Marines Rally Round Iraq Probe Comrade

Tip from Drudge.

My Way News - U.S. Marines Rally Round Iraq Probe Comrade

I hope the MSM would back off of this incident for now. They should have not even reported this story until all the facts are known. By reporting the story now it only hurts the cause of our troops. I understand the reasons for running the story but this Marine will be tried and convicted in the press. I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt to our soldiers. These soldiers have been fighting non-stop for days. I wonder how many times there have been cases where an enemy fakes being dead only to set of some type of explosive? We just don't know.

Let's just hope justice prevails, whatever it may be.

Veterans Day

For all the veterans, this day is for you. Thank you for your service in the long term efforts to keep America free and safe. Your efforts are, too often, underappreciated.

Hugh Hewitt has a post about a young Marine who recently was killed in Iraq. Please read here.

An Opportunity For Healing

I honestly believe that John Kerry should meet with the Swift Vets. They need to hash out some issues, make some apologies and agree to disagree. Kerry would be able to do this in a way that wasn't seen as political and it could help symbolize some healing from the Vietnam war.

Miramar Air Show

Today I was able to take my youngest son to his first air show at Miramar. What a great time it was. I'm so impressed with our military personnel and with the weapons we have. I got to see the B-2 do a fly by for the first time and was in awe. As the song says, "and I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free" - thanks to our military and the people who served before them.

How Should We Treat Our Soldiers?

Michelle Malkin: WHAT HAPPENED ON DELTA FLIGHT 6281

Please read.

Troop Realignment

MSNBC - Bush to announce huge troop realignment

A significant portion would be sent to bases in the United States, although others could be shifted to posts in Eastern Europe, they said.

This sounds like a good opportunity to remove troops from "allies" that don't want our presence and make them available for our real friends. Of course, it is preferred to bring more of them home and I'd like to see some troops on the borders.

Seeing war through the eyes of a Marine's dad

Tip to RealClearPolitics.

baltimoresun.com - Seeing war through the eyes of a Marine's dad

Very touching but something we all need to read. How easy to forget the tremendous sacrifices of our military and their families.

Let's Adopt Our Troops in Prayer

Courtesy of reader RJ, please consider the Let's Adopt Our Troops in Prayer team.

Prayers for an Anonymous Marine

As I'm driving to work I notice a young mother walking back from the local elementary school with her toddler-aged son. I noticed that her shirt said "Marines". As I thought about this I wondered where her husband might be. Is he in Iraq? Is he deployed somewhere else? Is he doing his duty at Miramar? I just prayed for her, her husband and her family. May God bless this Marine family. May He protect them and preserve them.

Let's never forget the great service and sacrifice of our people in the military including their families and remember to pray for them.

NYT - Army Study of Iraq War Details a 'Morass' of Supply Shortages

Tip to Drudge.

Army Study of Iraq War Details a 'Morass' of Supply Shortages

About Time - Increase in Army

Yahoo! News - U.S. Army Plans Four-Year Boost of 30,000 Forces

It may be only temporary but it's a start. We cannot fight the war on terrorism on the cheap.

Still Short on Proper Body Armor

FOXNews.com - Politics - Military Misses Armor Deadline for Troops in Iraq

This is still unacceptable. I just can't believe this happens and it needs to be made sure that it never happens again but first, GET THIS FIXED!

A Bigger Military

Before I go into my little rant I want to say that I support adding more full-time military personnel.

Every time I see some Democrat who's always been against more military spending, announce we need more troops in Iraq or we need a bigger military, I just chuckle. The Bush Administration needs to call them on it. We do need more troops in our military as we are quite overcommitted. This is a post-9/11 world and we've got lots of hunting to do. At the same time we must continue modernization. These are two things that need to both happen. As I've stated in other entries, this is not an area where we need to go on-the-cheap.

One of my bigger concerns is the use of our Reserves and National Guard. When people sign up for that are they really thinking that they'll be deployed for over a year? Re-enlistment may become a problem.

We, as a country, need to keep the faith with the military. They deserve it.

Congressional Push for Larger Military

USATODAY.com - Congress pushes for larger military

This is a great idea. What needs to happen is that Rumsfeld needs to realize that modernization and expansion are both needed to suite the times we live in. The budget for the military is one place we cannot be skimping on. Roll back spending in other places but it's the military that is our main weapon against terrorism.

Successful Missle Defense Test

There was a successful test of missle defense system. Check out the details here. This is great news. As we continue work to defend ourselves against a rogue missile let's make sure that the current obligations to our military are met. This is the place where I truly believe in spending federal money. Just about everything else is on the table for cuts in my book.

Admiting When You Are Wrong

I'm seeing and hearing plenty of grumblings about the state of our current military. I'm not an expert but as a friend of mine said "The Clinton Admin. was regularly and rightfully taken to task for ignoring military readiness concerns; this administration has to be held to the same standards." Since 9/11 the purpose of our country has changed. We are all about stopping and preventing terrorism. These are worthy standards for our country and our military. The problem seems to be that the military is stretched too thin. I agree that we need modernization of the military but while that is happening we must take care of the troops we have now.

I just think it's time for some of our leadership to actually admit that we've miscalculated on Iraq along with some of our other obligations. Just level with the American people, especially the military. It seems that it is impossible in Washington to admit that you were wrong on something. Answers are spun in order to fit the letter of the law and not the spirit. What happens if something blows up in Korea? We need to get back to the 2-front policy; fighting 2 major wars at once.

I will now admit that the Iraqi post-war effort is bigger than I though it would be. Now, what do we do? Do we cut and run? No. Do we not level with our troops? No. What we need to do is fix the problems while maintaining the modernization that does need to occur. Still, when it gets down to it, bad guys always need to really be rooted out by good guys on the ground, ready and prepared.

Body Armor Issue - Links

Jonathan Turley
Fox News - coalition troops get the good stuff while ours get Vietnam era junk
Christian Science Monitor in April - Singing the praises of the new body armor
Defense News - rushing to get the good stuff to the troops
OU Daily - More on the shortage, but the $87 billion is helping to fix the problem
About US Military - getting the gear to our soldiers

Bottom line folks, here is a quote from somebody who knows the details (with a few edits):

This is a case of DoD (specifically the Army) not allocating the proper resources. This advanced body armor has been on the market for years, but the Army had planned to phase it in over a 5-6 yr period, due to the high unit cost (over a 1000 dollars per vest). Light infantry units (82/ 101 AB, 10th Mountain) had first call on the new gear, but mechanized units (3rd / 4th ID, 3CAV, etc) were not designated for an ungrade until the out-years of the replacement cycle. It is sad, but true, that some of our combat deaths could have been prevented if these vests had been made available.

While I question their motivation, the press is right to take our military leadership to task on this issue. Quite frankly, if we do support our troops, the blogosphere should be raising a ruckus and asking why our troops weren't properly equipped. Once again, penny wise and pound foolish.

I'm taking this advice. This is really messed up and soldiers have died because of some major planning screw ups and the ensuing covering of their respective backsides. Look, admit that there was a mess up and fix it (looks like it's being fixed). Nothing is ever 100% correct but to keep delaying because of mistakes, that makes it worse.

How About A Prayer For The Troops

A nice article in the LA Daily News about some requests from our troops for a bit of remberance for them. The article is here.

Maybe sometime today you could put them in your thoughts, Sgt. Raul Esquivel says. Maybe say a little prayer for them before you dig into the turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.

Mothers in Combat

I'm watching the Jessica Lynch movie on TV. It brings up the issue of women in combat, but more importantly, mothers in combat. From a pure gut-level feel, it makes me ill. What about single mothers? What about Lori Piestewa's children? When was it made OK for women in combat? I don't like this at all.

Bush Needs To Pay Attention

There is a very important Army Times editorial that President Bush needs to read. If true, he needs to take care of those people getting shot at, now.