Army Can't Sustain Troop Demand in Iraq

Not enough soldiers to support surge through spring

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 20, 2007 3:28 AM CDT

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Army Can't Sustain Troop Demand in Iraq — Soldiers of the Army's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, rest as they have arrive to a US military Base Warhorse in Baqouba, Iraq, 60 kilometers (35 miles) north east of Baghdad, Tuesday, March 13, 2007. More than 700 additional U.S. troops arrived in Iraq's increasingly... (Associated Press)

With nearly all its forces exhausted, the US Army will have to break some promises to sustain the current troop buildup through spring, according to new documents acquired by AP. The Army would have to extend tours, reduce rest, or accelerate use of National Guard members to maintain current levels—all options a war-weary Congress would like to avoid.

All 38 of the Army’s available units are either deployed, just returning home, or set to go to Iraq or Afghanistan, with most brigades already having completed two or three tours of duty. Generals admit that demand for troops outweighs supply, but if the Iraqi government fails to make progress soon, a drawdown of American units may be slow in coming. (More Iraq stories.)

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