Gates warns of Army stress without emergency funds

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday the Army would face tough cuts without emergency funds but insisted the Iraq and Afghan wars had not so stretched U.S. forces that they could not win a third war.

He painted a mixed picture of the impact Iraq has had on U.S. military readiness at a time when the Congress is considering tying the Bush administration's request for emergency war funding to a deadline for pulling troops out of the conflict.

Gates has previously raised concerns about Democrats' moves to set a withdrawal deadline. But he would not say on Thursday what Congress should do, or discuss President George W. Bush's threat to veto a bill linking funding to a pullout timetable.

"I think it's my responsibility to let everybody involved in the debate know the impact of the timing of the decisions," he said. "I think that that's about as far as I should go."

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22232590.htm

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He should tell the truth, it's not going to get better and they need to come home now!!

the guy is smart and he sees the writing on the wall. The military has be destroyed by this war.

sends to his desk -- unless he really doesn't support the troops.

What do you suppose that means, mentioned so casually in the story lede?

Afghanistan

And does he really believe the U.S. could win if another front opened up now?