If we are leaving Iraq, why do we need an even bigger military?

(This is not an Obama thing -- I think it applies Clinton also, or to all three)

In the debate Obama mentioned that we need the military to be bigger so we can stop these multiple redeployments.

Question: If we are getting out of Iraq, why do we need a bigger military? Leaving Iraq ought to solve the multiple redeployment problem.

I know Kerry ran on a bigger military, and I figure Clinton and Obama have the same position on that (and maybe Edwards), so this isn't about Obama, but about the policy itself... it doesn't seem to make a ton of sense.

(Especially since it takes time to make a soldier, and takes years to make an officer. And I'm assuming we aren't going to be occupying any other large country.)

And they still call for new quick response type forces. I think Iraq may have shown that we aren't prepared for a real war anymore. Although that's hard to comprehend with as much money as we spend on our military.

From his site - A Strong Military for a New Century
http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/military/


"The core of this presidency has been a political doctrine that George Bush calls the 'Global War on Terror.' He has used this doctrine like a sledgehammer to justify the worst abuses and biggest mistakes of his administration, from Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, to the war in Iraq. The worst thing about the Global War on Terror approach is that it has backfired—our military has been strained to the breaking point and the threat from terrorism has grown."

"We need a post-Bush, post-9/11, post-Iraq American military that is mission-focused on protecting Americans from 21st century threats, not misused for discredited ideological pursuits. We need to recognize that we have far more powerful weapons available to us than just bombs, and we need to bring them to bear. We need to reengage the world with the full weight of our moral leadership."

"What we need is not more slogans but a comprehensive strategy to deal with the complex challenge of both delivering justice and being just. Not hard power. Not soft power. Smart power."

snip>

As president, Edwards will:

Build the military we need to meet the mission we have defined -- no more, no less -- basing future troop levels on a careful assessment of the post-Iraq threat environment.

Double the budget for recruiting and raise the standards for the recruiting pool.

Invest in maintenance of our equipment for the safety of our troops.
Create a Marshall Corps” of up to 10,000 professionals, modeled on the Reserves systems, who will work on stabilization and humanitarian missions.

Provide both our soldiers and civilians with improved language skills and cultural understanding for their work overseas.

Implement new training for future military leadership and create a new undersecretary of defense for stabilization efforts and a new senior stabilization position within the Joint Staff.

Modernize our forces, so we do not keep spending money on systems that only meet the needs of today—not tomorrow. Greening the military to increase innovation, save millions of dollars, reduce reliance on vulnerable supply lines.

to be determined by the facts on the ground. Combined with the ramp up in Recruiting and increased bonuses, that would get new blood in to relieve the guys on their 3rd, 4th, 5th tour while keeping the military levels at whatever number is needed.

Such language is refreshing to hear, and gives me hope.