Our Voice
This week, shocking news came to all those families who have loved ones serving with the military in Iraq and across the Middle East.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that tours of duty for the soldiers of the U.S. Army will be extended from 12 months to 15 months. The extensions went into effect, immediately affecting 146,000 Army troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fortunately the order does not affect National Guard and reserve troops, who will continue to spend one-year tours.
On top of that, 15,000 more troops are supposed to be deployed during the next few months to help stabilize problems in Baghdad.
Secretary Gates denies that the order is a sign of Army weakness and over-stress. However, the U.S. Military is getting stretched thinner and thinner by the month. The United States of America cannot continue to be the policeman of the world. And we’re not saying this to be anti-war or anti-Bush. It just seems like a good idea to finish one escapade before we start another one.
This news had to come as a shock to those soldiers whose tour of duty was coming to an end. Can you imagine being in a desolate wasteland like Iraq, away from all the people you know and love just to find out you have to stay longer? A few of the members of The Colonnade’s editorial staff have friends serving their country in the War on Terror. It’s devastating to know that our loved ones will have to be in harms way for a longer period.
But how can this sort of problem be averted? There are very few answers and most of them are easier said than done. First, the Army could recruit more young men and women, train them and rotate the current ground troops on a more regular basis. This would keep fresh soldiers on the ground and give those who have served their time a chance to unwind and distress.
Second, we can bring the soldiers home, and this opens up another can of worms. America can’t just pull out. Then the whole ordeal would just be a waste, because any progress that has been made would quickly be reversed. However, we can’t stay there forever. But then again, the timelines proposed in Congress haven’t looked to realistic.
All of this is side material though; the prime focus of this column is to show appreciation to all of those families who sacrifice on a daily basis and to send our thoughts and prayers to all of those soldiers fighting for our freedom over seas, especially those who have to stay longer now.
Thanks you.
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Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 13 2007. Filed under Opinion, Our Voice.
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