February 25, 2007

pace.jpg The term "stretched too thin" seems applicable here...

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Hala Gorani: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have undoubtedly put a severe strain on the American military, now there is word that the Pentagon is concerned about its ability to respond to additional potential crises. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is monitoring this and joins us now. Barbara, what is being said at the Pentagon regarding the possibility of responding to any third crisis that arises around the wolrd for the US military?

Barbara Starr: Well you know Holla, yes, yet again another indication on that question of just how stretched thin the US Military is right now -- Afghanistan, Iraq and a number of other commitments around the world. What is the indication? Well, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, has sent a classified report to the Secretary of Defense, and now to Capitol Hill, that says the risk is now "significant," that's the word, "significant," of the US Military being able to meet its obligation if in fact a third crisis now were to break out. This all has led under the law for the requirement now for Secretary Gates to come up with what they call a "mitigation plan" - once the risk is "significant" the Secretary must report to Congress on what he's doing about it.

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