[lbo-talk] Running out of troops worldwide

[Michael Pollak]

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> From the long commentary article (by Gerard Baker) in Monday's FT:

<quote>

James Dobbins, who played a leading role in the US nation-building efforts
in Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan as President Clinton's
and President George W. Bush's special envoy . . . says the current force
level of about 175,000 is insufficient and estimates that a more realistic
level is about 300,000.  If the US had to provide almost all of those
forces itself, the effect on American military resources would be
catastrophic.  With rotation in and out of the hteatre, that would mean
almost a million soldiers largely committed to Iraq, says Mr Dobbins --
virtually the US army's entire strength.  Pengtagon officials dispute
these numbers, but acknowledge that the Iraq commitment will strain US
assets.

<unquote>

Michael