Oregonian:

It provides half of the Army's combat power and is the United States' primary terrorism response team. But its battalions are struggling to scrape up enough soldiers and hand-me-down equipment to meet overseas deployment orders. Recruiting has fallen behind, and seasoned soldiers are quitting in frustration.

Any new crisis -- a bloody escalation overseas or a series of domestic terrorist attacks -- could find the Guard unable to respond and could put the United States at risk.

Liberals have been categorized and pigeon holed as "weak on defense" and "hating the military". Yet any practical, objective analysis of the last five years of conservative rule of government shows a weakening of our defenses and the abuse of our military.

The National Guard appears to be at the breaking point. And Congress has so far refused to extend regular military benefits to Guard members who are doing much of the same duty overseas.

The US Army has missed it's recruiting goal for the fourth straight month.

Our military is in trouble. Big trouble. Conservatives have shown that they are strong on rhetoric and weak on defense. Unfortunately it seems to take this nation awhile to catch up from rhetoric to reality.

(x post-o-rama at PK)

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