The news coming out of Iraq seems to be getting worse by the day and the administration and commanders in the field have few solutions. The Associated Press reported on a news conference with deputy commander of Central Command Lt. General Lance Smith where the General noted concern that insurgents have changed their tactics and are now attacking troops in the rear area after realizing they could not win in direct combat. 'Yes, we're concerned that he has changed his tactics and it's required us to armor vehicles that we might otherwise not armor,' he went on to talk about doubting they will ever find a 'silver bullet' against insurgent's homemade bombs. 'As we adapt, they adapt,' he said.'
Meanwhile, an Army Study on the effects of the war on soldiers shows that one in six soldiers in Iraq is showing signs of major depression, serious anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder and that the number of veterans who may eventually require mental health treatment could exceed 100,000.
The difficulties of the war and the punishment the soldiers are enduring in this conflict with long deployments and urban guerilla warfare are having an effect on the army meeting its recruiting goals. The Army Guard, in particular has fallen far short of recruiting to retain 360,000 members. To address this, the Guard is tripling its re-enlistment bonus from $5,000 to $15,000 and the six year enlistment bonus for new enlistees is being raised from $6,000 to $10,000. Lt. Gen Steven Blum, commander of the Pentagon's National Guard Bureau said 'I think we're in a more difficult recruiting environment. There is no question that when you have a sustained ground combat operation going that the guard's participating in, that makes recruiting more difficult.'
Add the several hundred billion price tag thus far, and this reporter draws two important conclusions from this data:
1. - We are not on the winning side of this war, and major changes are needed if we are to get there, and
2. - This administration miscalculated virtually ever aspect of the war and its aftermath, and did not envision the possibility and had no plan for dealing with what has obviously become a protracted guerilla war.
As a result of 1 and 2, our soldiers and military are suffering. As they have kept the faith in protecting us, we need to keep the faith with them and put pressure to make sure our leaders lead them properly.
