Holy Crap
The military is asking for more troops in Colombia.
What's that? You didn't know we even had troops in Colombia? Well, yes we do. And we have for a long time. How many? About a battalion.
"BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - U.S. troops advising Colombia in its war against rebels and paramilitary forces are hampered by Congress' cap on the number of American soldiers, a senior U.S. military commander asserted Thursday.
U.S. Army Gen. James Hill, the commander of U.S. military operations in Latin America, said Washington's ability to provide advice and training as Colombia carries out offensives against the insurgent groups has been hurt by Congress' stipulation that no more than 400 U.S. troops and 400 American contractors can be in this Andean country at one time.
President Bush has asked the U.S. Congress to allow up to 800 U.S. military personnel and 600 U.S. citizen civilian contractors to help Colombian government forces."
The really interesting bit, though, comes at the very end of the article. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, when remarking to Congress on the perceived need for more troops, says that "We don't have that many extra personnel."
The Army does not have 400 troops to spare for anywhere in the world. One battalion. That's not good news, folks.
The military is asking for more troops in Colombia.
What's that? You didn't know we even had troops in Colombia? Well, yes we do. And we have for a long time. How many? About a battalion.
"BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - U.S. troops advising Colombia in its war against rebels and paramilitary forces are hampered by Congress' cap on the number of American soldiers, a senior U.S. military commander asserted Thursday.
U.S. Army Gen. James Hill, the commander of U.S. military operations in Latin America, said Washington's ability to provide advice and training as Colombia carries out offensives against the insurgent groups has been hurt by Congress' stipulation that no more than 400 U.S. troops and 400 American contractors can be in this Andean country at one time.
President Bush has asked the U.S. Congress to allow up to 800 U.S. military personnel and 600 U.S. citizen civilian contractors to help Colombian government forces."
The really interesting bit, though, comes at the very end of the article. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, when remarking to Congress on the perceived need for more troops, says that "We don't have that many extra personnel."
The Army does not have 400 troops to spare for anywhere in the world. One battalion. That's not good news, folks.
posted by Jude at 8:42 PM
