Page 22 - Force Structure News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

These views forward. >> thank you. you talked about, i think, senator inhoff raised the issue of readiness for our troops and when you and i met we also talked a little bit about the national guard and the importance of the guard as being part of the one force that we depend on. readiness is a concern for the national guard as well and in new hampshire our national guard has experienced a 32% decline in force structure since 2007, much more than many states that are smaller than we are. and they've had trouble with training rotations, resources, equipment, other aspects of readiness. can you c...

I guess what i'm going to start with is boots on the ground. >> well, i think -- it was interesting to hear general dumford say this. i thought it was almost out of school for him to say we're going to be presenting things to the new administration indicating that we couldn't get this through the present administration. so it looks like they're going to be pushing for changes i think to the rules of engagement, maybe lessening the restricted rules of engagement. increased boots on the ground, more special forces, more special operations to conduct the counter insurgency and counter terrorism o...

In to kill bin laden. that's not what they're doing. they're capable. they're top-end trainers and there to do is train, advise, assist, help the residents peshmerga or others friendly or moderate to the united states. these guys are not going in to conduct front of the line special operations targeted hit missions. they could do that if called upon but with only 50 guys, that's not enough force structure to do it. what i see this as is an extension of concept training someone else to do the fight for us. i just don't think at this stage of the bat this will's a realistic tactic or strategy. >...

2016, we will maintain 5,500 troops, a masmall number of bas. >> joined by embassy chris hill. you saw that montage, every single pledge about afghanistan basically has been delayed. why should we think that this is just nothing more than another delay and the next president's likely to have to continue this policy in perpetuity? >> well, i think we're discovering that afghanistan is about as tough a place to be as you can imagine. i mean, clearly, trying to put an afghan force structure and trying to put in a way by which they can pay for it, make sure that these troops are well-led is really...

Forces in the arctic. administration undermines that,under mines its credibility by cutting forces in alaska but throughout the country. they cut the only combat airborne combat brigade in the asia-pacific. weakness is provocative. expect more provocations from russia from china, from north korea when we're exhibiting weakness in terms of our force structure in the asia-pacific. >> in 2013 the army in budget documents it prepared said going below 450,000 troops army troops could prevent prevailing in a war should it come to that. we're getting to that point. if sequestration kicks in an additi...