The Cupboard is Bare

During the ISG deliberations:

Robb was especially interested in sending more U.S. forces, according to one participant, and the panel considered proposals to deploy 100,000 to 200,000 additional troops. Ultimately, though, the panel discovered that there might be only 20,000 available, prompting vigorous discussion that led members to conclude that a substantial surge was unworkable.

Remember when BushCheney complained of the "hollow Army" under Clinton? It was a distortion, just like so much he says. That "hollow Army" performed very well after September 11, 2001 and most likely would have continued to effectively fight terrorists had it not been siphoned into Iraq.

Six years later, Bill Clinton's Army looks good and he does not have 21,500 casualties and a wrecked country on his Permanent Record. These days the Army struggles to keep itself operating. Maybe not broken but badly bent, to be sure.