The American Spectator

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p> JOIN THE CLUB br> Re: William Tucker's How About a Nuclear Standoff? : /p>

I disagree with your premise that the American manpower necessary to fight the wars against radical Islam is not available. During the first Gulf War a little over fifteen years ago, the U.S. Army was almost twice its present size. Eight of our Eighteen active duty divisions were eliminated during the 1990's due to budget cuts, not lack of volunteers.

The Bush Administration missed the opportunity to re-activate several of these lost division during the months after 9-11. Congress probably would have supplied the funding and a national call for volunteers would have been answered -- both by young recruits and discharged veteran NCOs like myself. While that opportunity has passed, the armed services continue to meet or exceed their recruiting and retention goals.

The limiting factor in the size of our forces is political and financial willpower, not volunteers. The Republicans are now out of power in Congress because they decided to spend on pet projects in their districts rather than the military.

p>I hope nuclear deterrence is enough to control the growing nuclear club. If not, just ask for volunteers and pay up. br> -- Chris B. br> New Jersey /p>

Williams Tucker's thinking on using nuclear deferent or MAD against one or more of the Islamist States seeking nuclear arms is flawed on several levels.

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