Chuck Hagel: “I rise to support the Reed amendment because, in fact, everything he has said about why it is important to enhance and…”

“I rise to support the Reed amendment because, in fact, everything he has said about why it is important to enhance and enlarge our force structure is exactly right. Force structures are not developed over a year, 2, 3, or 4. Force structures are developed over a long period of time. When we are looking at 125,000 activated National Guard and Army Reserve units now, and probably more to be activated, we cannot sustain that kind of activity for the long term. That means we are going to have to face up to reality--what the Senator from Rhode Island is talking about--and that is enlarge that force structure. Currently in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans, almost in the entire military police force, our civil affairs force is made up of National Guard and Army Reserves. We cannot sustain that situation. We need more light infantry; we need more special forces; and we cannot do this on the cheap. As the President of the United States has said, this is a long-term commitment, not just in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the challenges that face us in the 21st century are new challenges, different kinds of challenges that will require different force structures.”