New US leaders to withdraw troops from Iraq to improve security at home

The US would unlikely be able to respond adequately to a big terrorist attack or national catastrophe because the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have drained military resources, according to a congressional commission.

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The panel says there are "appalling gaps" in homeland defense readiness and the forces allotted to deal with an emergency, lack training, equipment and funding.

Pravda.Ru has interviewed two American military experts Andrew J. Grotto and P.J. Crowley to find out the western point of view on the subject. Andrew J. Grotto is Senior National Security Analyst at the Center for American Progress. P.J. Crowley is Senior Fellow and Director of Homeland Security at the Center for American Progress.

Pravda.Ru: How could you comment on this?

Andrew Grotto: There are plenty of gaps in preparedness, many of them attributable to a lack of National Guard personnel and equipment owing to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But having the right physical assets available is one thing; having the right leadership in place is another. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the Bush administration failed to lead an effective, credible emergency response. The city of New Orleans and other communities are the casualty of this failed leadership. Getting homeland security back on track really depends first and foremost on leadership.

P.J. Crowley: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cost roughly $15 billion per month according to recent reports. There is an "opportunity cost" associated with these operations. The over-emphasis on military intervention -- offense as President Bush describes it -- necessarily means there are fewer resources available to improve homeland security. Many improvements have been made since 9/11, but the final report of the National Commission on the National Guard and Reserves did suggest that more resources need to be devoted to resetting forces that are vital to the ability of the U.S. to respond to a major event, whether caused by a natural disaster or a terrorist attack.

Pravda.Ru: What are the possible ways to solve this problem?

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