Comment: Iraq casualties - Bush should not be surprised

Today, four more US soldiers were killed in Iraq. According to Pentagon figures, the number of US service personnel killed in Iraq since March 2003, now stands at 1623. Although the question is futile and I already know the answer, I sometimes ask myself if George Bush ever casts his mind back to Austin, Texas, July 16, 1998.

On that date the National Defense Council Foundation, presented George Bush with a National Security Briefing.The report was compiled by Major F. Andy Messing, a good friend of the Bush family and advisor to three U.S. Presidents. As well as being Executive Director of the National Defense Council Foundation, he spent nearly 18 years serving with the U.S. Special Forces.

The National Security Briefing delivered to the then Governor Bush, not only predicted a terrorist attack in Wall Street, but also made chilling remarks concerning U.S. "Force readiness".

"The 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) called for drastic reductions in both manpower and equipment, while still requiring the US military be able to fight two simultaneous regional conflicts, Iraq and North Korea being the most commonly sighted examples of potential future battlefields.

The US military is drastically under-staffed, especially in the lower ranks where there are too many Generals and Admirals and not enough PFC's. Furthermore, personnel are forced to perform tasks for which they are either not trained, or which require multiple personnel. Junior Officer and NCO retention is at an all-time low. Additionally, divorce rates and accusations of child abuses among service personnel are at an all-time high, reflecting over-use and strain."

The report finishes with this chilling prediction,

"Neglect translates into the flag-draped coffins of our young soldiers, sailors, and airmen, squandered by budget cutbacks, a strategy that past great civilizations have followed to their demise."

One thousand, six hundred and twenty three - and rising.