Gen. Dunford responds: I AM getting real

Here is a note from General Joseph Dunford, the assistant
commandant of the Marine Corps, responding to my post Friday saying I was
worried by how
the Marine Corps is handling the budget implosion.

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"Tom: I believe your recommendation that we simply announce
that we are cutting the Corps to 150K misses the mark. Frankly, it doesn't make
any sense. What analysis supports 150K? As I very carefully explained in my
presentation, the responsibility of Marine Corps leadership is to recommend an
organizational construct for the Corps that supports our National Security
Strategy in the context of the future security environment. After rigorous
analysis, that's exactly what we have done. I can assure you that we're fully
prepared to refine our recommendations as refinements are made to our
strategy/budget. While you are "bothered" by the way we have attacked
the issue, we have attacked it the only way we know how. We have done due
diligence and told the truth. Another point you may have missed in both my
presentation at CSIS and our off the record session at CNAS concerns readiness.
I made it very clear that regardless of our future force structure, the
Commandant will deliver a capable and ready Corps of Marines to our Nation.
That's what we do -- and our track record speaks for itself.

Semper Fidelis

Joe
Dunford"

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Tom again: I dunno. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. Not only do
I think it unrealistic for the Marine Corps to plan on shrinking to just
186,000, I think the larger question is whether the Marine Corps should focus
the discussion on the size of the force or the quality of the force. When asked
how big they will be, I think they probably should say, As big as we can be
while being a force in readiness.