Supplying the "Surge"

While President Bush is planning to increase troop strength by 21,500 troops in Iraq -- top commanders say they don't have the vehicles and armor to put those troops into combat.

The Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Development told Congress last week the Army's short 1,500 trucks for the surge. GEN Stephen Speakes also says the Army's scrambling to find enough Humvees.

Washington recently sold the Iraqis 600 up-armored Humvees -- and the general says that decision "better not be at the expense of the American Soldier or Marine."

"It's inevitable that [troops will be underequipped], unless five brigades of up-armored Humvees fall out of the sky." -- a senior Army official quoted in the Washington Post

The National Guard has been stripped of much of its equipment to supply troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 60% of Guard equipment is overseas, damaged, or destroyed in the war. (WaPo)