February 6, 2004

The President

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We, the undersigned 120 retired military General and Flag officers, would like to add our strong endorsement to the letter sent to you recently by 128 members of the House of Representatives concerning the immediate need to add to the active duty military end strength. That letter, authored by Representatives Heather Wilson (R-NM) and Jim Cooper (D-TN), eloquently makes the case for relief of both the overextended active force and the National Guard and Reserve forces.

While many looked for and reaped a "peace dividend" with the demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, there can be no doubt that, in truth, the world has become a more dangerous place. One need look no further than the fact that some 370,000 Americans are now deployed in 120 countries around the world to understand this hard reality.

Mr. President, the Wilson-Cooper letter calls for the addition of two divisions to the Army's currently authorized total of ten divisions.    Notwithstanding the recent temporary addition of 30,000, we strongly support the immediate permanent authorization of an additional 40,000 to the Army’s end strength along with the required additional funding.   Further, we also urge that the current needs of all the services be carefully reviewed.  Our national security strategy must be based on a strong foundation of military effectiveness within a sustainable end strength and funding environment.

As you have so eloquently stated, the "21st Century War on Terrorism" will be long and will require our resolve and patience.  We agree.  Just as we did in the "20th Century Cold War", which also was long and required the same resolve, it is imperative that we permanently structure and fund our Armed Forces at the necessary levels to successfully prosecute and win the War on Terrorism.

The nation should be extremely proud of the way in which the active forces, the National Guard and the Reserves have selflessly risen to the occasion and continue to serve their country in the Global War on Terrorism. Yet the nation also understands that this war is not a short-term conflict, but one that will last in one form or another for many years to come. It is clear that our forces are stretched too thin today, and that this is not sustainable over the long term. We owe it our nation’s citizens as well as to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines to give them all the support they need, beginning with the total forces and funding required in this 21^st Century War.

We look to you as our Commander in Chief to provide the leadership that will ensure an adequate level of troop strength is authorized and funded. Immediate action to fully fund and permanently add to the active duty Army end strength is the right thing to do.

FOR THE CRITICAL ISSUES ROUND TABLE

Alan B. Salisbury

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

On behalf of the following retired General and Flag Officers:

John R. Deane, Jr.

General, USA (Ret)

William G. T. Tuttle, Jr.*

General, USA (Ret)

Richard H. Thompson

General, USA (Ret)

John G. Coburn

General, USA (Ret)

Ronald R. Blanck

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

John N. Brandenburg

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

John S. Crosby

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

John H. Cushman

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Charles B. Eichelberger

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Jay M. Garner

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Arthur J. Gregg

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Thomas N. Griffin, Jr.

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Henry J. Hatch*

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Jerome B. Hilmes

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Harold M. Koenig, MD

Vice Admiral, MC, USN (ret)

Donald M. Lionetti

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

John T. Myers

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Emmett Paige, Jr.

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

William H. Rowden

Vice Admiral, USN (Ret)

Daniel R. Schroeder

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Harry E. Soyster*

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

David J. Teal

Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret)

Billy M. Thomas

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

Sydney T. Weinstein

Lieutenant General, USA (Ret)

George H. Akin

Major General, USA (Ret)

Joe Arbuckle

Major General, USA (Ret)

Thomas B. Arwood

Major General, USA (Ret)

Philip F. Ashler

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Stanley C. Beck

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Jones E. Bolt

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Joseph. H. Brooks

Major General, USA (Ret)

Arlington F. Campbell

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

William M. Charles, Jr.

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Peter W. Clegg

Major General, USAR (Ret)

John R. D. Cleland

Major General, USA (Ret)

Albert B. Crawford, Jr.

Major General, USA (Ret)

Kevin F. Delaney

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Travis N. Dyer

Major General, USA (Ret)

R. B. Erly

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

William A. FitzGerald

Major General, USA (Ret)

Cameron Fraser*

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

George E. Friel

Major General, USA (Ret)

Niles J. Fulwyler

Major General, USA (Ret)

Richard B. Griffitts

Major General, USA (Ret)

John S. Guthrie, Jr.

Major General, AUS (Ret)

Jack L. Hancock

Major General, USA (Ret)

George B. Harrison

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Donald C. Hilbert

Major General, USA (Ret)

Wesley V. Hull

Rear Admiral, NOAA (Ret)

Stanley H. Hyman

Major General, USA (Ret)

Joe Lank

Major General, USAR (Ret)

James J. LeCleir

Major General, USAF (Ret)

W. Ivan Lewis, Jr.

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Thomas G. Lightner

Major General, USA (Ret)

Orlando Llenza

Major General, USAF (Ret)

William G. MacLaren, Jr.

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Fred F. Marty

Major General, USA (Ret)

Howard T. Mooney

Major General, USA (Ret)

J. B. Morin

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Mel Museles, MD

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

Edward Nelson, Jr.

Rear Admiral, USCG (Ret)

Earl G. Peck

Major General, USAF (Ret)

John R. Piatak

Major General, USA (Ret)

Robert R. Rose

Major General, AUS (Ret)

Roger W. Sandler

Major General, USA (Ret)

Carl G. Schneider

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Henry G. Skeen

Major General, USA (Ret)

Frank H. Smoker, Jr.

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Pat M. Stevens IV

Major General, USA (Ret)

James B. Stodart

Major General, AUS (Ret)

Thomas H. Tait

Major General, USA (Ret)

Eugene A. Taylor

Rear Admiral, NOAA (Ret)

J. B. Taylor

Major General, USA (Ret)

Paul J. Vanderploog

Major General, USA (Ret)

Robert E. Wagner

Major General, USA (Ret)

Donald A. Weiss

Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)

John L. Welde

Major General, USAF (Ret)

Charles E. Woods

Major General, USAF (Ret)

James M. Abraham, P.E.

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Norris P. Abts

Brigadier General, AUS (Ret)

James M. AuBuchon

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Richard E. Bertrand

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Charles L. Bishop

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

William A. Bloomer

Brigadier General, USMC (Ret)

Spessard Boatright

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

J. Timothy Boddie, Jr.

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Philip L. Bolté

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Clarke M. Brintnall*

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Tom Bruner

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

M. E. Callender

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Robert L. Cardenas

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Richard D. Dean

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Lyle C. Doerr

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

John H. Grimm

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Franklin J. Glunn

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

John H. Grubbs

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

James M. Hesson

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Peter D. Hidalgo

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Ronald A. Hoppes

Brigadier General, AUS (Ret)

John A. Hurley

Brigadier General, USAFR (Ret)

Charles R. Linz

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Leonard Marks, Jr.

Brigadier General, USAFR (Ret)

Marc M. McClelland

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Kenneth R. Milam

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Samuel P. Mitchell

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Robert Moeller

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Joseph L. Nagel

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Thomas C. Nelson

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

George C. Ogden, Jr.

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Jack T. Pitzer, Ph.D.

Brigadier General, ANG (Ret)

Lawrence A. Quebbeman

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

James R. Ralph, Jr.*

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Richard L. Reynard*

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

James M. Rhodes, Jr.

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

Alan B. Salisbury*

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

William M. Shaw, Jr.

Brigadier General, USAF (Ret)

George J. Walker

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

Charles R. Webb

Brigadier General, USAR (Ret)

Jack E. Yeager

Brigadier General, ANG (Ret)

John G. Zierdt, Jr.

Brigadier General, USA (Ret)

* Critical Issues Round Table Members