I suspect Gates is giving a worst-case scenario in order to either frighten Congress of defer any blame from Republicans. OTOH, they're playing political football with our military, with our guys and gals in uniform. I don't doubt there is underfunding because the Democrats are trying to force the Republican administration into a corner to save their own political necks because they haven't gotten us out of the war as promised (totally unrealistic promises). The truth is somewhere in between. Had that S.O.B. Rummy provided the troops what they needed by getting the funding from the then Republican Congress, this situation now would be a helluva lot better. We might even NOT be bogged down if he'd just put in enough troops to begin with.

I'm fed up with both sides.

BTW, this is a political thread. *sticking tongue out at Tom*