The Chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee raises concerns about America’s military readiness. West-central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) is talking about the readiness to wage war.

Skelton says America’s military readiness has come into question because of what he sees as a lack of equipment and/or a shortage of training. He says much of the equipment is either wearing out or is being used in Afghanistan or Iraq. Skelton also sees a need to recruit additional personnel, without a draft, and to ensure those men and women are properly trained to perform the tasks they are called on to do.

He adds his committee, which he calls the most bipartisan of the House committees, unanimously approved the military spending bill to provide the armed forces with much needed funding to upgrade equipment and to attract men and women who want to serve. Still, Skelton believes the U.S. would have great difficulty meeting a future, major challenge.

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