Reservists Asked to Serve Longer

"Army leaders are considering seeking a change in Pentagon policy that would allow for longer and more frequent call-ups of some reservists to meet the demands of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan," according to an official quoted in today's Washington Post.

Reservists already account for 40 percent of the troops in Iraq, and that will soon rise to 50 percent. And a "temporary" increase of 30,000 active-duty troops likely will need to be made permanent.

"The reserves are already overstretched," a retired Army colonel said. "To change the rules will almost certainly backfire and accelerate the deterioration of the reserves."