Scraping the bottom of the barrel

CNN is reporting that the Pentagon is considering adding another 15,000 troops to Iraq. The problem is that there aren't many troops left to add--especially ones with the skills needed (MPs, civil affairs officers, engineers, etc). The latest work-around being considered: Call up about 6,500 troops from what's known as the Individual Ready Reserve. Contrary to its name, the IRR isn't ful of ready soldiers. They've left the military, don't train anymore, but had contracts stipulating that they could be called back over some period of time in the event of a national emergency. The last time this happened: Gulf War I. Of course, simply in terms of time commitment, it's one thing to be called for an invasion (especially one that turns out to be a 100-hr event) and another thing to be shipped off for occupation duty.