CUANDO VOLVÁIS A LEER u oir a algún importante analista o reportero afirmando que, debido al desastre de Iraq, las fuerzas armadas de EEUU tienen enormes problemas para encontrar reclutas, que el Pentágono está agotado, y tal y tal, tened en cuenta una sola cosa (y decídselo, si lo tenéis a mano).

Es pura y simplemente una mentira:

* Every one of the Army's 10 divisions — its key combat organizations — has exceeded its re-enlistment goal for the year to date. Those with the most intense experience in Iraq have the best rates. The 1st Cavalry Division is at 136 percent of its target, the 3rd Infantry Division at 117 percent.

Among separate combat brigades, the figures are even more startling, with the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division at 178 percent of its goal and the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Mech right behind at 174 percent of its re-enlistment target.

This is unprecedented in wartime. Even in World War II, we needed the draft. Where are the headlines?

* What about first-time enlistment rates, since that was the issue last spring? The Army is running at 108 percent of its needs. Guess not every young American despises his or her country and our president.

* The Army Reserve is a tougher sell, given that it takes men and women away from their families and careers on short notice. Well, Reserve recruitment stands at 102 percent of requirements.

* And then there's the Army National Guard. We've been told for two years that the Guard was in free-fall. Really? Guard recruitment and retention comes out to 106 percent of its requirements as of June 30.

ACTUALIZACIÓN (24 Agosto). Parece ser que Peters había confundido ciertos datos, como él mismo comenta. Los números siguen por debajo de los objetivos, aunque sí están mejor de lo que suelen informar los medios: curiosamente, las cifras de "re-enganchados", es decir, de quien ya ha estado en combate y dedice repetir, sí están por encima. Donde el Pentágono está teniendo problemas es en el alistamiento, es decir, en lograr que haya quienes se apunten al ejército. No me extraña, teniendo en cuenta lo que cuentan los medios sobre Iraq...