What are we doing to our troops?

I found this news item while scanning the internet this morning. Any parent with sons or daughters returning to war for a second or third tour already has experienced this. Shame on our leadership for allowing such abuse to our heros

Critic: Troops at risk in quick return to war

Rocky Mountain News (By Associated Press August 12, 2006)

COLORADO SPRINGS - Short stays at home and quick returns to combat for soldiers coming back from Iraq will burn out troops and crush morale, a retired Fort Carson battalion commander says.
That, as base commanders last week confirmed that the post's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, due back from Iraq in November, will return to the front in October of 2007, after just 11 months at home.
The quick return to combat is another failure of the Army's stated goal of providing two years at home for every year of combat deployment. In recent years, most Fort Carson-based soldiers have been returning to war after about a year home.
Pentagon spokeswoman Betsy Weiner in an e-mail last week said the demands of war trump the Army's desire to rest troops.
But Ralf Zimmerman, retired lieutenant colonel and former battalion commander in the 3rd Brigade, said the pace is burning out soldiers. Many have spent two of the past three years at war, he said.
Commanders have repeatedly predicted fewer troops would be needed. But sectarian infighting and continued struggles with the insurgency in Iraq have never allowed for the drawdowns officials have hinted at.
The Army's stated goal of two days home every one day at war is misleading and leaving soldiers feeling lied to, Zimmerman said.
While Army leaders say so far soldiers have proven resilient, and the service has met recruitment and retention goals, Zimmerman warns of trouble down the road.
Fort Carson units have lost 168 soldiers since the war began in 2003.