Brian,
I am a military spouse living overseas. I would just like to say that the extension of the deployment schedule from 12 to 15 months is not OK with anyone in the army that I know of. 12 months is barely tolerable for a soldiers and soldier's families as is. 15 months I believe with be the straw that does in fact break the back of the army. It is almost as if the current administration actually wants this very thing to happen, so that they will have to re-instate the draft, and then God help us all. I think that as a military spouse I feel sharply and deeply betrayed by this decision. It won't matter how much money is thrown at us, we will not be able to tolerate this insult. And I for one will no longer remain quiet.

I am writing this in regards to the unfortunate decision that our Government has made to extend the tour of duty for our troops. I am a army spouse and mother of a 10 month old little boy. My husband is scheduled to return down range sometime this coming winter. He is a career soldier and has always loved being in the military. Likewise I have supported him in his carreer and have enjoyed being a member of the military community and the opportunities to live overseas and travel that it represents. However, although I don't pretend to speak for my husband, I believe that this new 15 month deployment schedule will in fact be the proverbial straw that breaks the back of our army. A year is nearly unbearable to both soldiers and families, any time beyond that will be crushing both to the moral of the troops and that of the men and women in the silent ranks who support them. I am both angry and heart broken with this decision, and I do not believe that our nation will be able to retain a volunteer army under these conditions regardless of how much money they try to throw at us. If my husband had not already reinlisted, I do not believe he would do so again. 15 month deployments are a slap in the face of our fighting men and women and their families.

Brian,
I saw your reaction when you broke the news tonight, and I could see this wasn't easy to report.

I so appreciate the spirit with which the Rutgers Women's Coach is responding to Don Imus' comments. I work with 4th graders and last was listening to a girl tell about a book she had read. It involved some children trying to get revenge on the main character, a boy who they were jealous of. I asked her if the book had taught her any life lesson. She said, "Yes. You can't fight fire with fire. All you get is a bigger fire!" . . . Amen. I see the coach not returning ignorance for ignorance or getting into a war of words. I see her fighting ignorance with wisdom and I thank God for her.

Brian,
First time viewing your Vlog, and I must say it's pretty cool. I am a firefighter, and I know you were a volunteer firefighter years ago (I like the helmet in your office...once a fireman, always a fireman). I want to talk about our friend Don Imus. I don't feel that you have supported him as much as you should. I know as a journalist, you need to remain unbiased, but last night Gregory clearly supported Imus on Hardball, and the I-man could use your support as well. I know he has said hurtfull things to you in the past on the air, as he has done to all of his guests, but we both know he is not a racist, and doesn't deserve this sort of treatment. Like your brothers in the fire service, he is also your brother, so I ask that you help him in his time of need.