Gen. Casey says draft not being considered

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Gen. George Casey told reporters in Washington the Army is giving "no consideration … to reinstituting the draft," despite manpower problems.

During an appearance Tuesday at the National Press Club, Casey said U.S. forces are "out of balance" and any increased demand on U.S. troops will sorely stretch resources.

"But right now there is absolutely no consideration, at least within the Army, being given to reinstituting the draft," Casey said in response to a question. “We’re not to that point.�

Casey said plans by Congress to require long-term rest periods for soldiers equal to tours of duty would make the military's job much more complex and "we’d very much prefer not to be hindered by additional restrictions."

Casey said the current surge in Iraq can be "sustained through spring without changes to the existing mobilization and deployment policy."

The general warned, however, the "seeds" of a "persistent conflict" are present in Iraq, and "it's hard for me to believe that we’re really not in for … some decades of conflict and confrontation."