"The army is critically stretched thin and we are facing a very long-term commitment in Iraq," Democratic Senator Jack Reed said late Thursday after the unanimous vote.

"There is an urgent need for Congress to take steps to provide the army the tools it needs to rotate troops in and out of Iraq without sending the same units repeatedly," he said.

"We must also ensure that we are prepared to face potential future crises around the world in countries such as Iran, North Korea and Syria, while continuing our occupation in Iraq and fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan," he said.

His Republican colleague Chuck Hagel added: "We do have a problem. ... You cannot stretch the fibers of a system, you cannot run people or machines like that without breakdown. ... You cannot stretch those people beyond the point they are now."

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