UM, HARD TO GAUGE???

In this AP article,"Analysis: Pentagon Brass Split on Troops," about differing military opinions about a troop drawdown in Iraq, I found this curious line:

At his news conference, Mullen said that in private discussions this week at the Pentagon, the Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey, and Conway, stressed their concern about the growing — and hard to gauge — strain on troops and their families.

It's not hard to gauge. Col. Elspeth Ritchie knows what's going on and so do many others.