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Thu 6 Nov, 2003 10:19 am
Half of troops say re-up is out
WASHINGTON - The stress of fighting the war on terror is taking a toll on U.S. troops, and nearly half want out when their enlistments are up, the Pentagon's personnel chief said yesterday.David Chu, the defense undersecretary for personnel, said 46% of the 90,000 regular soldiers in Iraq surveyed in July said constant deployments overseas and year-long tours in hot zones were souring their outlook on military life.About 66% of the 40,000 reservists and National Guard troops in Iraq said they would reenlist, Chu told the House Armed Services Committee. Chu said the military has an overall yearly turnover rate of about 20%, and all four services are meeting their goals in recruitment and retention.But committee members warned the survey shows an impending crisis in maintaining troop levels in a military already stretched thin by the global war on terror.Democrats and Republicans joined in urging the Pentagon to recruit two more divisions, or about 40,000 troops, to boost the Army's strength from 480,000 to 520,000 to cope with the long deployments in Iraq.Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said, "It takes about two years" to recruit and train a division.
Can a draft be far behind? If it had to be reinstated would it be the death knell to Bush's ambition for a second term?
Given the solicitude this administration usually shows for the working class of America, i am reminded of some lines by Kipling:
And it's Tommy this
And it's Tommy that
And it's Tommy go away
But it's 'thin red line of heroes,'
When the bands begin to play."
I do think a draft would sink Bush--maybe he'll try to hold on for re-election, before he begins press-ganging cannon fodder for his military adventurism.
I'm really surprised it took the men and women in the military has taken so long before realizing that this administration doesn't give a hoot for their health and safety. They've taken away health care for our military, and they've reduced retirement benefits. When told by General Shinseki that it would require 200,000 troops to settle Iraq after the war, he was reprimanded and sent packing. In today's newspaper, there's an article that more reservists are going to be called up for up to one year of active duty. The next step? Conscription.
Good comments Au, hobit, setanta, and ci.
My first thought after reading this thread:
Bush has yet to offer public condolensces to the families of the young people killed in his war. In fact, he has said more to sympathize with Californians who have lost property in their fires.
The guy simply does not have what it takes to be the leader of our country.
ehBeth
How can congress keep their promises to our service people when they need all that money for pork. If ever there was a need for house cleaning there is a crying need for it in both houses of congress.
ehBeth, What is so disgusting is how this administration keeps commending our troops in front of the t.v. cameras, but at the same time stab them in the back, and the American People are mostly ignorant. Bah, humbug.
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