Congress pushes for larger military

USA Today ^ | Posted 12/12/2003 12:21 AM | By Tom Squitieri, USA TODAY

[11th_VA]

WASHINGTON

[Bella]

Morale is something to be concerned about of course.

Definitely..but how do you recruit anyone for Iraq when guys are getting killed daily, chopper accidents, etc., and not to forget the increased amount of guys who are coming back/discharged for depression? Honestly, it doesn't look good and our military is cut thin now. Plus, what about the cuts that were made in pay and benefits? AND not to forget and wonder how many will ever make it back home alive since this war isn't going as planned? Doesn't look good, does it? I asked a question earlier about how many from this board would be going or something along that line, and as you see, the question hasn't been touched. I think that tells me something..When it comes down to going to Iraq, not many are going to be that gunho.

[Tacos]

Recruitments are OK now, especially with the Marines. Bring in more and a lot of problems are solved.
Pay and benefits are *not* being cut...they just went up with the 2004 military budget signed recently, and have been increased every year since GWB has been in office.
I haven't been to Iraq, but I've been to Saudi and Kuwait.

Out

[btcusn]

I also think that there is great worry that they are going to lose a great deal of Guard and Reserve forces (primarily Army) if they use them at the first conflict that comes up, and for extended periods of time (like 12-18 months).


You are 100% correct. Our reserves did not expect to be called up for this kind of action, and employers are really being squeezed by 12-18 month call ups for nation building.
We need more active duty Army and Air Force to keep this deployment schedule up, maybe with special training on international relations (could we use the Peace Corps for this?).
As to manning a larger Army, I think that getting volunteers would not be a problem at all.
I'm not knocking the reserves, those troops are doing a great job, but it's not what they were warned about when they signed up, and it's really hurting many of them.

Jack

[dts32041]

Why not activate the militia and start putting them on a rotating basis.

Has the advantage of not being a draft and everybody belongs.

NO one would complain about some one not doing their fair share.

Oh I forgot there is no such thing as a militia, any more.

Scratch that idea just like free speech in this country.

[Bella]

Scratch that idea just like free speech in this country.

That's a given. Why don't they use the people in the prisons which are fulll doing time for their wars. That would help in more ways than one since the people are paying for the prisoners.

[Let's Roll]

I base it on vivid memories about what it was like in this country during the late 60s.

"If it feels good, do it." Anything goes as long as you don't hurt someone else - of course they were the judge of that. Don't trust anyone over 30 etc. Nearly everything that is wrong with our country today sprang from those "protest" days. That's when the left took over the indoctrination of our children and called it education.

They ran off a president and then when they got what they wanted - the end of the draft, suddenly all those other causes they rioted over: civil rights etc. just weren't that important - the streets were once again peaceful. I think that attitude is even stronger today.

One of my brothers was drafted, one enlisted in the Marines and my husband was an Army officer so don't think I am anti military or don't understand how vital the military is. Our brave young people who volunteer today are the best of us and only the idea of America deserves them because a lot of "Americans" sure don't.

But I hope you are right.

[DreamWeaver]

I doubt it.

Time will tell. I am not that optimistic. I stil see a draft in time, and soon. We'll see, and in this case I hope your right and I'm wrong.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Yep, that's what they're really pushing for - they know the draft is the quickest way to put an end to any vigorous defense of this country if not an end to the military itself.

It also the quickest way to spark an armed revolution.