Posted on 08/05/2004 4:30:46 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
As a teacher of high-school boys, I have noticed that my students don't mind pointing out my mistakes; some young men even appear to relish it. I don't mind, though, because it's important to apologize. Young people need to know that no one is perfect, and it is my job to be a role model who accepts responsibility for my behavior and my words.
Apologies should be commonplace, but lately they are few and far between in the United States. Richard Clarke's apology in front of the Sept. 11 commission was so well received because he knew our system failed those who died on Sept. 11, and he was willing to speak the truth. Clarke made it look easy, but we all know it's challenging and humbling to voice the words that equalize all humans: "I'm sorry."
As uncomfortable as it is to apologize, there is one apology I would love to utter again and again. I hope I will be forced to say, "I'm sorry. I was wrong." When I tell others about the probability of young men and women being drafted in 2005, I want to be wrong. I want to apologize to hundreds, even thousands, of people. I want to be forced to say, "I'm sorry. There wasn't a draft after all." I am begging all citizens to do everything they can to prove me wrong.
For the present, all I can do is state the truth as I see it, which disagrees with what our leaders are saying. Take Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's comment last month in an interview on National Public Radio: "We do not need a draft," he said, noting that the all-volunteer force "has worked brilliantly for our country," with respect to recruiting and retention.
Maybe Rumsfeld is correct, but let's examine some data:
-- Nearly 40 percent of our soldiers now in Iraq are reservists and National Guard forces, Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress last month.
-- The New England Journal of Medicine reported last month that 93 percent of U. S. Army combat veterans surveyed have been shot at, and as many as 17 percent of the vets who experienced heavy combat in the Iraq War have returned home with major mental-health problems.
-- A brigade of 3,600 troops will soon be shifted from their South Korea base to Iraq to fill in the gaps, according to Defense Department officials quoted in the Washington Post.
-- According to the New York Times (July 4): "130,912 of 156,236 citizen-warriors on active duty were from the Army National Guard and Reserve as of the end of June. The Army has been forced to bring more new recruits immediately into the ranks to meet recruiting goals for 2004, instead of allowing them to defer entry until the next accounting year."
-- Pentagon figures show that under "stop loss" orders, about 10,000 military personnel, including reservists and National Guard troops, are being forced to extend their military service involuntarily by being redeployed in Iraq or Afghanistan for up to 15 months. The policy, according to Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., "amounts to a selective draft for those who have already fulfilled their service commitment."
-- In 2003, the Pentagon discharged 787 lesbian, gay and bisexual service members -- down from a high of 1,273 in 2001, but still high in a time of war, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
-- There are two active draft bills sitting in Congress since 2003: S. 89 and H.R. 163.
Clearly, we summon soldiers to service, we prevent soldiers from leaving, we kick soldiers out because of their sexual orientation, and we lose soldiers to the tragedies of war. It is retention by force, not willing enlistment that is keeping our numbers where they are.
A draft is not much different than retention by force, so I fear that young people will be facing a draft shortly after the November presidential election. Please make a liar out of me. Force me to apologize! The lives of thousands are depending on the need for such an apology.
Kathy Eder, a teacher in San Jose, created the Operation Hidden Agenda playing cards and the newly released book, "NO, George, NO! The RE-PARENTING of George W. Bush" (www.nogeorgeno.com).
I guess I don't get the significance of the author's name, Kathy Eder. Perhaps you could expand on this?
That's what makes them combat veterans, compared to safely sitting behind a school desk.
Just take a look at her credentials... She's heavily biased against Bush. All of her statistics may be real, but they don't alter the facts.
We have an all volunteer force. They volunteered to join. I bet it is very carefully explained to them when they sign up that joining is easy, leaving is hard.
We don't have an "All Volunteered to Stay In The Army" force. We have an "All Volunteered To Join" force.
Her argument is weak. Her logic fails. And she's teaching our youth?
What she neglects to mention is that these bills were introduced by Sen. Holling and Rep. Rangel. They aren't meant to aid the military. Instead they are there to reduce support for the war.
That's clearly the case. I went to the referenced website and the two sample pages of her book fairly dripped with anti-Bush venom.
Her argument is weak. Her logic fails. And she's teaching our youth?
Agreed on all points. That being said, I was under the impression that there might be something more significant that I'd missed. Perhaps the problem is that I haven't had my dose of caffeine this morning.
Holling->Hollings
I am not sure I would like to buy her book is all.
Too bad socialists who write books don't give them away for free.
Then the proletariat would be able to keep warm in the winter after the socialists destroy our economy, by the simple expedient of burning their books.
Ah, the fantasy just makes me warm all over thinking about how her book will burn at 451 degrees Fahrenheit.
" Richard Clarke's apology in front of the Sept. 11 commission was so well received because he knew our system failed those who died on Sept. 11, and he was willing to speak the truth."
His so called "apology" was well received because the crowd saw it as a condemnation of Bush, and the statement that Clarke was willing to speak the "truth" is just balderdash, so how comfortable am I with the rest of her remarks.
Yeah, it's a good start, but the muslim population in the military remains largely untouched.
The "article" doesn't mention that the Navy is currently overmanned and that the CNO has implemented an early-out program of up to one year. Not to mention that there is also a program now in place for sailors to leave the Navy and enter the Army in critical specialties.
I guess these two facts wouldn't fit into the author's fantasy that a draft is necessary.
There must be something seriously wrong with the way we conduct military operations if our combat troops are being shot at.
The bills of Hollings and Rangel are the equivalent of a push poll. They have stirred up complacent, self indulgent college students into thinking if we didn't go into Iraq, the draft would not be necessary. Bush's fault we need a draft.
The co-sponsors of the House bill include the Congressional Black Caucus, Mc Dermott, and Moran. Nothing more needs to be said.
"The "article" doesn't mention that the Navy is currently overmanned and that the CNO has implemented an early-out program of up to one year. Not to mention that there is also a program now in place for sailors to leave the Navy and enter the Army in critical specialties."
There's one other thing that fails to be mentioned when libs are squawking about "forced retention." If I remember correctly, and I'm sure vets or current military personnel will correct me if I'm wrong, but when an individual signs up, it's a 6 year obligation. The Army splits this into 2yrs active duty, 4yrs reserve. The Navy, I believe, reverses it to 4yrs. active and 2yrs. reserve. We're at war now which means that those who are in our military can and will be required to go that extra mile. They aren't being "forced" to do anything more than what they signed up for.
You're close. It's actually an 8 year obligation that is usually 4 years active and four years IRR (non-drilling Reserves). Sometimes there is a 3 year active, 3year SelRes (drilling Reserves), and 2 year IRR; or other combinations depending on MOS (or NEC in the case of the Navy) and other factors.
But you are 100% correct that every one who joins is aware of their 8 year commitment and that they can even be extended beyond eight in time of war. There are a lot of papers to sign so some have tried to use the excuse that the agreement to this was buried in a pile, but frankly that's a lame excuse.
I'm a Navy veteran (currently SelRes) and from day one this was never a secret to me. Also, my wife is active Navy and it's no secret to her either.
Thanks for setting me straight... :)
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