[FloridaGeezer]

It's deja vue all over again.

[marron]

While being state governor should certainly be grounds for a deferral, I have to say it would be so cool if he would step forward, without resigning the governorship, and deploy with the others. It would do a tremendous amount for the morale of, maybe not so much the troops, but for the folks at home, to know that he was willing to do his duty.

He could be home in 60 days, his lieutenant governor could handle it that long. Its a lot to ask, but it would mean a lot if he would do this.

[Happy2BMe]

"I will not support an UN-AMERICAN scumbag under any circumstances."

W

Do I hear a second on "W"

The "Anti - - Anti-war" Wave. What Should It Be? What Should It Look Like?

”For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security. Thomas Jefferson

[harrym]

My son and my son-in-law have both been called to active duty in the California National Guard. They will both go where they are sent and will do the jobs given them well. They are good, solid men who have been raised to honor God and their country. My son-in-law just became a father for the second time 4 months ago. My granddaughter, Amanda, will miss her dad but grandpa will be around to help out. My son followed his dad, me, into the Marine Corps and after discharge enlisted in the Guard to be with his brother-in-law. They will take care of each other. About 17 men in their unit have gone AWOL after receiving orders. My son says that they were, for the most part, foreign born individuals who have gone back to their countries of origin to avoid service. I told him that he was better off not having them with him and to take care of his own.

[prairiebreeze]

*No one disputes that most reservists are cooperating with the Pentagon call-up*

This is the point that I choose to remember and focus on. While it is irksome to read about those that are displaying their chicken feathers, the large majority are stepping up to serve.

It is them that I pray for every single day. And their families.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I know it's too much to expect from the leftist media, but it would be nice to see more stories about all the guys who are bursting with pride and eagerness to help take down Saddam. I'd wager they outnumber the types in this article by a huge margin.

But of course, the media will seize on ANY sentiment that makes President Bush's war plans look bad, no matter how much in the minority that sentiment is. Think about it: How many non-Hollywood types get whole stories (and headlines) detailing their opinion on the war? Virtually NONE when that opinion is in favor. And yet, actors make up a minuscule percentage of the population.

[Happy2BMe]

W

"I had made it clear to the world that either you're with us or you're with the enemy, and that doctrine still stands"

[Route66]

'But, Farrar predicted, despite a reluctance to go to war, the number of AWOLs will be about as low as during the Persian Gulf War.
Most of the people , while it's painful to go, believe in their commitment and will honor their commitment," Farrar said.'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So the rest of this ENTIRE article was about a tiny fraction of the otherwise brave and committed group of American men and women in our nation's reserves.
The only question I have for this author is - "May I see your agenda, please"?

[pabianice]

Choices.

1. Go.

2. Go to jail.

I have zero use for such bums.

And how loathsome to join the reserves to win an election, then try to back out.

(USNR - Retired)

[6ppc]

I was just in it for the college money

Time to pay up!

[Walkin Man]

These maggots had better do their duty or let them pay the full price of treason during wartime!

What the *ell do these 'patriots' think military service is all about anyway? Free college, great career and then retirement on our nickel and no sacrifice on their part? BS, boys its payback time! When I was in the USAF, people joined the military because they loved their country and we didn't have to be bribed by Uncle Sam to do it either!

[pfflier]

You're right. This is a broken record. "Gosh Wally, I was only in it for the benefits. I didn't know we could go to war'"

[sneakypete]

Jay Farrar, a military analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that after Bush declared a long term war on terrorism 16 months ago, many of his reservist friends began resigning or retiring to avoid being called up again and again.

Yup,this crap is totally destroying the reserves as a ready reserve element. Once this stuff dies down to where the people in the reserves now are allowed out,the reserves will dissapear as a worthwhile asset.

Some of the services, including the Marine Corps, have frozen retirements and are keeping overseas units in place to ensure troops can't retire even if they want to.

Same thing in the army. I know of a retired WO with only one lung who is 50 years old,and they asked him to come back on active duty to train troops. This is a man retired and on 100% disability who was supposed to have died of cancer about 3 years ago. I also know others on AD who had planned on retiring,and are now frozen in place who are pretty upset about this,too. Once they have the chance to get out,it's going to be a flood of people leaving. A flood that can't be replaced without a draft.

[Poohbah]

MEMORANDUM

To: Pantywaist Chickens**t Reservists Trying to Dodge Active Duty Callups

From: SECDEF Donald Rumsfeld

Subj: GET OFF YOUR DEAD A$$ES AND REPORT FOR DUTY

1. It has come to my attention that some of you folks were perfectly willing to cash those drill paychecks and gather the retirement fogies, but that you're not willing to go on active duty when called for whatever silly reasons you choose to devise.

2. Kindly read the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 85, Paragraph (3), and decide if you really want to be stuffed in front of a firing squad.

r/s,

Donald Rumsfeld

[ReaganCowboy]

This story is bravo-sierra.

[Leisler]

I am pretty sympathetic to Guardsmen and Reserves. Let’s face it, we are using them because they are cheap, and no politician wants to fund a military the size that is needed to do the task now being placed upon it.

A lot of these guys are in limbo. The Generals don’t have the intelligence, planning or common curtsey to say, “Guys we need you for x amount of time, and you’ll be home, because we know this is a full time, long term war and we are ramping up the “Active Army, etc.” Nope. Not a peep. Must be all that hand to hand fighting all those Colonels and Generals, staff Majors, legions of paper pushing O-3s, hordes of butterbars, countless potbellied coffee fetching senior NCO’s are doing each and every night. Naturally the Bush White House, stuffed with incest bread Wasps is right on this, after golf of course.

[James R. McClure Jr.]

Peace FloridaGeezer,

As a reservist, this sickens me. No one forces you to sign that contract. Everyone knows what they are getting into when they join up. As far as I'm concerned, any reservist who does not show when activated should be punished to the fullest extent of the UCMJ: missing a movement; failure to obey a direct order; AWOL; etc. For anyone who doesn't know, during wartime, the penalty for any of these can be death. Line a couple up against a wall and the rest will take notice.

James R. McClure Jr.
USNR

[drachenfels]

OK, been there, done that. My reserve unit has averaged sending a company size element every other year since 1994.. And I'm just back from the last one.

It was important doing what we do... but after getting NO help from some significant folks (TriCare is USELESS, they won't pay over 40% of the going rate.. and there are NO doctors in our area that take that, and will accept new patients), I've got to admit that my personal motivation level isn't the best it's ever been.

We've had damn few develop a case of chicken-sh*t when the call comes, but damn few. We provide something that the active guys don't have... that's lots of experience, and they've learned how important that is.

Lesson learned from all this... I'm not volunteering to do anything else, but if the call comes... let's go do the job right this time, finish it, and get on with things.

PS: If I had a nickle for every employer that's given our folks fits (you REALLY don't want to know), I could retire now.

[Ligeia]

600 Langley airmen learn they will deploy this week
By MATTHEW DOLAN, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 11, 2003
Last updated: 9:49 PM

HAMPTON -- To understand how hurriedly America's armed forces are mobilizing for a possible war against Iraq, talk to Ely Wolfe.

``I'm leaving when?'' he asked Monday after a reporter told the 23-year-old airman he's shipping out for the Middle East today.

Wolfe is one of more than 600 airmen at Langley Air Force Base scheduled to leave this week. Their deployment will support, in part, the departure of a dozen F-15 jets and their pilots from the Langley's 71st Fighter Squadron.

Hundreds of other members of the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley have been told to stand by for deployment orders, said Capt. David May, a Langley spokesman.

Though they've known about the deployment since late December, not many knew exactly when the departure date would fall. Most airmen said they could go home for Christmas, but after that, they've had to stay within an hour's reach of the Hampton base.

``It's been tough,'' said Noor Razzaq, 22, a senior airman from Virginia Beach. ``We've had our bags packed for months.''

As the U.S. military prepares for a second Persian Gulf War, attention again is focusing on Langley's air power.

Fighter pilots from the Hampton base were among the first to deploy to Saudi Arabia after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and strike targets at the beginning of the air campaign in January 1991. Continue

[CyberAnt]

If you are not prepared to go to war - WHY are you in such an organization in the first place ...??

[Terry Mross]

I say let 'em out. After a few years of seeing how the heroes are treated after we win this thing they'll be wishing they had served. In fact, they will be so ashamed they just might commit suicide, which might not be a bad thing. Cowards!

My nephew's NG unit was just activated and he thinks he's going to......better not say. I emailed him and told him I am very proud of him. He's been in many years, an E7 and close to retirement. He was excited about going and was very antsy since 9/11.

I served and it's the only thing in life I can be proud of.