[churchillbuff]

A neice "in law" of mine is heading to Iraq. I'd feel better about it if some kids of our national political leaders, of either party, were over there in uniform. I suspect a lot of the parents who are hassling recruiters have to wonder the same thing - - why aren't more children of the country's political leadership, in uniform in Iraq? Also, the fact there were no WMDs has to have made a lot of people question this never-ending war. Full disclosure: I've been against the Iraq invasion from the beginning (I was for concentrating more manpower and firepower against al Quada in Afghanistan; when Bush said Osama "dead or alive," I cheered - - but everybody's forgotten about the guy who did 9-11. I suspect a lot of these hostile parents have come around to my way of thinking; they don't want to lose their kids for such a dubious military adventure. AND DON'T TELL ME I'M NOT A CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO THINK THE IRAQ INVASION WAS AND IS A MISTAKE. I WALKED PRECINCTS FOR GOLDWATER, WORKED FOR NIXON CAMPAIGNS, REAGAN AND BOTH BUSHES. NEVER EVER VOTED DEMOCRAT; ALWAYS REPUBLICAN -- But I still think Iraq is a big mistake. A lot of parents agree.

[Kozak]

Already posted

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1415498/posts

[Kozak]

So how long did you serve?

[Lord Nelson]

Yeah, but you are not thinking through this Michael Moore logic. What do you want the leaders of the US to do? "Son, I want you to sign up for service to deflect criticism of our war in Iraq." "OK, great idea Dad".

Since when is it up to a parent to force their child to go to war? No Senator can sign their child up for war. It's a volunteer army. It's up to the child.

Where I would agree is that a parent, and a nation, needs to be cautious about recruitment. We should never glamorize war. War is hell, right? Parents should fully explain the benefits and consequences of joining.

[ckilmer]

every time I read articles like the NY Times article you posted...It think...this is good news for the democrats.

the democrats have the viet nam scenario playing in their heads. I don't that this war is going to go by that scenario.

[Avenger]

"I suspect a lot of these hostile parents have come around to my way of thinking; they don't want to lose their kids for such a dubious military adventure."

It may or may not have been dubious at the outset but at this point it seems like we do not have the option to withdraw and give the country over to Al Queda. To do so would hand a huge victory to militant Islam and almost certainly ensure a much larger and more deadly battle in the future. We are at war and we need to win, defeat is not an option. What else is there to say at this point? Do you want some shiny stars next to your name for your foresight?

[CGVet58]

Sir, with all due respect, I believe you may be wrong on this - members of Congress do have family/children in our wars today, and @ I believe a higher rate than the comparative general population. I don't have the exact numbers, but allow me to illustrate:

But that 'rate' would be a smoke screen - if say, for example, out of the 535 members of congress, 35 had family/children in uniform today (and that would not include members who actually have served in uniform, such as former President Bush, Sen Inouye, etc...), that would be roughly 6.5 percent of the body. Compare this to the general population; almost 300 million Americans, from which roughly 3 million currently active or reserve - or 1 percent. Again, I use the above numbers as an example, because I don't have the exact figures; but the above example is generally correct.

As for your feelings on the Gulf War, you'll get no critiques from me for freely expressing your beliefs in a sober and respectful manner.

As a Vet, I can tell you that even as I am the last to wish a war, I am also in favor of this necessary war and only wish we would prosecute it on the other critical fronts more effectively - but that is another thread.

God Bless, and please tell your sobrina that she goes with our prayers and expectations that she will be a worthy representative of the Greatest Military the World has ever known.

[Mr. Rips]

I agree. It's always been us on the lower end doing the fighting. Unfortunately I'm no senators son. That's just the way it is. Don't let any of these arm chair generals get to you. It's easy to talk the talk but how many have said there goodbyes to an indefinite deployment, it's not fun. It makes me sick to my stomach that over 1600 men and women have died for this foreign adventure.

[fr_freak]

As far as I'm concerned, these parents are actively interfering with their children's transfer to adulthood. I can understand that a parent never stops worrying about their child, but a decision like going into the military needs to be made by the child, not by the parent. None of these kids will be going in before they're 18 (without parental sign-off). An 18 year old boy has made the first step toward being a man when he takes on a decision like this on his own. Whether he decides to join or not, he and he alone has decided what he believes in and what he is willing to do for that belief, and any parent that attempts to make such a decision for him is denying him his birthright. Once upon a time, teenagers were treated like adults and they acted like adults. Now they are coddled nearly until their 30s.

My dad was actually agains my enlisting in the army, not because he was against the military at all (he held a reserve naval commission) but because he would have preferred that I went in as an officer, and he would especially have preferred that I didn't go infantry. However, I made the decision to enlist as a grunt, and I ended up in Iraq for Desert Storm. Sometimes I regret having chosen that path, and you could debate the necessity of Desert Storm every bit as much as you could the current situation, but in the end it was MY decision and as such, was one of the things that most shaped my life. These days, my service in that time and place is one of the things that I am most proud of.

[Route101]

..."Parents," said one recruiter in Ohio who insisted on anonymity because the Army ordered all recruiters not to talk to reporters, "are the biggest hurdle we face."....the biggest hurdle the recuiters face is the nightly news interviewing each family of each soldier killed and gladly putting it on tv every day......Here in Seattle it starts with...Another soldier was killed today...Well, I wonder if those killed are being honored at all on the nightly news......

[RepublicMan4U]

Shh...you're not allowed to mention socio-economic class on FR, silly. Just simmer down and have a sip of this Koolade. It's delicious!

/sarcasm

[FlatLandBeer]

Take my kid......please!!!!!!!!!

Had my son readdy to go....His Girl Freind talked him out of it.

[nosofar]

Mothers and fathers around the country said they were terrified that their children would have to be killed - or kill - in a war that many see as unnecessary and without end.

What's the military coming to? To think soldiers are now actually expected to shoot the enemy and even risk getting shot. /sarc

[sitetest]

Dear churchillbuff,

"I'd feel better about it if some kids of our national political leaders, of either party, were over there in uniform."

False premise.

"Sergeant Brooks Johnson, the son of South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson, serves in the 101st Airborne Division and fought in Iraq in 2003. The son of California Republican Representative Duncan Hunter quit his job after September 11, and enlisted in the Marines; his artillery unit was deployed in the heart of insurgent territory in February 2004. Delaware Senator Joseph Biden's son Beau is on active duty; although Beau Biden has no control over he is deployed, he has not been sent to Iraq, and therefore does not 'count' for Moore's purposes."

Link:


http://bowlingfortruth.com/fahrenheit911/warsignup.htm

I've heard numbers as highs as 5 or 6, actually, but can't verify them quickly. Even so, that's three children out of 535 folks. That's about .6%, or about the same representation as the population at large.

Remember, too, that US Representatives and Senators tend to skew a bit older than heads of households as a group, and are much more likely to have grandchildren than children who are at the age of typical enlisted personnel.


sitetest

[AlGone2001]

This happens after every war.

Many kids sign up to attain a technical background, get a degree or tread water.

This doesn't mean that they are using our tax money, just that they see an opportunity.

I was raised to be very patriotic but I must admit that my prime reason for enlisting was to receive job skills for the future.

The DOD will probably have to bring back the good reenlistment bonuses to retain the troops. Retention is the biggest problem. Not getting new troops.