Defense Secretary Taken To Task For Comment About Vietnam-era Draftees

Associated Press / SFGate

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Interesting.

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It's Time To Shut Little Tommy Up !
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[Brad’s Gramma]

In a letter to Rumsfeld, three Democrats in Congress expressed outrage at his comments and urged an apology.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Let me redo that.......

[Brad’s Gramma]

........some other time, that is. It's not working, what I wanted to do.

[SwinneySwitch]

Demonrats offend me DAILY!

[ex-snook]

""It is not only inaccurate, but also deeply offensive, to describe the service of these men who answered the call of their country as without value," they wrote. "A more careful look at the record indicates that America's draftees played a crucial role in defense of liberty and democracy around the globe." "

Rummy is an a--hole if he said that. Draftees were the mainstay in WW II. A draft sure would focus the mind of the country on any war and get support of the nation before a war. (unless he wants to sneak a fast pitch past the public)

[Brad’s Gramma]

The letter signed by Sens. Tom Daschle of South Dakota and John Kerry of Massachusetts and Rep. Lane Evans

Remember who we're talking about here. I sincerely believe, this is ANOTHER attempt to disprove this administration.

[SunStar]

Demonrats offend me DAILY!

Please. ONLY Leftists can be "offended" or "outraged". You didn't know that? [/Sarcasm]

[canuck_conservative]

I think Rummy is being mis-interpreted. He made similar remarks yesterday at the Reserve Officers' speech, to the effect that troops serving for a short period of time (one "tour") don't really have enough time to really learn the job, i.e., they're still on the learning curve. He said he wanted the Forces to retain people longer, so the full benefit of learned skills could be used .....

My guess, for what it's worth ......

[CedarDave]

Cynical attempt by the Democrats to sway veterans, probably one of the few groups they haven't ardently courted, to their party. And the press joins in trying to make Rumfeld's remarks appear much more than they are. And Rumsfeld got it right about the exemptions from the draft. Get married, have a kid, stay in school, become a weekend warrior, etc. -- all of those kept you away from the draft.

(Gawd, I hate the media whores and their Rat allies more and more each day.)

[SwatTeam]

I saw that press conference and the part that was quoted has been cut and pasted and taken completely out of the context in which he said it. This is just another attempt by the democrats to find something, anything to scream about.

[x1stcav]

Rummy is, in a general sense, right spot on. Ask anyone who had to lead a unit composed mainly of draftees. In my experience, any unit late in the Vietnam war, with the attendent breakdowns in morale, discipline, and attitude, could be broken down into thirds. One third absolutely didn't want to be there and were a drag on overall unit performance. Another third at least went through the drill and at least gave some lip service to competency because they realized the link between unit performance and their chances of coming out in one piece was a real one. Finally, there was the third that actually carried the major load of the unit. In my experience, they were almost all RA (i.e. volunteers), Southern, and rural. This was regardless of race.

I envy, with the exception of the PC crap they have to endure, today's troops. Everyone starts out wanting to be part of the organization. It became real obvious to me when the first pictures started to reach us during the Desert Shield buildup. You could simply look at the troops and see that their gear was regulation; chin straps in place as they were designed to be. No slogans on camo covers, etc. It was a far cry from my experince of twenty years earlier.

My guess is that Rummy's remarks are not presented in full context. I wouldn't want to see us go back to a conscription military. If we need more personnel, do what any other employer does; raise benefits and expectations.

[Samurai_Jack]

It is not only inaccurate, but also deeply offensive, to describe the service of these men who answered the call of their country as without value," they wrote. "A more careful look at the record indicates that America's draftees played a crucial role in defense of liberty and democracy around the globe."

Now wait a minute!!!???

Arent these the same people who are decrying the Iraqi conflict as a Useless quagmire just like vietnam?

So was vietnam a defense of liberty and democracy all over the world? Or was vietnam a useless quagmire sending troops overseas to be slaughtered for the imperialist dreams of the american dictators?

We need to make up our minds here because we cant have the demoRATS switching sides all the time!!

And if vietnam was such an Honorable war as to describe it as "crucial role in defense of liberty and democracy around the globe..." then what exactly is the problem with the conflict in iraq? After all, What did the vietnamese ever do to US?? Did the vietnamese ever launch a bomb at San Fransisco?

Hypocrites

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET

...I was for a new draft in our country simply for the plus in life experiences 2 years in the U.S. Military would bring the young adults of our Beloved Country...

...until I re-visited Ft. Benning GA for the 1st time since I left it for the 1st Major Battles of the Vietnam War.

...I was stunned to see the Professional polish of the on post Black-Beret'd Kami'd proud men and women of the U.S. Army as I was preparing to see a preview of .."WE WERE SOLDIERS".., a Randall Wallace Film about our 1st Battle in the Valley of Death known as the IA DRANG of 1965. We are being served by the very BEST.

May GOD BLESS the FREEDOM FIGHTERS, always.


Signed:

ALOHA RONNIE Guyer / Vet-Battle of IA DRANG-1965 / Landing Zone Falcon / http://www.lzxray.com

NEVER FORGET

[snippy_about_it]

Rummy didn't say that the draftees were of "no value" as lil' tommy would like the sheeple to believe.

I interpret Rumsfeld's comments to mean there is no added value to building a military with draftees. Of course they were of value, they just weren't meant to be permanent.

Perhaps the military would like to build on a solid foundation, (especially after all the downsizing Clinton did)of volunteers that hopefully will make a career out of the military, and if they don't, at least it isn't forced service. We have a wonderful all volunteer military and this talk of draft is just an agenda of left amazingly enough.

I don't pretend to know what Rumsfeld thinks, but after watching and listening to him these many years it is obvious to me he means no disrespect for the military.

In fact tommy's intent is as plain as the nose on his ever grimacing face, to undermine Bush and his administration.

Certainly draftees sacrificed their lives, were wounded, scarred and forever changed. I don't believe for a second Rumsfeld is saying they weren't valued.

These rats make my blood boil. < /rant >

[WOSG]

If these Liberal Democrats think the draft is such a great idea, they can propose a bill to re-instate it.

But anyone with above room temperature IQ can tell the difference between criticizing the draft system and criticizing the young men who were themselves drafted. This attempt by Liberals to concoct some kind of scandal will go nowhere.

[mass55th]

""We are shocked, frankly, that you were apparently willing to dismiss the value of the service of millions of Americans..."

Please note, that these are the same folks who were more than willing to disenfranchise the absentee ballots of thousands of military personnel.

[snippy_about_it]

Rumsfeld responds;

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/826897/posts