Troops feeling strain (RMN "back door draft")

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

GI discontent grows as Uncle Sam struggles to find enough forces

By Dick Foster, Rocky Mountain News
November 22, 2004

COLORADO SPRINGS - The Army calls it a "good news" story: Re-enlistments surpassed 100 percent of its goal for 2004.

But the recruiting figures belie a smoldering undercurrent of discontent among some of the Army's Iraq war veterans.

Twenty months into the war, some of them say, the Army is hurting for soldiers and has turned to signing bonuses of $10,000 to $15,000 and what critics call heavy-handed tactics to keep the ranks full.

snip>

But the Army's report of success was clouded by recent accounts from soldiers at four Army posts. A handful of active-duty soldiers from Fort Carson's 3rd Brigade Combat Team told the media and congressional representatives this fall that recruiters issued them an ultimatum: Re-enlist until December 2007 or face transfer to units bound for Iraq.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_3346307,00.html

MKJ

[ticapnews]

1. Reminds me of 'Hogan's Heroes'

"Step out of line and we'll send you to the Russian Front"

Too bad war isn't as harmless in real life as it is in a sitcom...

[jdj]

2. I assume they lowered their goal to about 2 and a half people

or something.

or counted everyone that hasn't deserted as a re-enlist, or something.

[fidgeting wildly]

3. Disgusting.

Could it be that they are re-enlisting because they have nowhere else to go, dear Army? Because there are no other jobs for them? Because the poor are fighting the war of the wealthy?

And using transfer to Iraq as punishment for not re-enlisting?!? Frankly, I'm shocked.

Not.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. How about our tax dollars going to $10,000 to $15,000 re up bonuses

Things are going from the sublime to the ridiculous to beyond..MKJ

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

6. Just raise the debt ceiling if it's too expensive

Problem solved, GOP style.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

5. It's too late to whine about it now--just have to suck it up, guys!

Complain to your chain of command.

Incidentally, The Rocky Mountain Times endorsed the Chimp. I think the editors should stop writing sob stories and move on to the positive things the troops are doing in Iraq. That should boost morale.