(12) Army ex-captains want US out of Iraq or a new military draft

[sabra]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Twelve former US army captains Tuesday urged Washington to either abandon Iraq or dramatically increase its military presence there by reinstating mandatory military service.

The article, published in the Washington Post, also criticized higher-ranking officers for believing they can still hold Iraq together with the force available.

"There is one way we might be able to succeed in Iraq," wrote the ex-captains, all of whom saw service in Iraq between 2003 and 2006.

"To continue an operation of this intensity and duration, we would have to abandon our volunteer military for compulsory service. Short of that, our best option is to leave Iraq immediately.

"A scaled withdrawal will not prevent a civil war, and it will spend more blood and treasure on a losing proposition," they wrote.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071016/pl_afp/usiraqmilitarydissent_071016131908

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101500841.html

[tabasco]

1. The Phony Soldier Corps keeps getting bigger.

Good thing we have real, brave, tough Americans like Rush Limbaugh to protect us.

[sabra]

2. they are all just a bunch of Bush haters that's all...

:sarcasm:

[MADem]

3. God love 'em--they slept through that history lesson on IndoChine/Vietnam NT

[krispos42]

4. I've been saying this for a few months now

We either have to go balls-to-the-wall (draft, war taxes, nationalization of the defense industry) or we have to get out and pursue other means (diplomatic, political, economic).

And since the country is not willing to go balls-to-the-well...

[Kolesar]

5. The US beat-down Iraq to an impovershed, Nigeria-like status

Ready for the oil companies to exploit. Add fundamentalism. :nuke:

[krispos42]

8. Replace "Iraq" with "Army", and you're still right! n/t

[Kolesar]

21. Well, that's a thinker! ... eom

[bagrman]

6. Bring back the draft , as quickly as possible, it's the only way to get

the average mom and dad engaged in bringing this occupation to an end. I would bet 85% of this countries families don't have any skin in the game and are to wrapped up in the day to day lives to really pay any attention to the facts.




Latr

[AndyTiedye]

13. Bring Back the Draft, and The War Will Go On for Another 10-20 YEARS

You are right, a draft will really piss people off.
What do you think those 85% would DO if there is a draft?
Where do you think all that anger will be directed in an election year?

I the Democratic Congress passes a draft, the Democrats will get the blame for it.

Can you say "President Guiliani" and a Repiglickin sweep of Congress?

[bagrman]

16. It all falls back to the fact that the 2 parties are the same coin but different sides.

Neither one is going to bring back the draft, besides it's a volunteer military , if you get your ass shot up it's your own fault. The military complex wants it to keep going and it will, besides Iraqs oil is off line and that makes all of the big corporations lots more money. Once the economy goes tits up, (right after a Dem takes the white house), it will take about a month and the military will have all the bodies it needs.

Latr

[AndyTiedye]

14. I Really Prefer the Other Option He Offered: GET OUT **NOW**

[Barrett808]

7. k & r

[Mike Daniels]

9. The other side is already using the years of service to discount the letter

The argument is that for the most part none of these soldiers has been in Iraq since 2005. Therefore, they haven't been on site since the "surge" went into effect and that their comments are consequently tainted.

You know that this will be the main talking point once it hits the tv/radio shows.

Just reporting on how this is already being combated/neutralized.

[ellisonz]

18. That appears to be not entirely true...

Jeffrey Bouldin served in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Ninevah in 2006. , Josh Rizzo served in Baghdad in 2006.

4 of the 12 were in country for tours in 2003 and 2005...

[robinlynne]

10. Finally someone says it! the slow drawdown theory means more bloodshed.

[MidwestTransplant]

11. Bunch of phony soldiers. Why do they hate their country so?

[bdamomma]

12. read this

from Think Progress, Middle East nothing but a big "gas station" exactly.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/15/abizaid-middle-east-gas-station/

UPDATE: The Stanford Daily, which originally reported on the round table, incorrectly attributed some of New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman’s comments to Gen. Abizaid. Though Abizaid did say “Of course it’s about oil, we can’t really deny that,” it was Friedman who said “We’ve treated the Arab world as a collection of big gas stations.” The Daily has posted a correction.

During a round table discussion on “the Fight for Oil, Water and a Healthy Planet” at Stanford University on Saturday, Gen. John Abizaid (Ret.), the former CENTCOM Commander, said that “of course” the Iraq war is “about oil“:

“Of course it’s about oil, we can’t really deny that,” Abizaid said of the Iraq campaign early on in the talk.

“We’ve treated the Arab world as a collection of big gas stations,” the retired general said. “Our message to them is: Guys, keep your pumps open, prices low, be nice to the Israelis and you can do whatever you want out back. Osama and 9/11 is the distilled essence that represents everything going on out back.”

[AndyTiedye]

15. There Is Only ONE Kind of Draft I'll Support

DRAFT GORE

[Pastiche423]

17. That is the only one I'll support, as well

[ellisonz]

19. I think they're both disgusted and frustrated. Time to get out as expeditiously as possible.

[Vinca]

20. If there was serious discussion of the draft on the floors of the

House and Senate, we'd be out of Iraq before you could say Young Republicans.