Gates Announces Army Being Increased By 22,000

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(07-20) 11:12 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced that the size of the Army is being increased by 22,000 to help meet deployment needs around the world.

Gates made the disclosure Monday at a news conference at the Pentagon where he was joined by the chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen. The Army currently has a total troop strength of 547,000.

Gates said the military, with President Barack Obama's backing, decided that because of the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and political turmoil in Pakistan, the Pentagon's ability to fill vacancies was "at risk."



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/20/national/w111231D67.DTL

[maxsolomon]

1. that's the wrong direction, bob

why can't we afford universal health care? because the pentagon budget is killing this country.

[JDPriestly]

2. Actually, government health care is a perk when you are in the army.

So, if the army just drafts everybody, we'll all be covered. You see. There is more than one way to skin a cat. (Animal lovers, please forgive me. That's just an old expression. I really, truly, dearly love cats, and I have loved a couple of very special cats in particular.)

[newspeak]

20. not unless they find ways to take those benefits away

my child should have been out last month--she's 100% disabled-but she's not out--they waited for my SIL to go to Iraq and then they started harassing her big time. She could report in then leave, now she must be in by 7 am and stay, even though her doctor has written a letter that she's disabled--they laughed at the letter. And now she's had article 15's done against her right and left for little infractions (even though she has proof against them). She has two small children and has trouble sleeping a night. They've lied in the medical reports, saying that she stated she sleeps fine. If she sleeps so fine, then how come they keep changing her prescriptions for sleep meds? I just came back from a visit and she's losing her hair and while I was there, I heard nothing but harassment. The commander threatened to take her children if she couldn't make it in at 7-he threatened to make her life a living hell. Did I mention she's on meds for chronic pain? There attempting to chapter her out so she won't have benefits--she's filed a congressional and they just laughed at her. A congressional is supposed to be answered in 72 hours, they took over two weeks. They have no respect for Congress (when the aide called her unit, apparently they were belligerent. I will attempt to talk any family member from joining the Army. As one guy with PTSD told me, it's like being used up, when they can't use you anymore, you're like a piece of garbage to be thrown away.

I don't know about the other branches, but I'd discourage anyone from joining the Army, unless they get some officers who actually care about the soldiers. I now understand why some of these soldiers commit suicide. They've had a couple of suicides on my daughter's base--apparently, the commander has some sort of Darwin award for those who have committed suicide. To me, it's an insult and the whole lot of them should be investigated. If you have an NCO who actually cares about the soldiers, they may be gone.

After what I've witnessed with my daughter, all I've got to say is they got some officers that I feel are liars and cowards. Yeah, wait for her husband to leave then start the assault. Real cowardly assholes!!!!

[JDPriestly]

21. Thank you for writing your response. I wish your daughter well.

You should be proud of her. She is a brave young woman.

[Bette Noir]

3. How does he expect to make those numbers? Is the draft back on the table?

[Purveyor]

4. As the number of jobs continue to decline, Gates will have little trouble filling the ranks... eom

[wordpix2]

23. see my post #22 and don't count on it

[katkat]

5. wtf

I though we were supposed to be drawing down on military crap.

Is Obama doing anything right? Maybe environmental stuff, maybe something will get through on healthcare, but it looks like he's crashed on tarp and the military.

I mean, does he just wimp out in front of these people?

[tomm2thumbs]

6. why don't we all 'join' the military and we will all have health care - there. problem solved

(we'll all just be on 'temporary inactive duty' but it works for me)

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Yeah....remember how good the health care is for the vets

who got Gulf War syndrome ( uranium poisoning suspected, among others ) and that great health coverage at Walter Reed, meanwhile families of service of overseas service members have been forced to go on
food stamps and welfare to survive.
Not to mention the miitary likes to deploy you until you drop.
I don't see the military leaving anyone on inactive duty.

However, I won't argue that the economy has not been a blessing for the military recruiters ( who get paid a bounty for everyone they sign up).

co-incidence?

You decide.

[OwnedByFerrets]

7. One the positive side, this means that 22K more Americans

will have single payer health care.:sarcasm:

[Vidar]

9. And jobs too. More reason to support JDPriestly's universal draft.

[Union Yes]

10. Peeps wanna know what's "unsustainable"? Our military.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

11. Some posters around here have brought up the "draft" I wonder about DSDT?

:shrug:

[dysfunctional press]

12. if we supposedly "won" the cold war under the brave leadership of ronbo raygun...

(:sarcasm:...yes- i realize it wasn't his doing)

why are we STILL paying to keep fighting it?

[sutz12]

13. Government expansion!

Evil! Bad! Can't do it!

Do you want a government soldier between you and your freedoms?

:sarcasm:

[happydreams]

14. I just hope these fascist assholes get their asses kicked over and fucking over

and fucking over again until they slither back under their rocks or die!

Gates is a fascist turd who seems to glide along no matter which RepukeliCrat is in office. It is obvious that the Repukes and the Democrats serve the same master.

[jus_the_facts]

15. "R's and D's serve the same masters" ....it's called The Military Industrial Complex. n/t

[No Elephants]

16. Actually, I'm almost nostaligic about the days when America had lots of industries.

Now it's more like the military-energy-financial services complex.

[jus_the_facts]

18. Like back in the day... when we were taught monopolies were illegal....

....9th grade Civics....wasn't that a load of mind fuckery in hindsight or what?! :wtf:

[InkAddict]

17. Maybe that shouldbe renamed to the Health & Safety Industrial Complex

To be fair, why did the outfit that supports healthcare orgs across the Nation choose consultants who first specializes in software for warehousing/logistics?

http://www.upp.com/news.html

Now, just how important is your broken arm, your little lesion, your incompetent cardiovascular system?

They do serve the same master now, and it's called FEAR! which is very, very profitable.

And for everything else, there's....

Now, what's in your wallet?

[No Elephants]

19. Who said Congress can't create jobs? That's 22,000 jobs right there, and

all the civilians who make uniforms, weapons, ammunition, etc. that will be needed to support another 22K troops.

Sure, it's not like FDR's programs of building bridges and courthouses and supporting artists, etc, but it's something.

sarcasm (sort of)

[wordpix2]

22. I just went to a crowded job fair with huge lines in DC - the only place there weren't lines was

at the Army Nat'l Guard recruiting booth.

After 8 yrs., word's out that you'll be sent to a war overseas if you sign up to help guard the nation.

Thank you, BushCo :sarcasm:

Everyone standing in that line near me was talking about despising Bush.