US Army Plans to Activate Reserve Troops: BACKDOOR DRAFT RAMPS UP! IRR!

[Dems Will Win]

US Army Plans to Activate Reserve Troops
VOA News
29 Jun 2004, 13:51 UTC


The U.S. Army is preparing to activate thousands of reserve troops for potential duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Army officials say around 6,000 troops from the rarely-used Individual Ready Reserve will be informed of possible deployment.

The troops would be used to help fill gaps in units serving in the two active U.S. combat areas.

Violence in Iraq has forced the Pentagon to keep the troop level there at nearly 140,000, about 30,000 more than planned. The U.S. military has another 20,000 troops in Afghanistan.

The Individual Ready Reserve is a pool of more than 100,000 former soldiers who still have some obligations to the military. The last time the Individual Ready Reserve was used was on the eve of the 1991 war that ended Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=26D59857-3C26-4703-B9224D9E9D2AEC3A

This is it, folks! Bush has finally activated the IRR, the Ready Reserve, those who have already been discharged from the Armed Forces. These 6,000 are just the first, as Bush tries to bandaid over the military gaps until the Election. The DoD has asked the IRS to help them track 50,000 reservists out of over 200,000 total who they have lost the addresses of.

If he is reselected, Bush will almost certaintly reinstate the DRAFT on April 1, 2005, with the first lottery being June 15, 2005. As I have explained many times but for the newbies (HI!): Bush is RIGHT NOW spending $28 million to reduce DRAFT ACTIVATION TIME FROM THE USUAL 193 DAYS to JUST 75 DAYS BY MARCH 31, 2005!! (http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html)

In replying to this thread keep in mind that Kerry has a NO-DRAFT PLAN that I have also explained. If you have a question about that--ask me anything.

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!!

[DarkPhenyx]

1. It isn't a backdoor draft. Get a grip.

If you are IRR you haven't been discharged from service, you ahve been discharged from active duty only.

[Dems Will Win]

2. John Kerry calls it a Backdoor Draft

It's backdoor because

a. It's basically involuntary, although the soldiers know they are eligible for 8 years isn't it?

b. It's covering up the fact that to keep nearly US control of Iraqi oil, by ourselves, bit to mention that to pull off the planned invasions of Syria, Iran, Sudan and Somalia (secret plan revealed in Wes Clark book) we would need the DRAFT.

[DarkPhenyx]

10. And he would be wrong.

Sorry, but it's true.

[fdr_hst_fan]

5. No offense, but that's just splitting hairs;

the point is, this is just the FIRST STEP in Smirk's plan to send American troops ANYWHERE HE WANTS to fight his "splendid little wars". The next step is the draft itself!

[DarkPhenyx]

11. It might be hair splitting...

...but it is still more true and accurate than calling it a draft. Even if it is "the first step" in the President's plan.

[TNDemo]

3. My brother retired from the Reserve two years ago

after 20+ years of service. Would he eligible for this draft? I am not sure if he would fit the description of ready reserve.

[atreides1]

7. According to the CNN article

"Any former enlisted soldier who did not serve at least eight years
on active duty is in the Individual Ready Reserve pool, as are all
officers who have not resigned their commissions."

So your brother should be safe from this call-up, but he might want
to check it out.

As for those that retire after 20 years of active duty, it's purely
voluntary on their part if they want to go back in. When I was on my
way to Desert Storm, we had to process through Ft. Knox, Ky.

Most of the admin people were retirees who had volunteered to return
to active duty, they were mostly Korean and Vietnam Era vets, there
was even a Colonel who was a WWII vet.

But have your brother check it out just in case they've changed the
rules since then.

[TNDemo]

8. Thanks.

I just wrote him to find out if he is in it. He has been a lucky son of a gun. He managed to get into the guard during Vietnam (and we certainly had no connections). In the gulf war he got called up twice erroneously but ultimately did not have to go. He had just switched from one unit to another and the old unit ended up being over there for about a year. A few years ago he switched to the reserve. His guard unit is the big one in Tennessee that deployed last week. So hopefully he has slithered through again.

[papau]

4. CNN version of story via AP - DU link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x654141

Army to recall former military members (retirees/discharged)


http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/29/iraq.reserves.ap/index.html

Army to recall former military members (retirees/discharged)
Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 12:43 PM EDT (1643 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army is preparing to notify about 5,600 retired and discharged soldiers who are not members of the National Guard or Reserve that they will be involuntarily recalled to active duty for possible service in Iraq or Afghanistan, Army officials said Tuesday.

It marks the first time the Army has called on the Individual Ready Reserve, as this category of reservists is known, in substantial numbers since the 1991 Gulf War.

The move reflects the continued shortage of troops available to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to fight the ongoing war on terrorism as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lt. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck, the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel, said earlier this month of the Army's troop strength, "We are stretched but we have what we need."<snip>

[orthogonal]

6. Donald Rumsfeld fired General Shinseki

But, but, Donald Rumsfeld fired General Shinseki when Shinseki said we'd need a whole lot more troops for Iraq than Rummy planned for!

Did Rummy lie to us? Unpossible!

[RUSTY SHACKLEFORD]

9. If I was still IRR, there's no way in hell I'd go back on active duty.

They'd have to throw me in jail. No way I'd go to Iraq to fight and die for neocon scum. Forget it.

I'd rather be tied to whipping post.

[Cats Against Frist]

12. ????

What does that mean, "some obligation?" If you're discharged, or you finished your reserve, what other obligation is there?

[SkipNewarkDE]

13. According to a friend of mine who was in the army:

"when you enlist you sign up for a period of 2 to 4 years active duty.
Your are committed to 8 years total. So after your initial 4 you have 4
more on inactive status inactive,which means that they can recall you at
anytime. "

[Cats Against Frist]

14. That sucks

At least it doesn't apply to my boyfriend -- he played french horn in the Army band, but I think he was out in like '92 or something. Shwweeew.

[Moderator]

15. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=653108&mesg_id=653108