Bush's recall / A misguided Iraq policy seeks more reservists

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06236/715847-192.stm

Faced with continuing shortages in meeting demands for U.S. forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, President Bush has now given open-ended authorization to recall involuntarily Marine Corps reservists, starting with an initial group of 2,500.

These are people who thought they had completed their duties to the nation as soldiers. Many had launched new, more stable lives in the civilian economy, taking on jobs, relationships and other commitments appropriate to a non-military life. Now they will be required to return to active duty, including combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, for indefinite periods of time.

<snip>

In the face of those facts, Mr. Bush has accused anyone who opposes continued U.S. involvement of wanting America to "cut and run." By putting that argument forward he indicates that he plans in the congressional campaign to portray any rational proposal for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as advocacy of national cowardice. Assuming that eventually even he will have to accept that the United States needs to come home from Iraq, the "cut and run" charge serves only to paint America into a corner on withdrawal.

In the name of the Bush approach, thousands of Marine reservists will now be recalled, to pursue this pointless, vanity war even further. This action is, in short, folly in terms of the national interest.

[tularetom]

1. "Vanity war" - that phrase describes it perfectly

This war is not taking place because of terrorism, or oil, or because they hate our freedoms or any other reason except to prop up a little man's fragile sense of masculinity.

[rodeodance]

3. yes, I wish the Dems would pick it up and repeat it over and over.

[Webster Green]

2. "advocacy of national cowardice"...

That would more aptly apply to those who would abandon our constitution due to their obsessive fear of terrorist attacks.

[Demeter]

4. One The Plus SIde---Bush Can't Possibly Impose Martial Law Here

with no army left, no reservists, and the governors witholding the National Guard....

somehow I can't see all Bush's Fundies armed and taking over the country; they have devolved too far already, as evidenced by their inability to compete without massive legal protections and affirmative political action, to mount anything except maybe the David Koresh move.