Stripes letter the day after Rummy hints at possible troop cuts in Iraq

[lebkuchen]

Rummy and Wolfie have been in Germany and Iraq the last few days trying to drum up Bush support as the absentee ballots come in, but the letters critical of Bush in Stripes came at them all week long.

Here's today's offering, making a mockery of Rummy's latest comment of possible troop cuts and Bush's promise during the debate not to institute a nationwide draft (other than the stop-loss already implemented):


Draft more fair than stop loss

I feel almost betrayed that the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to defeat a bill reinstituting the draft. I will complete my second tour in Iraq in February, and my unit is already scheduled for its third tour in November 2005. I am not complaining, but as I look toward my ETS date of January 2006, I stand absolutely convinced that I will be stop-lossed and forced to return to Iraq.

Why should the civilian population of our country be protected from forced service, while our soldiers are not? Stop loss is a de facto draft that forces military personnel, ones who have already fulfilled their obligations, to remain in the military for extended periods of time. If our military is spread to the point where it needs to extend the enlistments of our soldiers in order to fill the manpower requirements of its obligations, then couldn’t it be said that the military is undermanned?

Some say that freedom is not free, but many young people in America today are sure getting it at wholesale prices.

Why is it that only a select group of patriotic Americans has the burden of defending our entire nation? How can people support the war, and not a draft? War is OK, so long as their children are not the ones fighting it. I know that hanging out, listening to Dr. Dre and partying are very important activities, but isn’t the defense of our nation also important?

If we as a nation are truly committed to our war on terrorism, then we must inevitably face the fact that our nation’s freedom sometimes, God forbid, requires sacrifice.

David M. Ebert
Camp Anaconda, Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=24832

[SoCalDem]

1. David, David, David....

The civilians ARE doing their share.. The commander in chief wants them HERE...shopping..

Any soldier "in the arena", who thinks that he gives a rat's ass about them, has been breathing in the camel dung fumes for too long..

You guys are his ace in the hole..

He's playing a real life game of RISK, and you guys are the playing pieces..

Let's hope that enough of your fellow soldiers voted for Kerry. He's your only chance.

[Swamp Rat]

3. You beat me to it.

I consider having death threats and beer bottles thrown at me while marching for peace, "in the arena."

On the other hand, I think anyone who supports Bush MUST go enlist in the military YESTERDAY!

[qs04]

4. Something I'd like to see

Support the war? Here's a rifle and a plane ticket!

Not enough supporters to fight the war? Oh well.

[Swamp Rat]

5. Welcome to DU!

[qs04]

7. Thanks (nt)

[qs04]

2. Re:

"Some say that freedom is not free, but many young people in America today are sure getting it at wholesale prices."

Yep! Them durn Iraqis were lining up on our borders with orders to march on DC and subvert our way of life! Oh wait...

[DELUSIONAL]

6. At a young age I learned that the military lies all the time

I don't remember exactly what the lie was about -- but I do remember that I and my fellow 5th graders KNEW the truth -- and the US Navy spokesman was not telling the truth. We assembled in the playground -- of the school on a Navy air base and shared our concern about ADULTS lying. At that age we knew what our fathers were doing (top secret work). We understood about spies and not telling anyone outside of our tight little group what we knew -- we knew how to keep secrets.

Later, much later in high school those of us living on base learned that the constitution did not apply to us. Once we sat foot on the base we lived under another set of laws. Anyway this is what the guards on the gate told us -- when we quoted current lessons learned in high school. Civilian military contractors working on base tell me that they are informed that only military law applies on base.

Not much has changed in 30 years -- the military still lies. And the military can do as it wishes with military personnel.

Then again -- the use of the National Guard and stop loss to keep military personal from getting out is new. I don't remember the civilian pentagon fooling around with stop loss and extending tours of duty. To find conditions this extreme for military personnel we would have to look at tours of duty during WWII.

Anytime the military makes an announcement -- I expect lies.

How the hell can anyone in the military (lower ranks especially) support AWOL bush???

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. A picture is worth a thousand words...

http://bushspeaks.com/home.asp?did=136

[DELUSIONAL]

9. What a cruel smile

I don't think I've seen this photo before. No warmth in that smile -- bush is evil -- both of them are evil.

[Disturbed]

10. The Draft.

If there is another Draft it will be the same as the last time. Mostly the Middle Class and below would get drafted.

The talk now in Repuke land is to have straight up mercenaries fight these oil wars.

[DrZeeLit]

11. Fair Question for Next Debate

So, Bush rants "no draft" read my lips....
Why not?
If he thinks we should all support this war, then why not a draft?
IF we need more soldiers, why not?
Ask him that one.
Do not ask a yes or no. Ask him WHY NOT?
And maybe even throw in the line about why not his daughters, if the war is so valid?