NPR: 'War Czar' Concerned over Stress of War on Troops, DRAFT Should Be Discussed

[babylonsister]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12688693

War Czar' Concerned over Stress of War on Troops

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Douglas Lute

Douglas Lute has overseen combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as a director of operations at U.S. Central Command.


All Things Considered, August 10, 2007 · Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan, says he is concerned about the toll the war in Iraq and extended deployments are taking on U.S. forces.

The man who is widely known as the "war czar" also says that from a military standpoint, a return to a draft should be part of the discussion.

On the ground in Iraq, Lute tells Michele Norris that there has been "demonstrable progress" on the security front. But on the political front, the Iraqi government is lagging behind, though he does cite progress at local and provincial levels.

How heavy a toll is the war taking on American forces? Do you agree with other military leaders who have expressed worries that U.S. forces are near the breaking point?

As an Army officer, this is a matter of real concern to me. Ultimately, the American army, and any other all-volunteer force, rests with the support and the morale and the willingness to serve demonstrated by our — especially our young men and women in uniform. And I am concerned that those men and women and the families they represent are under stress as a result of repeated deployments.

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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12688693

[TahitiNut]

1. Yeah. That'll happen.

:popcorn:

[BeHereNow]

2. Ha-ha-ha! Just goes to show you HOW out of touch these people are with the public...

Aint no way in hell the people, who are already sick to death of this war,
are going to send their kids off to fight it by draft...
The powers that be have completely lost their minds-
this is now very clear.
LOL!!!
Draft? Goooood luck!
LOL!!!!!
BHN

[Flabbergasted]

3. The great fall guy speaks. Now shut the hell up. nt

[rurallib]

4. Good bye Doug. We hardly knew ye.

Have a good time back in Iraq.

[TahitiNut]

5. Draft? Now? I have to wonder whether there's another objective.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/TahitiNut/403

:shrug:

[alfredo]

6. It's worth passing on to your friends.

Didn't someone here say something about the local draft board being activated.

[paparush]

7. Trial Balloon...They'll test the waters during the Sunday morning talk shows...

Neocons are coming to grips with a touch of reality. The volunteer force is wearing thin. Recruitment is down. We will not be leaving Iraq for years. Cheney et al are determined to wage war against Iran too. And there's still Afghanistan.

Blackwater can only do so much.

[Luminous Animal]

8. Exactly.

And the Dems won't stop them.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/10/114817/430

[Rex]

9. Goodluck with that shit!

"What? I don't throw kids under cars! Just puppies!"

[Supersedeas]

11. when those yellow belly College Repubbies smell it -- to Canada they go

[superkia]

10. If there were a draft, I will see you guys in the pokey!

Do they really think people will go die for these crooks to continue to profit from peoples deaths? Not me!

[followthemoney]

12. A draft? these people must be stupid. Why would they put guns in the hands

of citizens that hate them.

Rumsfeld said the draft was worthless during Vietnam. He called it a wash, the disadvantages negating the advantages. Civilians who don't want to play war with the lifers wreak the lifers morale, especially in a bullshit pretend war where only the killing is real.

That attitude is probably why they wasted Tillman.

[jazzjunkysue]

13. "It doesn't matter who I vote for: Kerry and Bush are the same.I ignore politics."

"uh, Mom? I think I got a letter that says I have to report for basic training in 2 weeks or they'll put me in jail. What do I do?"