Ellen MacArthur wrote:
"thunder" wrote
| Asking a few to risk it all, over, and over, and over,
| is bull****.

Nobody held a gun to their head and made them enlist. Nobody holds a gun to their head and makes them re-up.
Duh. They do it because they're patriots.

Is that the only reason? Hm. While I am patriotic, I served for 21
years for a host of other reasons. You get a nice retirement; you get
good educational benefits (the main reason that I joined back in 1984,
BTW. I was a starving college student.); you get medical, dental, cheap
life insurance, a chance to see the world, adventure, and a sense on
comeraderie.

What do the soldiers themselves say?

"With an improving economy in 2004 as measured by unemployment rate,
recruiters have experienced challenges to signing up new recruits.
Although access to post-high school opportunities has expanded in
recent years, research suggests that the Service recruiting campaigns
are having an impact on the youth of our country. Among today's
youth, the military is perceived as providing opportunities, furthering
education, helping individuals grow and mature, and contributing to the
country."

http://www.dod.gov/prhome/poprep2004...ons/index.html

Some people do it because it's the only way to break out of the slums,
or to get trained on a certain job, or for many, many other reasons.

You hold their hands like they were little kids. You don't give them any credit.

You've obviously never commanded a military unit. Sometimes, even
often, it's very much like parenting young children.

You act like they're stupid and helpless.This insults them. Your as bad as Senator Kerry.

Personally, I think a draft would be a good thing. With an
all-volunteer military you end up with a military class much like the
Romans had. Diluting it by rotating non-professionals through is not a
bad thing. And sharing the burden is the right thing to do. You are not
considering, for example, the impact of multiple deployments on
military families, among other things (and from the party whose mantra
is 'family values.' LOL!). And most enlisted soldiers do come from
poorer socio-economic backgrounds.

That's one reason why officers get commissioned through multiple
sources. The fear is that if all officers only come through the service
academies, there's a much higher likelihood of a coup, or other 'bad'
stuff happening. If you dilute the officers from the academies with
ROTC, OCS, direct, and other commissioning sources, this is less likely
to occur. A draft, or a national service requirement, can serve the
same purpose. Deferments should be excluded. That would mean that even
Dick Cheney would have to serve.

I find it amusing that the people who have never served seem to have
the strongest opinions about the military.

So now this election now becomes a referendum on John Kerry in some
people's minds. LOL! The stupidity of some people never fails to amuse
me.

"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:09:01 -0700, Gilligan wrote:


That
Democrat politician from New York, Rangel, wants to start a draft so the
educated white folk suffer too - he has said that.

No, he hasn't and there is something to be said for the draft. As it
stands now, we are asking some of our service men and women to return to
Iraq for their fourth and fifth times. It seems to me, that is asking too
much of too few. War is a national endeavor, and the risks should be
spread nationally. Asking a few to risk it all, over, and over, and over,
is bull****.

More people fled the military under peace during the Clinton administration
than have under fire during the Bush administration.

People join the military to fight.

Gilligan wrote:

More people fled the military under peace during the Clinton administration
than have under fire during the Bush administration.

Care to provide a citation from a valid source?

People join the military to fight.

What unit were you in?

(And please provide a citation. I provided one already from the DoD
that shows this claim is inaccurate.)

"The One" wrote in message
ups.com...

Gilligan wrote:

More people fled the military under peace during the Clinton
administration
than have under fire during the Bush administration.

Care to provide a citation from a valid source?

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/60575.pdf

Under the Clinton regime the military troop strength was reduced by about
25%.

Under the reign of Bush it has increased.




People join the military to fight.

What unit were you in?

I was with the 6th Fleet.



(And please provide a citation. I provided one already from the DoD
that shows this claim is inaccurate.)


????

Where is it?

Gilly,

They fled the "DRAFT" The All Vol stopped all of that and also filled
the Ranks.

It also improved the mentality of the arm services.


http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ILLDRINKTOTHAT

Absolutely right. We should have a draft. Everyone should serve in some
capacity, even those who have physical handicaps.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:09:01 -0700, Gilligan wrote:


That
Democrat politician from New York, Rangel, wants to start a draft so the
educated white folk suffer too - he has said that.

No, he hasn't and there is something to be said for the draft. As it
stands now, we are asking some of our service men and women to return to
Iraq for their fourth and fifth times. It seems to me, that is asking too
much of too few. War is a national endeavor, and the risks should be
spread nationally. Asking a few to risk it all, over, and over, and over,
is bull****.

"Gilligan" wrote in message
...


I have to agree Joe. I was going to vote the Republicans out for gridlock.

I'm still going to vote for congressional democrats, if for no other reason
that to confuse the hell outta Doug King.

Max

He's an idiot for sure. I just removed my bumper sticker. However, he didn't
say that. That's right-wing spin.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was going to vote all dems to create gridlock until the next
election.

But Kerry calling our troops in Iraq un-educated changed my mind, who
needs any snob nosed Jane Fonda like assholes in any elected position.

I smell cut and run big time, typical Kerry like tactics.

Kerry showed how little he thought of our troops in Vietnam, and he's
doing it again.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Joe

Capt. JG wrote:
He's an idiot for sure. I just removed my bumper sticker. However, he didn't
say that. That's right-wing spin.

ahhh...I'm not right wing, and when I heard it I knew exactly what he
was saying. Look at the video, it's on you tube. Look at the shock in
the eyes of the student around him, they knew what he said.

Joe

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was going to vote all dems to create gridlock until the next
election.

But Kerry calling our troops in Iraq un-educated changed my mind, who
needs any snob nosed Jane Fonda like assholes in any elected position.

I smell cut and run big time, typical Kerry like tactics.

Kerry showed how little he thought of our troops in Vietnam, and he's
doing it again.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Joe

Joe wrote:

Capt. JG wrote:
He's an idiot for sure. I just removed my bumper sticker. However, he didn't
say that. That's right-wing spin.

ahhh...I'm not right wing, and when I heard it I knew exactly what he
was saying. Look at the video, it's on you tube. Look at the shock in
the eyes of the student around him, they knew what he said.

Well Joe, even if he is an idiot, (which he certainly appears to be),
what's that got to with the price of tea in China?

Cheers
Marty