Drafting 60-year Olds Now?
by theophilus - Wed Aug 23, 2006
My parents live in a gated condo complex in the DC area, and are friendly with the gatehouse guard, a Vietnam vet who served in the Navy Seals and in the Marines. The fellow, who is in his early 60’s, was in special units that had lifetime call-up provisions.
Well, now the Marines have called him up. For combat operations. In Fallujah. So it’s come to this. Our nation is now so desparate for recruits that we’re not only forcing recent enlistees back for another tour, we are now forcing grandfathers back onto the battlefield?
This is what losing nations do when desperate, what happens when military adventures go so bad that all the healthy soldiers are killed. Maybe next we will be sending 14 year-olds and amputees as well? The fellow in question is mostly healthy–he only has a bad back.
And the Marines have apparently told him that if his back worsens, he will be allowed to come home again. How sweet of the Marines. How considerate.
However much idiocy we have further to suffer through before we pull out of Iraq? it seems safe to say that the American all-volunteer army is dead for a generation. Who is going to enlist when they’re told, “Oh, and by the way, we may call you up when you’re about to retire, to kill and be killed for the military adventure fantasies of a future President AWOL”? And these assholes are campaigning on national security? God bless the goddamn GOP.
reposted from DailyKos without permission.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:06 pm
If I get called back into active duty…
I shall get a boner when the doctor does his proctology exam and kiss him on the lips just before firing up a big fat doobie.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Maybe it’s strategery on the part of the Marines. NPR had a report today about IRR and the Marines have requested to increase their numbers by 4000. Maybe if they can humiliate the Bushies by calling up granddaddies, they can get those 4000 additional slots.
God, they have really FUBARED our military. Without a draft, we are broken and every country in the world knows it now. We are sitting ducks.
I grew up a military brat and my dad would be disgusted by this if he was still alive.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:24 pm
You gotta wonder…
I listened to NPR this morning. Troop draw down? What troop draw down? There will be no fortuitous troop withdrawals from Iraq in time to shore up incumbents’ and Republicans’ chances in the elections. We all knew they’d try that sleight of hand - but now it’s not going to happen. Instead they are calling up more troops.
This is not good. It’s not good for the military. It’s not good for the country. I wasn’t a Pull them out NOW! person a few months ago, but I’m beginning to lean that way. I try to be rational and pragmatic, not emotional and reactionary. But the whole Baghdad situation screams FUBAR! louder than anything else I’ve heard before.
So what is Our Fearless Commander in Chief going to DO about it? Pretend it’s not happening? How can anyone support this stumbling, incoherent nincompoop as the CiC anymore? Would you send your kid to serve under Bush - as a sergeant, a squad leader, let alone the CiC?
Damned right the military is going to try every trick in the book to put pressure on our elected officials! They won’t disobey, but they could do many, many other things.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Yeah, they are bringing everyone into service. I know a guy, been to Iraq several times. He’s in his 70’s and he’s tried to resign three times that I know of.
You might have heard of him.
Donald Rumsfeld.
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:12 pm
Who, by the way is part of the wholey trifecta joining us here in SLC next week. Wonder how long it will take fore the stench to clear.
August 24th, 2006 at 9:34 am
They are not bringing everyone into service. They are actually kicking out over 57 arabic speaking soldiers because they are gay. How ludicrous is this adminitration. At a time when we need arabic translators. They will take old men but they will not take healthy men because of thier sexual preference. Insane.
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