Reserves chief tells troops to enter full war mode

[UpInArms]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-09-15-reserves-chief_x.htm

WASHINGTON — The chief of the U.S. Army Reserve is taking the unusual step of warning all 205,000 soldiers under his command that the Army Reserve is "on a war footing" and will need to take tough measures to meet commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a memo describing the actions he is taking to address growing concerns about unusually long tours, Lt. Gen. James Helmly told commanders to cancel training not related to the war on terrorism and identify soldiers who aren't fit enough to be sent overseas. The memo went recently to Army Reserve commanders around the country. "I want to initiate a full court press here," Helmly wrote. "We've got to get out front of the press and rumors and perceptions and talk straight to our people."

Last, week, the Pentagon said the worse-than- expected situation in Iraq means thousands of reservists there will have to serve tours of 12 months, as opposed to the six-month overseas tours typical before the Iraq war. Counting the time it often takes reservists to get ready to go and demobilize once they return, some part-time soldiers could be away from home for 15 months or longer.

This gives reservists virtually the same burden as active-duty troops, who are typically assigned to Iraq for one year as part of the U.S. occupation force.

...more...

[karlschneider]

1. Guess all the reservists will have to practice their war faces now.

:eyes:

How the HELL did the United States of America let itself get into this clusterfuck? I don't get it.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

4. Karma

Seriously, I think it was a slow evolution toward a culture of ignorance, greed, xenophobia, and arrogance. It built up so slowly that most Americans didn't even notice what was going on. Over the past few years it's all come back to bite you in the ass, and all you can do is stand there with a confused look on your face and say "wuh?"

It's the same thing that's happened to every other superpower in human history. Let's just hope things don't get much worse.

[9215]

5. Plato:

The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.


It was bound to happen, let's just hope we can survive it.

[InkAddict]

6. Never heard of Bait & Switch?

Geesh, why respond to history when one can create it - BFEE's pact w/the Devil/PNACs sounds good on paper - a marriage made in Heaven!

Now, should any man know why this union ...speak now or forever hold your peace!

[whathappened]

2. yes this sucks big time

my sisters grandson who is a state trooper and a milatary policeman in the reserves , got his new marching orders for thanksgiving , he was in kuwak last year and now he is being called up again , his wife is having a fit , he will be gone a year and a half from what my sister is saying , so it looks to me like jr. don't have a very big army out there to spread around the world

[otohara]

3. Hello General, It's Not A War No Mo

it's "the battle" - you obviously didn't get the memo

[leesa]

10. Just a really, really, really, big one!

[FlemingsGhost]

7. Suckers! Exxon/Mobil thanks you for your loyal service.

At least you heroes won't be dying for that draft-dodging pervert from Arkansas... Right?

Remember to vote Bush/Cheney (again?) in '04.

[pfitz59]

8. "....identify soldiers who aren't fit enough to be sent overseas."

"Ooh, ooh...pick me! I'm unfit!" "Yeah, me too!"
Guess its time for some serious gluttony.

[trogdor]

24. Eating a jelly donut.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, donuts!

[smallprint]

9. "We cannot afford unready dead wood," Helmly wrote.

What a nice way to refer to his troops: dead wood.

Fuck you, Helmly.

[hang a left]

11. yeah f*** you

I am taking my 16 year old to Canada.

[hang a left]

12. and another thought I had

do you think that maybe the reservists might be used here in good ol us of a for a little dissent control?

[no_arbusto]

19. Not likely

I know many reservists that are in college or just graduated who would love to tell Shrub how they feel about all this. My sister's boyfriend is a college senior, in the reserves, and had a friend from basic training (who enlisted) die in Iraq. Reservists are far less likely than enlisted troops to "buy the lie" and given the reports of the morale in Iraq, I'd say that means a lot. These guys are pissed off. For good reason too.

[drewb]

21. Not likely....

When the reservists in question dissent more than the general public!

I was in the Reserves for 13 years and just got out a year ago, talk about good timing!!! LOL!!!

I would have never followed orders to police American Citizens on American soil. I know there are many in my unit that felt the same way.

Reserve troops, while being fatter than active duty troops, are usually smarter because they have civilian lives and civilian educations to fall back on. Part of the reason I stayed in there so long was because it was like a vacation to go there on the weekends and act stupid and do stupid things you could never get away with in civilian life.

I'm out now, got my GI Bill money and Student Loan Repayment. Thanks Uncle Sam for paying for college, guess I'll see you later...

[aquart]

14. Time for all men to become couch potatoes.

Have some beer and freedom fries.

[DannyRed]

13. It's time to call this

what it really is:

A "hidden" Draft

My friends with military and reserves experience laid it out this way:

The reserves and the Nat Guard are specifically designed for those people who want to serve their country, but have either fulfilled their 2, 4, or 6 year stint in the regular army/navy/airforce/marines, or never went in...

The Res. and Nat. Guard are designed for people with jobs, homes, families, careers, and etc...

This is a de facto draft.

[aquart]

15. What's the difference between Reserves and Nat'l Guard?

I'm a military ignoramus.

[Sick of Bullshit]

16. National Guard can be called up by a governor

to handle a state emergency like a natural disaster. I believe reserves are completely under federal control.

[AndyTiedye]

17. This Is, Of Course, Why any Recovery Will be a "Jobless Recovery"

and all new civilian jobs will be created overseas from now on.

[bicentennial_baby]

25. One of them is combat trained

and the other is mainly for support logistics (food, supplies, maintenance, etc) I can't remember which is which.

[Dr Fate]

18. Why cant the "Coalition of the Willing" send some troops instead?

Remember when Bush/media SWORE that a "Coalition of the Willing" existed, and scoffed at us "communists" for suggesting that the war did not have support, and that there was a lack of diplomacy?

I guess that was jusr one more gigantic Bush/media lie...

[Paschall]

20. They did

Lower Izomandia sent 12 whole troops just last week. Of course they're on our payroll.

[saigon68]

22. So did Freizia and Ozwanda

They each sent 8. I also heard that Zardania is sending a couple.

[Ani Yun Wiya]

23. They might just be...

Getting their ducks in a row for the next adventure.
Especially if *'s numbers really tank in the next ten months or so.
Consider that they REALLY want to "get out" of Iraq by some time in March.
Then * and his crew will have a couple of months to play with what the "economy" looks like.
After that little exercise in smoke and mirrors I am sure they will have the next act in the "war on terror" cued up and ready to play.
At that point they will need to have those troops ready and rarin' to go.

[dusty64]

26. I thought AWOL declared

victory.