Pentagon set to deploy 30,000 GIs

[RamboLiberal]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/10/22/MNGHN2GJ4K1.DTL

After failing to attract large numbers of foreign peacekeepers to Iraq, the Pentagon is drawing up plans to rotate in as many as 30,000 more reservists early next year, despite growing worries in Congress about strains on the force, defense officials said Tuesday.

These troops would join three, 5,000-member Army National Guard brigades already in line to go to Iraq as part of an expected yearlong rotation to replace U.S. troops now there. U.S. Marines also may be sent back into Iraq by February to ease the burden on overstretched Army forces that normally shoulder U.S. peacekeeping duties.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to discuss Tuesday how many more reservists might be needed next year, saying no final decisions had been made, but other officials described the planning for a reserves call-up on condition of anonymity.

There is growing unease on Capitol Hill about the stresses put on reserve forces by the war on terrorism, and questions over whether the Bush administration adequately foresaw just how many U.S. troops would be needed in Iraq, and for how long.

[goobergunch]

1. Oh shit

I am really beginning to feel a draft. :scared:

[mw]

9. Draft = huge drop in support for war, Bush

I'd love to see a draft.

First of all, I think a draft is a good idea. It gives Americans a common core of experience, and would be good for the nation overall.

That being said, I'd love to see draft NOW because the publics support for this war, sad to say, would drop into the teens. Americans are ok sending people off to die as long as THEY don't have to do it.

The US all volunteer force is a sort of "indigenous mercenary force". I'd like to see that ended.

And lastly: a return of a draft would guarantee that Bush would stop stinking up our White House in 2004.

[Trek234]

11. Willing to get young americans killed for political ends

hmmm, and you have a problem with Bush?

[mw]

12. Being "drafted" and "killed" are two different things.

Actually, I have no idea what your point even is. Care to elaborate?

[Nottingham]

2. Ya it getting full of hot wind here

:bounce:

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Doesn't anyone remember why they pulled the Marines out

in the first place? The Marines are trained for combat and already have proven that they are even worse than the Army when it comes to the post combat phase. Rummie is desperate if he's sending the Marines back in. Can't have a draft until after the election you know.

[Dagaz]

4. Syria anyone?

After all that's where Saddam stashed the WMDs....or was it Iran? OK make them next on the list.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Don't worry

Israel will do Syria. It's their turn next.

[Bandit]

5. Canada is a very nice country

They actually take care of their citizens there.

[Cha]

6. What a Concept! Can you imagine

a Country looking out for it's citizens and her citizens responding in kind?

[FlemingsGhost]

7. ROTFL... "Mission Accomplished."

Bring on the draft, already... Let's get this party started.

[evworldeditor]

10. Bush Supporter But Is Getting Out ASAP

Had an interesting but brief conversation with neighbor at a wedding reception last weekend who was called up for a year to route ordinance to the Gulf. Both he and his wife are strong Bush supporters -- "he's poll might be down right now, but by the election, that will change", they assured me -- and believe Shrub is doing what's best for the country.

Ironically, though he has been putting off surgery on a shoulder injury acquired during a basketball game while on deployment so that he can get out of being called back up with his unit. When I asked when he's slated to get out of the reserve, he smiled and replied, md-November.

Obviously, he figures he's done his bit and he wasn't even sent to Iraq or Kuwait. His wife teased that he played golf every day!

Ah... those Republican warhawks!

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. Hmm - howcome I see a new influx of "Citizens" up here in the near future?

. . like the Natives did

. . like the Negroes did

. . like the DraftDodgers (affectionately) did re Vietnam

????

and gee,

if you apply for citizenship, after 6 months y'all get free HealthCare !

Sumbitch, eh? - but y'all hafta get used to our Canuk beer

urs is 4% - ours goes from 5% minimum up to 6% !!

and yup, we got BUD up here - but it packs a wallop compared to urs !

SEE, ur Gov't even shortchanges on ur BEER

and that's a SIN !!!

'nuther thing,

not too many that came to Canada to check it out, ever went back - -

SUMTHING TO THINK ABOUT !!!

I lived in the States for over a year in '79/80

UR peeps are great, but ur Government SUCKS !!!

Just My (in this case NOT so) Humble Canuck Opinion