Extended Iraq Duty Expected for More Troops

[Judi Lynn]

January 3, 2004


THE NATION
Extended Iraq Duty Expected for More Troops
To stem an exodus of personnel, the Army may prohibit additional soldiers in crucial units from retiring, leaving when enlistment ends or being reassigned.

By Esther Schrader, Times Staff Writer


Desperate to stretch its limited ranks, the Army is expected next week to prohibit still more soldiers now in Iraq and soon to be deployed there from leaving military service.

Army officials declined to say which or how many soldiers would be affected when it expands its "stop-loss" program, which prevents soldiers in certain heavily used specialties from leaving the military or being reassigned to another unit.

But the last such edict, issued Nov. 13, covered the more than 110,000 active-duty soldiers whose units were scheduled to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan between now and May.

Because the order takes effect 90 days before the troops' 12-month deployments and lasts for 90 days after a return home, those troops couldn't retire or leave the Army before spring 2005, even if their enlistments expired before then.

The announcement of a further expansion of the program, which Army officials confirmed was imminent, comes amid evidence that the Army is straining to meet its growing commitments around the world.
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-army3jan03,1,623526.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
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[Mari333]

1. Our kids, pawns in this game

And every day that passes and nothing is done to expose this stinking administration, this insanity, this trumped of war based on LIES and More LIES ...
How can I not be angry any more then I am now???
There is no justice anymore. Not as long as my loved one is being used as cannon fodder for greedy bastards to gain wealth in Iraq.
and the american public doesnt give a shit.

[moondust]

2. Stop-loss until Spring 2005? How interesting.

But where will all those replacements come from then? Hehe.

[Mari333]

3. they would send the Boy scouts if they could

this administration doesnt give a shit about who they kill.

[Politiclo8]

14. I thinks it's called.........

a DRAFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bfusco]

4. Is this just a different form of draft?

But wasn't his supposed to be an all volunteer military? These lying bastards in Bush Co make me sick.

[Ron_B]

8. Is this just a different form of draft?

No, this is how it works
There is a 6 year commitment to the service you entered, it could be broken down something like this

2 Active 4 Reserve
3 Active 3 Reserve
4 Active 2 Reserve or
6 Active
Please correct me if I am wrong

Secondly Your kids knew what they where doing when the signed the dotted line. Your kids are adults now, let them live their life's as they see fit. You never know, they may make a career out of it.

[mbperrin]

12. A 17 year old in "early decision" being hammered by professional

recruiters knows just what they're doing?

Sorry. Recruiters are there to recruit, and they will not hesitate to lie outright in order to get the signatures on the dotted line.

When they tell you this is a great way to be able to afford a new car or truck, they neglect to mention that your life at risk is one of the additional payments.

I will not turn them out to live their own "life's" any more than I would allow them to knowingly contract AIDS by saying, well, gee, there may be a cure soon, and they knew what they were doing.

We are the only society I ever heard of which expects its young to protects its mature and rich populace. Usually, it's the silverbacks and the experienced warriors and chieftains protecting the young.

[drscm]

13. Not all kids who signed up for the military expected

that a pResident would use them as cannon fodder in an illegal and immoral invasion of another sovereign nation.

Don't tell me that these kids are responsible for the reprehensible behavior of this administration.

[teryang]

5. Once you sign on the dotted line

...you serve at the pleasure of the *resident.

There is no doubt in my mind that Clark is running because of the opposition in the Army to the policies of Chechny and Rumsfeldt. They don't know a damn thing about war or the Army and don't give a shit either. It has been obvious since they came into office. The Army is expected to succeed in Iraq while playing low man on the Pentagon food train. They are tired of the abuse. Meanwhile, the contractors and energy companies are filling their coffers with our money while the boys die and military families suffer.

[54anickel]

10. Think you hit it...the military has become a simple commodity for the

"profiteering" of the contractors. They are considered "raw material" needed to protect the creation the end product.

Great summary - thanks for sharing
"The Army is expected to succeed in Iraq while playing low man on the Pentagon food train.... Meanwhile, the contractors and energy companies are filling their coffers with our money while the boys die and military families suffer."

[pfitz59]

6. This will go over well with family members!

Morale among dependents must be at rock bottom!

[oasis]

7. If Election 2004 returns Bush to the White House, PNACers get a draft

for their armies of occupation.

[bvar22]

9. Headline should read:

"Overextended Iraq Duty Expected for More Troops"

OVEREXTENDED could also be used to describe the current state of our military.....the US is supposed to use these guys to DEFEND the country. Our soldiers and our money are being WASTED in a STUPID, UN-WINNABLE, and UNNECESSARY war of AGGRESSION.

The next time "bush* is strong on defense" pops up in conversations with people who lean republican, mention that the US is now MILITARILY WEAKER and MORE VULNERABLE than at any time since WWII. For PROOF, mention the overextension of tours in Iraq....the reserve tank is EMPTY!

[Jacobin]

11. The beginning of the end for Pax Americana

The neo-cons have put Smirk and the country in a trap in IraqNam. The rest of the world is watching us getting stretched like a rubber band about to pop....and they are breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Rove now has Smirk pretending to be a "peacemaker" and "diplomat" with the Libyan farcical announcement. Rove knows that Murkins are not happy with this perpetual war that the neo-cons have started. Murkins want a quick, cheap, easy, fun war....like invading Grenada. Maybe about as long as the SuperBowl. Messy expensive wars aren't fun for Murkins. Especially when we lose.