Army won't get the needed recruits because self preservation trumps money.

[Postman]

By increasing the enlistment bonus for new recruits, the Army is hoping it will be enough to get the warm bodies needed to send to Iraq.

A line frequently used in reports about the Army's woes regarding recruitment is that young people are finding better paying jobs in the private sector.

In this economy??? Where??? Wal-Mart???

I say the Army's recruiting shortfalls have nothing to do with competition from the private sector and everything to do with a war launched on lies with no end in sight.

Yet, the politicos and military brass stay away from the "D" word as if it were the third rail.

Good luck fighting your phony-ass war.

[Kolesar]

1. It would be mocking to say "starve the beast"

The gops are always talking about how they are going to starve the beast by cutting taxes, running up the deficit and forcing budget cut. Now their beast is being starved by the young Americans.

When you get down to it, an all-volunteer Army was never viable for a sustained war. Bush proved it.

End of empire--bring it on!

[acmejack]

2. Exactly!

They are offering a $45,000 Enlistment bonus! And they still can't meet the twice reduced goals.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. Very telling

And here I thought people wanted war and to "fight the terrorists". :eyes:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. So the Army says, enlist, get work, money for college,

maybe even a signing bonus. And you're just out of high school, maybe can't afford college, not a lot of jobs out there, so it's tempting. And you think, OK, I can go flip burgers instead. The job is a drag, the money is lousy, but I get to go home every night. Or I can join the Army, get paid, get room and board, college money, a signing bonus, but I get shot at and maybe I don't get to go home again -- ever.

What to do, what to do...

There will be a draft, but they won't call it that. They might come up with some kind of mandatory service in the National Guard or Reserves; they'll claim that's not really a draft, just a community service kind of thing, like the Peace Corps, and they'll give it an Orwellian name like "The Patriots for Peace Program." And you wind up in Iraq anyhow, because that's what's happening to the Guard and Reserves -- but you won't have been "drafted."

[FreedomAngel82]

6. I agree

I've always thought when they do have a draft it'll be either a secret or under a different name. I don't think Bush would do another attack but then again he could surprise us again with one. The American public aren't stupid. They know they'll go over to Iraq as soon as possible and all that college money the army won't have to spend. That's why they're raising the advancements. They know they'll won't have to spend all of it. :mad:

[unhappycamper]

4. Hey. Our pResident took on the third rail.

That bunch of pussies in the Pentagon should take their dear leader's lead. Step up to the plate. Be a man!