Bob Herbert: "They won't go."

[understandinglife]

They Won't Go
By BOB HERBERT

Published: June 13, 2005

George W. Bush is in no danger of being ranked among the nation's pre-eminent commanders in chief. Not only has he been unable thus far to win the war in Iraq, but on his watch significant sectors of the proud U.S. military have been rapidly deteriorating.

<snip>

A Washington Post-ABC News poll last week found that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe the number of casualties in Iraq is unacceptable, and 60 percent believe the war was not worth fighting.

There's something frankly embarrassing about a government offering trinkets to children to persuade them to go off and fight - and perhaps die - in a war that their nation should never have started in the first place. It's highly questionable whether most high school kids are equipped to make an informed decision about joining the military, which is exactly why they're targeted. The additional knowledge and maturity gained in the first few years after high school make it easier for a young man or woman to make a wiser, more meaningful choice, pro or con.

The parents of the kids being sought by recruiters to fight this unpopular war are creating a highly vocal and potentially very effective antiwar movement. In effect, they're saying to their own children: hell no, you won't go.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/opinion/13herbert.html?hp

Bush and the neoconsters' illegal and immoral "Children's Crusade" just had the brakes applied by Mr Herbert:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3812002

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3797148#3801127

Peace.


http://www.intelligencesquad.com/id118.html


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Please, everyone, don't stop at 500,000 signatures; don't stop at 10,000,000 signatures; don't stop until Bush and the neoconsters are indicted and prosecuted for their heinous crimes against humanity and our Constitution.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. And here I thought

we were winning!!! :sarcasm:

[fooj]

2. For the past few years I'd see them on the campus of the high school

and I'd think "Go away. Stay the hell away from my students." I've really never felt that passionate about it before. Until now.

Peace.

[Carolab]

3. Bob Herbert is great. I saw him in an interview about two weeks ago.

Very impressive.

[EFerrari]

4. kick

[ngGale]

5. He's right on the money....

n/t

[liberalla]

6. 'Children's crusade: Our military is training 11 year olds'

Just read this on Friday, and think it goes with the recruiting problems as mentioned by Herbert. Love the chart!

How desperate are they? The military is training 11 year olds!
Eleven year olds!!! OMG!

'Children's crusade: Our military is training 11 year olds'

Military programs are moving into middle schools to fish for future soldiers, training students as young as 11 to march in formation and carry weapons.

Tarsha Moore stands as tall as her 4-foot 8-inch frame will allow. Staring straight ahead, she yells out an order to a squad of peers lined up in three perfect columns next to her. Having been in the military program for six years, Tarsha has earned the rank of captain and is in charge of the 28 boys and girls in her squad. This is Lavizzo Elementary School. Tarsha is 14.

Story at AlterNet, http://www.alternet.org/story/22192/

[NJCher]

9. incredible

Deserves a thread all its own.


Cher

[jbnow]

7. I keep hearing republicans spin

the missed recruitment goals and need for large bonuses as being due to the great economy. So many good jobs they are lured away and the bonus is too help make up for the high pay they could be making in civilian life.

Yep, that's it. Those high school kids are swamped with lucrative job offers.

I do worry about the high bonus pay changing some minds in this bad economy...especially someone with a young family who can't find work. But even that will not get enough people for this volunteer army.

[dbt]

8. What a GREAT graphic!

It needs to be shoved up the nearest convenient bodily orfice of anyone who still thinks "we're fighting for freedom" over there!

[PATRICK]

10. Predictable, inevitable,

and the pace or percentages mean nothing compared to the raw fact of decline. Like Global Warming, so it is no wonder that the fraudulent CIC
should never have been allowed near his post.

Wish he had gone AWOL permanently from the WH. That is one soldier we do not need, and when we did he flew the coop.