Out on a limb here, I think he has LOST the troops.

[trof]

He's lost the citizens, and that's BAD.
But if the C. in C. has lost the troops he has LOST.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Wouldn't it be great

if the soldiers just sat down and refused to go?

Wouldn't it be great if they all - all of them, everywhere - said "This is illegal, this is immoral, and this is not defending my country," and just sat down?

[trof]

2. Many are.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

5. Really?

Can you tell me more? Or post a link to a story?

That would be so good to know.

Thanks.

[trof]

9. Certainly.

Sergeant Kevin Benderman cannot shake the images from his head.

There are bombed villages and desperate people. There are dogs eating corpses thrown into a mass grave. And most unremitting of all is the image of a young Iraqi girl, no more than eight or nine, her entire body except for one of her arms severely burned and blistered.Last January these memories became too much for this veteran of the war in Iraq. Informed that his unit was about to return, he told his commanders he wanted out and applied to be considered a conscientious objector. The Army refused and instead charged him with desertion. His case - which carries a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment - has now started before a military judge at Fort Stewart in Georgia.

"If I have to go to prison because I don't want to kill anybody, so be it," said Sergeant Benderman.

The case of Benderman and that of others like him has focused attention on the thousands of US troops who have gone Awol (Absent Without Leave) since the start of President Bush's war on terror. The most recent Pentagon figures suggest that 5133 troops remain missing from duty.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10126890

Try a google on "u.s. army desertion".

[trof]

11. Should have added:

Interesting that this had to come from a New Zealand paper.
Why am I not surprised?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

16. Thanks very, very much,

and, of course it comes from a foreign news source. You wouldn't expect American newspaper to report such a true and honest occurrence, would you?

Thanks so much.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Like the old line

"What if they gave a war and nobody showed up?"

[kitkat65]

7. Whay if they gave a war speech and nobody listened?

[aquart]

6. NO. That is NOT for soldiers to do.

The last thing we want is a military coup.

It is up to US to protect those who fight for us for whatever reason.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

8. Who said "coup"?

I'm talking about military disobedience, on the level of civil disobedience in the days of legal segregation.

"Coup"?

Pass me whatever you're smoking, pal.

[whistle]

3. Yep, he got off just in time, someone farted and the band came on......

[Career Prole]

10. No doubt some of the troops will wonder why

he had all those secret service guys with him while he was shaking hands surrounded by troops.
Others among 'em will understand the necessity...

[trof]

12. Good point.

[jody]

13. self delete

[jody]

14. I met a para medic yesterday in the base gym who had pulled two short tour

in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq. He's seen more bodies and wounded than anyone outside combat hospitals.

He was full of anger about Bush's folly in Iraq. When he discovered who I was and that I was a Democrat, he really told me about troop morale, it's very low.

I'm coming down your way in a few weeks so the Trofs and I can have dinner.

[Javaman]

15. With the helicopter crash in Afghanistan, trumping his speach, he's finish

trumping his speach, he's finished with the military.

16+ dead in a helicopter crash, right after asshole* was pleading with the American youth to join the military. Fat fucking chance.

[Not_Giving_Up]

17. There was a barricade and 2 SS agents between the troops and *

PBS showed this several times. I also noticed many members of the crowd who just looked PISSED.

[AX10]

18. Quite possible.

[paparush]

19. I think its quite possible you are correct

Must Credit Smudge

Candy Assed President Cries During Death Pep Rally

Rove,"The Meds had worn off...pay no attention...uh..HooHa!!"

Joint Chiefs meet in Emergency Session to plot overthrow of cry baby Commander in Chief"