S.P. Times (FL): A speech from Bush is no way to drum up military recruits

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

A speech from Bush is no way to drum up military recruits

Letters to the Editor (In response to the paper's article "A presidential recruiting speech could fill our dwindling ranks.")

Published July 13, 2005

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/13/Opinion/A_speech_from_Bush_is.shtml

1). Try a family incentive

Re: A presidential recruiting speech could fill our dwindling ranks.

Re: A presidential recruiting speech could fill our dwindling ranks. Perhaps, if the president offered up his own offspring for the military, it would be the best kind of incentive to spur more enlistments. His twin daughters could be a useful tool to inspire prospects for the military. He doesn't seem to mind sacrificing other people's children for his cause. How about getting the casualties a little closer to home?

-- Tom S. Brown, Pinellas Park

2). Expand the sacrifice

Re: A presidential recruiting speech could fill our dwindling ranks.

Phillip Carter writes, "A presidential recruiting speech may not fill every barracks . . . but it would help remind potential soldiers of what we're fighting for." Rhetoric aside, exactly what is it we are fighting for? And how can he ask young Americans to sacrifice their lives while not asking for sacrifice from the general public? Tax cuts for the wealthy in a time of war, an oil-serving energy bill - apparently the sacrifice is not shared. And as long as he's at it, maybe President Bush can start by asking his own two daughters to do their part. At that point, Bush will know the meaning of sacrifice.

-- Pete Hines, Tampa

3). A Bush speech wouldn't help

Re: A presidential recruiting speech could fill our dwindling ranks.

Given that George Bush himself is responsible for the dwindling ranks in the Army by starting an unprovoked war which has led this country into a tragic quagmire that much of the youth of America understandably wants to stay well clear of, I fail to see how a stirring recruitment speech, written by his speech-writers and delivered by Bush, could improve the situation. Or was this article intended as satire?

-- R.G. Wheeler, St. Petersburg