General says Iraq war taking toll on Alabama Guard

[jody]

General says Iraq war taking toll on Alabama Guard

QUOTE
Nationally, what's supposed to be a 350,000-member organization has fallen short by more than 7,000 soldiers. Similarly, the Alabama National Guard is losing more than it's recruiting, Bowen said.

The state is authorized to employ 14,500 Army National Guard members, but has only about 79 percent of those positions filled, with 11,849 personnel. The Guard lost 2,161 soldiers last year, while filling only 1,595 of the vacated positions in a drive with a goal of 1,600.

The Alabama Guard, long a leader nationally, still is the sixth largest - trailing only the far more populous states of California, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, in that order.
UNQUOTE

[symbolman]

1. They should enlist every man woman and child in that state

okay, so the kid's couldn't have voted for Bush.. just the men and women..

since they are all so gung ho and love Bush, they should all sign up and get their asses over there and "save" our liberties..

Nothing like working for Halliburton for 1300 bucks a month instead of 150 thousand or more as a civilian..

But they seem to LOVE being McTroops down south..

[Syrinx]

6. If you represent the typical Californian, I'm glad I live in Alabama

Your routine has become tiresome.

[BamaGirl]

7. Many of us have already done our time

thank you very much. I bet we have close to the highest number of vets in the country.

[gnofg]

2. Running short

If Ala. is running short you know it is worse everywhere else. Here comes the draft.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. That's because it is, must I say it... "A NATIONAL GUARD", and not

a imperialistic global invasion force pimped out to enable corporate Amurka to absorb someone else's economy.


http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0805-07.htm <more>
>>Thus, it forbids Iraqis from receiving preference in the reconstruction while allowing foreign corporations — Halliburton and Bechtel, for example — to buy up Iraqi businesses, do all of the work and send all of their money home. They cannot be required to hire Iraqis or to reinvest their money in the Iraqi economy. They can take out their investments at any time and in any amount.

Orders No. 57 and No. 77 ensure the implementation of the orders by placing U.S.-appointed auditors and inspector generals in every government ministry, with five-year terms and with sweeping authority over contracts, programs, employees and regulations.

Order No. 17 grants foreign contractors, including private security firms, full immunity from Iraq's laws. Even if they, say, kill someone or cause an environmental disaster, the injured party cannot turn to the Iraqi legal system. Rather, the charges must be brought to U.S. courts.

Order No. 40 allows foreign banks to purchase up to 50% of Iraqi banks.

Order No. 49 drops the tax rate on corporations from a high of 40% to a flat 15%. The income tax rate is also capped at 15%.

Order No. 12 (renewed on Feb. 24) suspends "all tariffs, customs duties, import taxes, licensing fees and similar surcharges for goods entering or leaving Iraq." This led to an immediate and dramatic inflow of cheap foreign consumer products — devastating local producers and sellers who were thoroughly unprepared to meet the challenge of their mammoth global competitors.<<

[teryang]

4. "Until the world is a safer place"

It will be safer, when we get a less belligerent government.

Er, when will that be?

[Historic NY]

5. Must have something to do with the flag flap.....give them their old flag

and I'd bet they will be pouring out the doors. For a red state they are not doing their share....perhaps Zell from Hell will whip up the troops.

[BamaGirl]

9. Zell ain't ours

and we've had the same flag for a number of years. I think you're confusing us with another red state--Ga. Easy enough to do...we all look the same afterall. :P ;)

[BamaGirl]

8. And they want to get rid of the two year limit

:shrug: My husband's already done his. We're just waiting for the next set of orders.