'Weekend warriors' play big role for U.S. in Iraq

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14384420.htm

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - They once were dubbed "weekend warriors," but Americans serving in the National Guard and Reserve are being used extensively in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- far more so than in the Vietnam War.

Roughly 40 percent of the U.S. forces deployed for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are part-time troops called to active duty from the military's reserve components, primarily the Army National Guard and Reserve. More than 81,000 part-time troops are currently deployed for those wars, the Army said.

By comparison, just over 7,000 Army National Guard soldiers were deployed to Vietnam out of the 2 million Americans who served in that long war in an era when some young men signed up for Guard duty to avoid combat.

"Let's face it, during the Vietnam War you had about as much chance of being hit by lightning as being sent to Vietnam if you were in a Guard unit," said defense analyst Ted Carpenter of the Cato Institute. snip

The National Guard has figured in the presidential campaign, with Democrats questioning whether President George W. Bush fulfilled his duties when he served in the Texas Air National Guard in the Vietnam War era.

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1. and why are the part time troops over there instead of all the

full timers who have full time benefits and who decided to be soldiers for life and have better training....this is ludicrous that there are over 81,000 citizen soldiers who have been deployed.......

Bush's guilt over his non service must be hell

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2. Guilt requires some modicum of sanity

Bush lacks both. Same for people who vote for him.

Don