Pattern of Discontent in US Ranks - Christian Science Monitor

[MaryH]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1216/p0s01-usmi.html

"...growing resistance from the troops......
'
Evidence includes numbers of deserters (reportedly in the thousands), resignations of reserve officers, lawsuits by those whose duty period has been involuntarily extended, and a refusal to go on dangerous missions without proper equipment. There's also been a willingness at grunt level to publicly challence the pentagon - as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld found out recently in a trip to the war zone, where he got an earful about unarmored humvees.

While some don't see much defiance - and, in fact, have been surprised by the depth of solidarity - others see an unusual amount of tension surfacing for an all-volunteer military force.

What is driving the resistance is the same thing that drove it during Vietnam - a lack of trust in the civilian leadership and a sense that the uniformed leaders are not standing up for the forces"..../

[el_gato]

1. linky no worky

[StClone]

2. This one?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1216/p01s01-usmi.html

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. I had trouble with it the first time too

Try here:

http://www.csmonitor.com/usa/military.html

It's the first story. Or go through the homepage and choose "military".

http://www.csmonitor.com/aboutus/site_map.html

[leftofthedial]

3. Every military person I know or have met recently

hates the little bushturd and has no belief in our presence in Iraq. This includes several lifelong RW repuke dittohead caricatures of the reactionary military.

Mostly, they serve to help their buddies. Others serve because they hate "Ay-rabs." Not one of them has passed up the opportunity to slam the little bushturd or to disparage the "mission" (assuming there even is a "mission").

[Joe Chi Minh]

7. I have heard a vet

from WWII say that protecting his mukker was what drove him, not protecting himself. And I think there was even a little surprise in his voice at the thought.

They had been through a vicious campaign in Italy and lost contact after the war. Then one day, when one of the old boys was selling his house, the other one turned up to look it over. He asked him some questions, and of course, they eventually recognised each other. Now, they're inseparable pals again!

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. There are some startling numbers in there

"It's the first large-scale 21st-century conflict against an aggressive insurgency, causing thousands of US casualties; the first war in more than a generation in which homeland security and the threat of domestic terror attack seem so real; the first "semi-draft," with the Guard/reserve component approaching 50 percent of combat and combat support troops (and already taking more casualties than they did in Vietnam); and it's the first time in many years that soldiers have been ordered to serve beyond their commitments."

The 50% number is disturbing to me for a couple of reasons. It means that 50% of our troops over there are probably not trained as well as they should be and that we have tens of thousands guardsmen over there that are REALLY supposed to be here, for homeland security. You know, that "well regulated militia" that the Second Amendment mentions.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. The cannon fodder are beginning to realize that they are cannon fodder.

The countdown to the draft begins.

[oc2002]

8. So how is it that they still voted overwelmingly for Bush?

If thats the case.

[itzamirakul]

9. Al Franken reporting from Iraq

today on AAR, said it was depressing because the only thing he saw on EVERY tv was FOX. He said it was apparent that the troops are intimidated by their superiors. That's why it is best for the guys who can refuse to go, do so before they are shipped out.