Author Colby Buzzell Being Sent Back to Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1218

Author Colby Buzzell Being Sent Back to Iraq
by: Brandon Friedman
Fri May 09, 2008 at 06:13:59 AM EDT


Colby Buzzell, author of My War--one of the best Iraq memoirs out there--has been called up from the IRR and will be returning to Iraq. For reasons that I've specified in the past, this is utter horseshit. Our country is in sad shape when cowards like Matthew Continetti and Jason Mattera are allowed to refuse to serve--instead choosing to cheer from the bench--while people like Colby Buzzell are forced to go involuntarily again and again.

This is nothing less than a backdoor draft. And it's wrong. We need to either have a draft or not have a draft. But one way or the other, these IRR mobilizations need to stop.

Here's part of Buzzell's take on his own situation (though you should go read the whole thing in the San Francisco Chronicle:

I got out of the Army three long years ago, and since then I've never really talked ill of the military, the people in it, or expressed any regrets at all about enlisting. If I had to do it all over again, I honestly would have. Granted, I got lucky and made it back with all my body parts intact. If I hadn't, my answer might be a little bit different than what it is now.

As terrible as this might sound, whenever someone asks me about enlisting, I'm tempted to encourage them. I figure that the more people who enlist, the slimmer the chances that I'll get called back up. But of course this is ridiculous: No one in their right mind would enlist now, whereas I've already signed the papers. I'm now going back to Iraq for a second time because people like me - existing service members - are the only people at the Army's disposal.

Looking back, would I have joined the military if I were doing something that I loved? Or had a job that paid $100,000 a year? Probably not. Those are the men and women I feel that we need to mail these letters to. Let's see what happens when they receive letters telling them to put on a uniform and ship out immediately to the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Many people believe that the draft ended the Vietnam War. I'm convinced that reinstating the draft would definitely end this war. Rich, connected people will always find a way to evade mandatory service, but what about the rest of America? The middle class - people with good jobs and nice lives - would perhaps riot if the government even suggested that it expected from them what the Army expects from veterans.

What if there were a war and none of the veterans who were called up showed up?

Every time when I hear about a soldier's death now - which is always reported very briefly - there always seems to be a short mention that it was the soldier's second or third deployment, and now my name might be among them.

I know I won't get any sympathy at all from the "you dumb ass you signed the contract!" crowd, which is fine, but I really was looking forward to applying my GI Bill to photography classes so I could learn how to take pictures. But now, thanks to not enough Americans volunteering for military service, I now have to worry about my picture appearing on the second or third page of my hometown paper with the words, "it was his second deployment" in my obituary.

If you read VetVoice, you already know this, but it's always worth stating again: Our country has lost its way. We have our work cut out for us.

[annabanana]

1. kicking in sheer aggravation. . . . n/t

[angrycarpenter]

2. My uncles story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x14250
My fifty year-old uncle was back-door drafted. - Democratic Underground

[bean fidhleir]

3. In Britain right up into the 19th century, you could be literally dragged off the street

and shoved into the Army, Navy, or Marines for an indefinite term.

But men who owned land had a permanent, non-cancelable let-go-of-me card.

[Disturbed]

4. The US Occupation of Iraq will continue unless a US Pres.

demands that it end. Congress will not cut off funds for it.

[bean fidhleir]

5. Agreed, for practical purposes. Congress might cut off the money

if they felt sufficiently threatened. But that of course would depend on enough of us being ready to act together without party loyalty.

[truedelphi]

6. It's not mentioned at all in M$M, but the nation of Ireland has become a home

TO GI's sick of serving in RIRaq.

The economic situation has gotten bad there lioke here, but until eighteen months ago, GI's were finding it a nice place to be.

I guess that somepeople feel that anything's got to be better than Iraq.

[Squatch]

7. Some facts:

1) EVERY service-member VOLUNTEERED to enter into the armed forces of the US.

2) EVERY service-member, in enlisting, KNEW the conditions of their enlistment, including any service obligations that would be incurred (including both active and reserve)

3) EVERY service-member, in enlisting, KNEW that they could be called to fight in our nation's wars even from the ranks of the Individual Ready Reserve, if part of their service obligation required them to be assessed in the strength of that component

So, pardon me if I've got no sympathy for somebody who is called to fight in our nation's wars after volunteering for armed service and knowing the obligations commensurate with their enlistment...and then bitches about it.

[angrycarpenter]

8. yes and up until 7 years ago

They all thought that they had a country that would not use them up in an unreasonable and wasteful way.

Most of us would die for our country if we knew for certain that our sacrifice was for the good and that it counted for something.

[Disturbed]

9. It seems that most young men have been eager to go to War

throughout the ages. The reasons they have done so vary. We can speculate on those.

[babylonsister]

10. Your compassion is noted. I'm sure you feel likewise for the ranger

who was recently killed during his 7th tour. Is there ever a point when you think enough is enough? Do you honestly think this admin is treating these soldiers with the fairness and dignity they deserve? I sure don't, and I'm not arguing with you. I just don't agree.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3292836

[Squatch]

11. Was that Ranger (notice...capital "R"...show a little respect, plz)

trying to game the IRR system? Did he enlist for college benefits and then bitch about it when the Army actually called him to armed conflict?

No, he volunteered for service in one of the most dangerous infantry regiments in the entire US military, served repeatedly in harms way for a cause which he obviously felt strongly about. I've got nothing but respect for him and am glad to count myself as one of his brothers in arms.

[angrycarpenter]

14. she asked when is enough, enough

How many tours does one have to serve before the military thinks you have done enough? These are men not machines, there is a breaking point. Do we have use them until they are used up?

My uncle was a Ranger, he was called back after being out for 17 years. He will be in Iraq within weeks. Is that reasonable in any way?

[Squatch]

15. Why was your uncle in the IRR for 17 years?

[angrycarpenter]

16. see post #2

As to why he was IRR for 17 years, he was a Ranger and can be called up until age 62 I'm told.

[Squatch]

17. Got it..."In return for some sort of yearly check..."

[Richard Steele]

12. GRRRecommended.

[Disturbed]

13. "for a cause which he obviously felt strongly about."

Maybe he just loved to be in combat.