MUST READ.. Our military is in worse shape than we feared

[NMDemDist2]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=507855

[DeaconBlues]

1. Bush in 2000 "not ready for duty, sir"

Remember how Bush ripped the Clinton administration regarding the state of the military? Kerry needs to do the same now. Bush has really placed this nation in danger.

[adjwilli]

4. Do you really believe the US military isn't strong enough?

Before we upgrade the military to an even higher level that Bush, let's stop and think about what it would really do. First of all, in the Clintonian years, the military was already the largest in the world, far exceeding any other. Yet, everyone seemed to agree that it was in bad shape, and who do we ask as experts on that? Oh yeah, Republicans and military officers. Good, unbiased sources. So, then Bush gets elected and this already ridiculously large upgrade happened. But still, have we answered the question of why we need such an outstanding military?

The United States before Cheney waged his imperial conquest into Iraq, and before 9/11 had no major rivaling, hostile nation-state, bloc or alliance to require such a military. Our main involvement in military operations since Veitnam has been always been to act as a "peacekeeper," which is term used to describe out presence.

We've been involved all over Latin America, in some countries more so than others. What interest did we have down there? Fighting revolutions that threated US interests, such as cheap coffee, sugar, fruit, oil, tin, etc. Why did we get involved in Kosovo, and use so much force so quickly? Violence in Europe, our most dear ally aside from Israel or Japan - our reason for keeping North Korea at bay - could not have a war within or near its territory. The reason is less material, so we needed to make the war short and to the point. If we had people dying there, being attacked like in Somalia or recently now in Iraq, the public would start to question it. Kosovo was perhaps the most selfless war though, as it did stop a genocide, but only because it was directly in our interest. All of these were because they were in our interests, not out of any benevolent, "peacekeeping" love.

So we need a larger army to do this? Extend the empire? Yes, we do need one to protect our homeland, but the army is so large today, and has been so large since WWII, that no one could even fathom a successful ground assult of the US. But that gets me to the question of Homeland Security and the war on terror.

We shouldn't be in Iraq in the first place, Yes, we are there, so we need to finish the rebuilding project. But does having a strong military really make us that much safer? Had we had a larger military pre-9/11, the only difference would have been that Al Qaeda would have a larger number of targets, closer to them. Take the USS Cole as an example. Why was it in the Persian Gulf? 'Peacekeeping,' maybe? Had it not have been there, there would have been no target so easy for Al Qaeda to attack. Having a large military would not have stopped those hijackers from getting on those planes. Having more security might, but a standing military is only good for one type of strategy, an offensive one.

[NMDemDist2]

7. the military is so stressed, we dont need more guys

sent back out to a useless police action... My point was thinking about the poor guys we are sending over there. As a woman who's main choices in husbands and companions were men of the 'Nam era, I can tell you a whole generation of american men were wounded and it breaks my heart we are doing it again.

[mmonk]

16. The problem is being too spread out

Adding more bases in other countries and increasing expenditures on sophisticated weaponry and prototypes (since bush has reopened the arms race so to speak) leaves military personnel, their families, and veterans with less on an individual basis. Also, once you are too spread out and engaged in more conflict globally, your military can erode no matter how strong.

[FDRrocks]

2. If it will mean less killing

then the whole SITUATION is in better shape then I figured.

[NMDemDist2]

3. not less killing Rock... more suicides

DN had a UPI reporter on today, he was telling the story of how badly the troops are treated. If you aren't injured bad enough to get treatment at Walter Reed you just sit for months at your "home" base or even get kicked out of the reserves with no treatment at all... It's just freaking CRIMINAL

[walldude]

5. And they call us Un-American

Funny how even though the family was "willing to speak out" they still had to tell their story to a British news source. Bet ya anything if teh Shrub is re-elected it won't take a year for the draft to be re-instated.

[NMDemDist2]

8. a YEAR ??!!?? LMAO

they have already been rounding up "community leaders" to serve on the draft boards in major cities.

[Mari333]

11. www.bushdraft.com

scream it from the rooftops
www.bushdraft.com
They took our kid, they can get yours.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi walldude!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[The Traveler]

6. I've tried to compose myself

And I have failed. This really pisses me off. Those slimy bastards. Those lying cowards. I would give my left nut for five minutes in a boxing ring with that mealy mouthed AWOL sonofabitch.

Our warriors are being sold out, people. Again. We need to bring 'em home. Now. Stop spending good soldiers on a foolish and wasted purpose. We'll need them healthy and rested soon enough, I fear.

[mmonk]

9. expendures on the military

already equal the totals for the next 27 countries combined I believe. The problem is spreading yourself all over the globe. It can cause a society to implode when the military is this spread out and engaged in conflict. Bottom line, empires implode.

[Mari333]

10. Military Families Speak Out has been screaming this to the rooftops

the horror stories are out there, and Nancy Lessin, when shes not travelling around the country, tells me about them. She worked her ass off with this family in the article. They sent him back anyway. They dont care.
Its really bad, and not only was our kid sent with scoliosis of the spine, which they diagnosed him with at Ft Dix and conveniently lost his Xrays, but they are sending kids back over and over , some who have been wounded already.
The US public is blind to it, or doesnt seem to care.
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com
wheres the outrage?
I posted this story a few weeks ago as per what I heard from Nancy, when Nancy told me about it. Lets see, wheres the US media? Ignoring it, completely. I dont think a lot of people on here believed me.
Im glad it got into some news source.
Dont even ask me about the harassment my family and many other military parents and loved ones recieve when we speak out against the war. Its not a pretty story.
Fascists.

[bandy]

12. I can't even read the whole story

because my Dad, a WWII vet suffered for the REST OF HIS LIFE til age 65 with PTSD and was never properly treated. The VA blamed it on Yellow Fever or Maleria or something to that affect. My whole childhood was about stays at the VA hospital and homecomings that eventually turned back to the VA hospital. The depression, nightmares, etc. were very real. I didn't so much understand then but now I realize just how much pain this man suffered. Wish I had known then what I know now. Maybe he would still be alive.

[Mari333]

14. Bush cut the VA benefits by a third and the returning soldiers

have to wait 3 months or more for any kind of mental health help IF they are allowed to stay here, most are sent back with severe stress and some who are wounded are sent back.
www.motherspeak.org is a site where one woman is trying to create a list of mental health professionals who will step up to the plate to help these kids.
Its an outrage, and a lot of people have been aware of it in this Iraqnam for a long time, but getting press to cover it is really hard, and a lot of families, when they do speak out in anger, are harassed and slapped down by upper echelons of the military.

[bandy]

17. Am sorry to say

but I think that has been the case for as long as I can remember which is longer then I like to admit to. I spent a lot of time at the VA hospital in Richmond. I remember it well. McGuire's (sp) I believe.

[mtnester]

13. Sugar Coating

A war is just wrong. I may be just slightly too young to comment on Vietnam, but as a young child, then early teenager, I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY seeing the dead and wounded soldiers prominently displayed on the nightly news. Reporters in flack jackets and helmets reporting, under fire, shoulder to shoulder with the troops. The news would show the funerals, the grieving parents, the returning wounded guys.

I place the blame for this squarely on the press. Yeah, I know the WH is trying to control the information coming out of Irag and Afghanistan. But, there is no excuse for the near criminal behavior by the press in their wholesale lack of reporting on this "military action." It is incompetence at its very least, blatant cowardice at its worst.

I am outraged that our troops are being sent over there to begin with. It is criminal to then under-supply them, and ignore them once they are wounded or killed as if they were a piece of meat or non-person. As long as the WH and the press can keep this "hostile takeover" dehumanized, they consider themselves safe from the angry mobs. Our men and women, sons and daughters, spouses and loved ones are being maimed and killed. It is the cruelest thing I can think of to dehumanize this in the way the WH and the press have.

To further compound my anger and fear, my son is 23, just graduated from college, can't find a job, and will probably be assigned cannon fodder status IF * is re-elected (draft). Canada is not an option any longer, CO status will face wholesale denial. We will advise him to become gay ASAP! Oh wait, let's see if they do away with Don't Ask, Don't Tell for the DRAFT!

Gotta stop - head exploding

[Mari333]

15. Tell everyone about the www.bushdraft.com

They tried to take my oldest son, it took people on DU and lots of work on my part to keep him out, then they took my stepson who is in Baghdad right now, and not in good shape.
They will take anyone, they do NOT care..if Bush gets in there will be a draft, no doubt about it.
My other sons, I have 3 , all draft age, have had an escape plan ever since they took Michael. Micheal wont be returning til December.
also give this site out to all young people who think they want to enlist or are being told to go over.
www.calltoconscience.net