Bill Bennett says 8K generals..US Census says 873

[SoCalDem]

The date of the report is 2003, but how many more generals could have been "minted" since then.. surely not enough to make 8k. I keep hearing that 8k figure tossed around, and we need to set them straight and MAKE them use the right figures.. They love to use 8k, since it makes the dissenters sound like a miniscule band of "disgruntled guys with issues"..





http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/001630.html


CB03-FF.04SE April 10, 2003
Quotes & radio sound bites

*Special Edition*
U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans

Active Duty and Reserves

1.4 million
The number of active duty men and women in the U.S. armed forces as of Jan. 31, 2003. Here's a Department of Defense breakdown by service branch:

Active Duty and Reserves Total Number of Women
All Services 1.4 million 212,000
Army 487,000 75,000
Navy 385,000 56,000
Air Force 368,000 71,000
Marine Corps 174,000 10,000

In addition, more than 38,000 men and women serve in the U.S. Coast Guard, now under the Department of Homeland Security. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/defense.pdf>

1.2 million
The number of active duty enlisted members of the armed forces. They were led by 223,000 officers. Of the officers, 873 were generals or admirals. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/defense.pdf>

1.3 million
Number of ready reservists and National Guard members. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/defense.pdf>

212,000
Number of women on active duty. Another 149,000 serve in the National Guard and reserves. <http://www.dior.whs.mil>

5
Percentage of people 16-to-64 years old in Hawaii who are in the armed forces, the highest such percentage in the nation. Alaska (4 percent), Virginia (3 percent) and North Dakota and North Carolina (2 percent each) rounded out the top five states. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet>

149,000

[kstewart33]

1. The pertinent question

is how many generals have served in the Iraq war as have most of the 6 who've come out against Rummy.

[SoCalDem]

3. The "Swiftboat Generals for Truthiness" probably did not serve there

I tried to find a more surrent listing, but could not..Maybe someone who sees this will find one..hint hint.

and then we need to blast the media with the TRUE numbers so they casnnot get away with that "eight thousand generals" meme the righties are tossing around

[TygrBright]

2. Hey. So he misplaced a decimal point...

Could happen to anybody, right?

Cut the man some slack...

::IRONY ALERT::

self-righteously,
Bright

[Danieljay]

4. Figures lie. Liars figure. These people have NO regard for truth n/t

[electropop]

5. Most of these guys have commanded large forces in Iraq,

such as Divisions. Are there 8,000 people in that category? I didn't think so.

It's like saying, "Well there are 300 million Americans, and only 6 generals have spoken up this month." True, but misleading. These guys are significant not as random generals, but as people who have been in positions of authority on the ground in Iraq.

[patcox2]

6. Bennet's quoting a DoD memo which states 8,000 active and retired.

This census data refers only to active. Be warned, you will look like a fool if you try to use this to refute the 8,000 figure.

[SoCalDem]

8. wouldn;t be the first time I looked like a fool

:silly:..

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. The 8K includes reservists/National Guard as well as all living retired

generals.

[maxsolomon]

9. who cares about the number of generals?

1.4 MILLION active duty personnel?

that's TOO GODDAMN MANY, and TOO GODDAMN MUCH MONEY FOR THAT MANY PEOPLE.

the MIC is going to kill our democracy if it hasn't done so already.