my 50 year-old uncle just got drafted

[angrycarpenter]

My uncle served with distinction in the first gulf war receiving numerous commendations including the bronze star. He was put out at the end of the war before he qualified for full retirement benefits. He has been receiving a yearly stipend from the army since he got out. This apparently keeps him in the ready reserve.

Two days before x-mas he got a letter telling him to report for active duty in mid Jan

They must be desperate to draft A 50 year old grandfather back to be a sergeant.

They are calling up the men at the bottom of the list. There is nowhere else to get more men other than bringing back the draft.

My family is totally dumbfounded, he was about to start building his retirement home on a new piece of property they had just bought. His third child has gotten married and moved out. He runs two businesses and has for years.

Now what?

[Maat]

1. Amazing ..

the military's dangerous, heartless nonsense knows no bounds.

He's in our thoughts and prayers!

[thunder rising]

2. If Bush didn't care about the lives of 4K others

where do you think your uncle stands. 50 years old...hopefully he won't be humping. I think he could fall off a horse and break a leg myself.

[Bobbieo]

3. That is obscene!!!!!!!

[Redstone]

4. Holy Mary, Mother of God, has it really gotten to THIS?

Five fucking years, people. We're within three months or so of FIVE FUCKING YEARS of this War For Nothing.

And calling up the 50-year-olds.

No further comment.

Redstone

[dpbrown]

9. I think we have to capture the war on words on this... it's an occupation, not a war

Nothing personal, your post just reminded me that I have to remember all the time to correct people when they call it a "war." It's not a war. We are illegally occupying a country.

If the people of other countries were smart they would start working on United Nations resolutions against the United States continuing occupation of Iraq.

[Redstone]

14. Of COURSE, legally, it's an occupation. But since when have legal niceties affected the fact

that people are dying?

I've BEEN in a war that wasn't called one. And it didn't make a fucking bit of difference to those who died or were maimed, what it was called.

Redstone

[dpbrown]

18. I didn't mean to be critical, I was just thinking about how to end the destruction

Like I said, it just reminded me that I have to resolve to call it something that is more likely to assist in ending it.

People are being maimed and dying. I'm trying to think of a way to bring that needless destruction to and end quicker. Your post reminded me of that.

[demigoddess]

25. don't you think it is time that congress stopped authorizing wars that are not

actually declared as wars. That is one of the problems here, people.

[uppityperson]

56. True Redstone, but it can make people who vote think again

No, it doesn't matter to those in it, but to those who may vote to elect people to stop it? Occupation has a very different emotional reaction than War. "War" implies some moral justification. "Occupation" doesn't.

[indepat]

36. The people of other nations are smart enough to know the US would veto any such resolution

[dpbrown]

84. Wow, why try indeed?

I guess because the effort itself would build public awareness. But then again, maybe we can all just wallow in our cynicism, do nothing, and let more people die.

[indepat]

96. Maybe those who would like to support a resolution are afraid of being taught a lesson

[dpbrown]

115. Maybe those who are afraid need a 12-step support group for co-dependency on abusive nation syndrome

If you don't call the United States onto the carpet somehow, you're just enabling this nation's rogue behavior.

Like the mouse that flips off the owl as a last act of defiance would be better off had he ducked.

[indepat]

124. You've summed it up to a tee: a strong case could be made the Iraqi invasion and occupation were

just what the United Nations, led by the US and other major powers, was designed to stop in its tracks.

Edited for additional thought

[merh]

120. I'm sorry, I don't understand and hope you will help me out here.

How does the USofA, a charter nation of the UN, have any veto power?

Explain this to me, they are just one of many nations that make up the UN.

[Prophet 451]

55. And the US would veto it

The UN Security Council is set up in such a way that any of the permanent members can veto any resolution they dislike. The US is a permanent member and has unilaterally vetoed resolutions many times. In fact, according to Kofi Annan's memoirs, the US now pretty much owns the UN through economics, bribery, the veto, cultural imperialism and the simple location of teh UN building. While the refusal to authorise the Iraq War seems to undermine that, it actually proves it. Bush (and Blair) played with going to the UN, pretended they didn't need to once it became obvious that approval wouldn't be forthcoming, invaded a soverign nation that was no threat to them and what were the consequences at UN level? Nothing.

[dpbrown]

85. The full body can put forward resolutions that the Security Council can't veto

So there's that route.

[ninkasi]

5. Pure insanity

the true mark of Bush/Cheney and their greedy cronies.

[sandnsea]

6. Bill Clinton said the surge is working

Yes I think Hillary doesn't want to talk about Iraq and consequently very few in the Dem Party are making it an issue.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

101. I wonder when she will realize that he is becoming a liability.

South Carolina?

[magellan]

7. Sorry to hear.

This country sounds more like Rome after the republic every day. Right down to re-enlisting "old warriors" for pointless wars.

May your uncle stay safe.

[jhrobbins]

77. And maybe someday in the distant future, we will be as charming

a place to visit as Rome is today - a lot of antiquities and a lot of history that people can get their picture taken in front of.

[Up2Late]

8. Shhhhhhhhh! Not so loud, you might wake up the Republicans.

Does "The Pottery Barn Rule" apply to The U.S. Army too? (i.e., "You broke it, You buy it.")

That is really sad to hear. :(
Thank You Sargent Grandpa.:patriot:

[angrycarpenter]

10. thanks for recommending me up to the greatest page

I want everybody to know how tragically ridiculous this is. He cannot be the only one that has been snatched out of the lives they have built for themselves never expecting to be called back.

They are ripping out our soul to fight this stupid fake war.

this is so wrong I have no more words.

[Vennn]

99. GF

This is really bad. What does your grandfather have to say about it?

[orleans]

11. i thought they were cutting off at age 42. maybe that is just for newly

enlisting

how disgraceful that they would call him back.

i don't know how this goes, but he must have been okay with that idea if he was getting that yearly stipend. why didn't he get out altogether?

(of course i don't think he should go. but...since he's been taking money from them i don't see how he could get out of it)

good luck to him.

[FogerRox]

89. NJ's oldest killed in Iraq was 52......

Only 2 years too young to have served in NAM.

[sjdnb]

12. Making Halliburton/Exxon/Carlyle Richer

has cost far too much blood, sweat, and tears of the brave troops who signed up to fight an honest war. Not one waged on lies for blood money. Shame on anyone who has supported this fiasco.

BTW - I'd go to Canada or anywhere else I thought would keep me or my loved ones safe from serving this ill-conceived mission.

[msedano]

13. now what? Here's what:

Sgt. Angrycarpenter reports for orders, Sir!

Speaking of leaping to conclusions, and carpenters, a bit of levity. Stop me if you've heard this.

So Jesus is wandering around heaven all bored and lonely. Not a Soul in sight. The Lard snaps his fingers and Poof! He's at the pearly gates.

St. Peter's got his feet on the desk and snoring away.

"Hey, Pete, rise and shine! Falling asleep on duty is a Court Martial offense, dude."

"Huh? Oh, it's You, Lard. Relax, everything's copacetic. You see, there's no line. Folks just aren't dying to get into heaven no more."

"I'll overlook that grammatical error for now, Pete. But you're right, no one in line. Take a few eons break, I'll check into this."

So Jesus sits and sits and sits at the registration desk and nothing, no one, no more, no less. "Hmm," He says, "think I'll investigate."

Poof! Jesus starts wandering around the ether outside the pearly gates looking for Souls to guide the way. Nothing. Not a Soul. Finally, way way off in the distance, He spies a single wandering entity.

Poof! Jesus taps the fellow on the shoulder.

"WHA the f...?"

"'Scuse me, Sir, but the way to Heaven is that way over yonder."

"Yeah, yeah, I know but I can't go to my eternal rest, not just yet."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm looking for my son. I can't rest until I know he's made it."

"Hmm, sabes que, I'm a pretty good problem solver. I'm sure I can help with your problem. Tell me a little more about you and your son."

The old man looks askance at the Spanish speaker, but decides to offer some information, especially as he completely understood the bilingual code-switching like all good people would.

"You see, in life, I was a carpenter. I taught my son to be a carpintonto like me. And I understand he went into the world and made quite a name for himself, was all famous and stuff."

"Hmm, so you were a carpenter..."

"Simón..."

"And your son went off to make a name for himself..."

"As I said..."

"Orale, vato, I think I have good news for you."

"What's that?"

"Pues, you see, my dad was a carpenter, sabes, and he taught me to be a carpenter, que no? And if I may venture a modicum of immodesty, I made quite a name for myself on earth."

The wizened old man stared hard into Jesus' face then shook his head in negation. "Naw, you're not him. You couldn't be. He was younger."

"Hmm, let me ask you this," replied Jesus. "Did your son have holes in his hands and holes in his feet like these, huh? huh?"

The old man stared at the stigmata Jesus had levitated to display. Gradually the doubt swept away from his aged face, a warm smile spread across his face, the eons of pain and wandering evaporated in the instance of recognition. Tears coursed down his cheeks as the old man opened his arms to wrap Jesus in a huge hug and cried loudly, "Pinocchio!!!"

[angrycarpenter]

15. I lol'ed

thx

[Pastiche423]

24. That was great

Did you make it up? If so, you're quite the talented one.

[autorank]

127. Terrific ... patience is a virtue.

We'll get our reward in line;)

[sakabatou]

16. Draft the fat-cats first!

[fenriswolf]

17. wow, what was his MOS?

I'm a 31F still on IRR and i havn't heard a word from the military (of course if they call me up i'm gonna misrepresent myself and tell them my bf wouldn't like me to be back in the military) but i digress. Hope your uncle comes out all right.

[angrycarpenter]

20. Paratrooper, D.I., ranger

might have something to do with it.

[Judi Lynn]

29. So this is his reward for distinguishing himself. Jeez. That'll teach him.

Hope like crazy something will happen to allow him to stay where he belongs.

You can be sure everyone who reads your words will remember your uncle, and will be hoping for some kind of miracle to allow him to get on with his well deserved retirement plans.

[Squatch]

51. So, he's in the infantry...

They're a dime a dozen, and that alone would not warrant his recall.

I think there's more to this story than you're telling us.

[Dan]

67. actually, the Infantry is not a dime a dozen..

Infantry is hard core.

[Squatch]

70. "Dime a dozen" = plentiful, common.

I find it very hard to believe that they recalled a 50-year old buck sergeant on the basis that the reason they did so was that he is a "Paratrooper, D.I., Ranger".

:rofl:

[angrycarpenter]

80. E-6

He was due E-7 but they put him out instead.

[NMDemDist2]

61. I'm betting he's gonna be a DI so he can free up a younger Sgt

to go overseas

I hope that's the case so at least he'll stay stateside

[amandabeech]

128. That's my guess, too.

Still, it says a lot that they came for him.

[fenriswolf]

76. they could just be pulling him as a

trainer, im sure the are not going to have a granpa go into a theater of war.

[ClayZ]

19. OMG!

HOW SICK! If I was your uncle, I would write back and say, "HELL NO, I WON'T GO"


K and R

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. The Courage to Resist

Support the troops who refuse to fight.

http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/

[freefall]

94. Thanks for the link, proud2Blib.

Personally I believe that the true heroes are those who refuse to fight in illegal occupations. I'll do whatever my meager means allow to support them.

Peace,

freefall

[Up2Late]

22. Here's another joke, it's a little old but relavent, hope it helps a little.

I got this from PalmJoke.com a few years ago:

Military Wisdom

"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit."
-- Army's magazine of preventive maintenance.

"Aim towards the Enemy."
-- Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher

"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend.
-- U.S. Marine Corps

"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground."
-- U.S.A.F. Ammo Troop

"If the enemy is in range, so are you."
--Infantry Journal"

It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed."
-- U.S. Air Force Manual

"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered
automatic weapons." -- Gen. Douglas MacArthur

"Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo."
-- Infantry Journal

"You, you, and you... Panic. The rest of you, come with me."
-- U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.

"Tracers work both ways."
-- U.S. Army Ordnance Corps

"Five second fuses only last three seconds."
-- Infantry Journal

"Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer to do anything."
-- U. S. Navy Swabbie

"If your attack is going too well, you're walking into an ambush."
-- Infantry Journal

"No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection."
-- Joe Gay

"Any ship can be a minesweeper... once."
--Anon

"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do."
-- Unknown Marine Recruit

"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you."
-- Your Buddies

"If you see a bomb technician running,follow him."
-- U.S.A.F. Ammo Tech Sgt

[Thothmes]

102. Another one

Friendly fire isn't. -- Infantry Journal

[defendandprotect]

23. They will keep doing these insane and outrageous things until

someone stops them ---

Where is Congress --- ?

[unhappycamper]

26. These fuckers will continue to stop loss / backdoor draft everyone they can

until SOMEONE cuts off the bucks.

Harry and Nancy! Are you listening?

It's all about money and oil.

k&r

[democrank]

27. Send the surge-loving chickenhawks

and leave the 50 year old uncles home where they belong. ~PEACE~

[and-justice-for-all]

28. That sucks....

I am not fighting in murder/occupation campaign based on bullshit and lies. If shrubCo wants to keep his illegal war afloat, him and cheney better pack their bags and head on over.

draft that coulter bitch first.

[flashl]

30. There were reports where recruiters were sending phoney orders

to individuals to report for duty. In fact, there were Congressional hearings about it.

[Vinca]

31. Can anyone explain why the Iraqis are such slow learners when

it comes to the military? The recruiters can sign up a high school senior and before a year has passed his sorry ass is trained and in the Middle East. We've been training Iraqis for half a decade! They should be taking over and your uncle should be planning his retirement.

[EFerrari]

32. The Iraqis won't be ready until Bush's cronies have finished

strip mining Iraq.

[Zookeeper]

82. Bingo!

It's never been about helping Iraqis or anyone other than BushCo and its corporate affiliates.

(Hey, Expat! :hi: )

[barbtries]

39. good question

and i think i know the answer: it's all bullshit. the bushies went in with no intention of leaving. probably ever.

[alcibiades_mystery]

41. They seem like remarkably quick studies, actually

When it comes to disabling and M-1 Abrams or knocking out a Chinook...

:shrug:

[tuckessee]

43. See the precedent set in South Vietnam.

Why was the US puppet military (ARVN) a largely corrupt, poorly motivated, incompetent paper tiger while the NVA was a lean, mean, fightin' machine that earned the nickname "The Prussians of Asia"?

We've been training Iraqis for half a decade!

You've also been fighting Iraqis for half a decade. Not all Iraqis are slow learners otherwise the US would've already won.

[obiwan]

100. Sure. Iraqis hate illegal "wars" and occupations, too.

They didn't fuck up their country. The US did.

[WritersBlock]

116. Slow learners?? The LAST thing the puppetmasters running this little shindig want to happen

is for the Iraqi people to take back their country.

The only thing we're "training" the Iraqis to do is to let us get our hands on their oil - permanently.

[Thothmes]

33. Not a draft

a call up. If you uncle stayed in the ready reserve, he knew he was subject to activation up until he is eligible for retirement. He took the king's schilling now it time to do the king's bidding.

[windoe]

34. Draft all the Neo-cons

Lets see how well Cheney shoots and Bush flies. Gods what an upside down world this is-my prayers are with your uncle.

May 2008 be the year we end the occupation, and start impeachment hearings. This must be done.

[rodeodance]

35. I hope he keeps safe.

[catmandu57]

37. Well then, publicity is your friend

The further you can spread this the better the chance that someone will hear it and stop it in its tracks.

[sarcasmo]

38. Good ole backdoor draft. I am waiting for them to call my ass back.

I figure they will be desperate enough sooner than later. I have a CDL and I am sure they have that fact in their database.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[iamahaingttta]

46. As heartless as you sound...

...I have to agree with you.

If I were the uncle, I would tell the military to go fuck itself.
If he doesn't have the balls to do that... well... goodbye and good luck!

[nashville_brook]

71. ugh -- and, wow.

[lpbk2713]

42. It has been almost five years since BushCo told us "Mission Accomplished"

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/28/mission.accomplished/


Drafting fifty year old grandfathers proves without any doubt what a lying

sack of shit Crawford's village idiot is.

[Thothmes]

45. He is not being drafted

He is a ready reservist. He is being recalled to active duty. He had the option to end his service, but chose to remain in the ready reserves. I would also suspect that with the events of the last 5 years that it should come as no surprise to him that he is being activated.

[lpbk2713]

49. It's called a "backdoor draft". Google it if you like.

And the fact remains George W Bush is a lying sack of shit.

Do you agree?

[Thothmes]

97. Since when

is it a draft, back door or otherwise, when the man was a paid member of the reserve of the United States Army. If this person does not desire to go to Iraq, then he should have resigned for the reserves.

[gauguin57]

44. I'll say a prayer for your uncle.

And your family.

I'll turn my boundless anger to a positive purpose.

[Dems Will Win]

47. The best thing for him is to simply not respond

It will take years to force the Army to actually unretire him, and by then President Obama will have ended both the back-door draft and the war in Iraq and will ahve strengthened the Army.

Take my word for it, I know the draft law and how they are calling up the IRR.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THE ARMY. IGNORE THEM.

[Xenotime]

48. All so * can kill more people

[bpeale]

50. he should refuse to go. period.

the war is illegal & taking part in it will make him a criminal too.

[Dems Will Win]

57. DO NOT REFUSE -- Just ignore the fuckers, make it hard for the Army to find you

By the time they do the war will be over...

[Faygo Kid]

52. Record Guard callup in Ohio, now this. They are readying to attack Iran.

I don't believe even Bush/Cheney and the neocons would be daft enough to mount a ground invasion, but they will need as many troops as they can get their hands on when they conduct air strikes on Iran, because Iran has a sizable army - plus, the blowback in the streets of the Middle East will be huge.

You can smell it, almost touch it, when you read things like this.

[medicswife]

53. They've been calling people back to duty for awhile now

What was his MOS in the Army? My hubby is in Iraq right now, he's a medic (lol you probably figured that out from my name! duh!) I know this has got to be shocking and horrible for your family and I am so sorry that this is happening to you guys.

[shireen]

105. our thanks to your husband ...

we appreciate his service. Hope he's doing OK and will be home soon.

[zorahopkins]

54. Unbelievable!

This is really too much.

Is there no limit to the depravity of the current regime?

The very thought of drafting a 50-year-old grandfather shows the lack of humanity of the worms in the current regime.

Impeachment! NOW!

[havocmom]

58. Next up? Will they offer early parole for prisoners who 'volunteer' for Iraq?

If that happens, look for a LOT of questionable prosecutions.

[cadaverdog]

59. Meanwhile, in another part of town...

My neighbors have a tough-talking son-in-law who is member of the reserves; plays war on weekends and spouts the Bush line. Yet, for mysterious reasons, his unit has totally avoided any active duty, while others are on their third or fourth tour. Like to know how that can be.
BTW, his civilian job is air conditioning technician. Suppose they'd have any use for that in Iraq?

[lonestarnot]

60. Sure would blister a plan of retirement. What a bunch of bushit!

[go west young man]

62. Fuck em. tell him not to show up. The most he will have to go through is

a little brig time and possible loss of benefits. At least he gets to keep his life. Fuck em.

[Divine Discontent]

75. I agree...

if he has 2 biz he doesn't need to worry about the loss of benefits instead of losing his life. those bastards, tell your uncle to consider going live on olbermann.... I would!

[email protected]

[Redstone]

63. Recommended again. People need to read this.

Redstone

[flordehinojos]

64. i hope he says he objects to the iraq occupation and on principle says he refuses to report for duty

[jhrobbins]

65. Keith Olbermann should get a hold of this one

[K Gardner]

72. Maybe an activist alert for mass emails to MSNBC ??

[jhrobbins]

74. I don't know how to do that, but I did send him the DU link.

[K Gardner]

79. Good idea. I'm writing, too. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

66. Oh my word *shaking head* This is ridiculous. And the corporate media never calls them on it. I hope

he will be safe!

[Broadslidin]

68. I am sure, your Uncle is well aware of Major Gen. Smedley Butler USMC and The Empire's War Racket

Clearly describing the U.S. Empire's war racket.

And Major General Smedley Butler's role in
the coup aimed at forcibly removing the elected
president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt
from office by wealthy individuals
favoring a Hitler/Mussolini dictatorship controlling
the easily influenced ignorant lower class.

Wealthy malignant narcissistic Americans such as:
the owners of Heinz, Birds Eye, Good Tea, Maxwell House,
Thomas A. Edison, Henry Ford, Charles E. Lindberg,
Charles E. Cauglin, the Ridder family....,
and George W. Bush's grand father, Prescott.

Documented by BBC World News (1/2 hour audio report):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/document/document_20070723.shtml

Corrected BBC Link...!!

[Andy Canuck]

69. Is there no appeal process?

[MsMagnificent]

73. At the beginning of the Iraq War #II

My ex, a former marine and exactly 50 years old, got a letter from the government asking him to reenlist also.

He had gotten a general discharge for fighting (was Golden Gloves; in the beginning of his service, chock-full of testosterone and Gung-Ho propaganda -- what did they expect?) and had tried throughout the years to get his discharge upgraded to Honorable.
I think it was a form of extortion: Join us now, and we'll give you your desired degree of discharge
--when applicable of course

and probably posthumously.


I triple checked this with his brother and sister to make sure he wasn't exaggerating.
He wasn't.


Bush et. al. have no scruples nor shame;
but we all knew that, didn't we?

[angrycarpenter]

78. my uncle will not refuse to serve

He is a good man with a strong sense of honor.

I am positive that he disagrees with the war but the thought of refusing to serve is, to him, ludicrous.

I personally would love to see him make a stand against this stupid war but he took an oath and he will stand by it. He will keep his word because that is the kind of man he is.

He served 16 years, went in at 17, meant to retire but was let loose from his second family before his twenty was up. He even tried to reenlist during 9/11 and was refused. After that it seemed that being called-up was a very faint possibility.

[NNN0LHI]

108. It wouldn't make any difference to him who the Crackhead In Chief wanted him to kill?

I mean if the idiot said invade Canada and slaughter them Canadians he would do it because he is an honorable man?

If that is the case we are all in deep shit.

Don

[angrycarpenter]

111. He gave his word and will stick to it

I do not presume to know what is going through his head but I can guarantee it is not to disobey orders and subject himself and his family to the repercussions that will surely follow.

My uncle is still a soldier in his heart. If you don't respect that, it is your right to do so.

as for me I am starting to regret posting this fucked up mess. Too many here hate war to the point that any difficulty encountered by solders is their own fault for signing up in the first place.

I hate war as well but I know that the military is vital to any nation that would remain free. My problem is with the leaders, not the men who are suffering the most for this administrations greed.

[truedelphi]

81. K & R'ed

[truedelphi]

83. There are a lot of forty five to fifty five year old grunts serving in Iraq

They have a high rate of mortality because of the impact of the heat on their older bodies.

I was researching the names of all who died in Iraq in a given month. And it was so sad reading about the "peaceful" deaths of those who were under orders to march two or three miles in 120 degree heat with 70 lbs of equipment on their backs. And due to being two or three decades older than the others, their hearts could not take the heat and accompanying dehydration.

If I were you, I 'd get my uncle a "boyfriend" real fast.

[roamer65]

86. One more week b4 my 43rd birthday.

Thank the cloud beings I'll be 43. I would not serve under the Bush Crime Family.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

87. doesn't surprise me in the least

You're on reserve until you are 62 if you are a "lifer". Glad my brother turned 65, or he'd be back as a CWO.

[FogerRox]

88. IN NJ the oldest soldier killed in Iraq was 52.

Maybe the should bring back the 55 to 65 yr olds who served in NAM.






.


.


.


Not

[rockybelt]

90. Look back at the Nazis

towards the end of the war. They were forcing army service on old men and young boys after their regular armies had been decemated. Bush has desemmated our armies and in a desperate attempt to avoid putting in a draft, he is now calling up people that probably have a critical MOS to fill in the ranks of cannon fodder for his war. The only thing he is trying to do is save face and let the next president take the fall for the military defeat in Iraq.
I had a critical MOS when I was in the military and it would have allowed them to recall me until I was 65 years old. I just have a year and half to go and I am safe. But not if they read this. JIHAD

[Canuckistanian]

113. Not really a fair comparison

Germany had an extreme version of the draft, where everyone was forced into duty for the country, not just soldiers.

And after the terrible battles in Russia, Africa and mainland Europe, all able-bodied men had been killed or were occupied in wars.

That left precious little manpower for defence.

Japan faced the same problem. Schoolboys, old men and even geishas were pressed into service, taught how to use guns or even advanced kendo (stick fighting) where there were no guns.

If America brought back the draft, there'd be PLENTY of troops for Iraq. But we all know that ain't happening.

[rockybelt]

117. I was trying to bring out

the fact that we don't have any troops to deploy over there now. The word I was hunting for was "conscript" but it would not bubble up when I was posting.

[williesgirl]

91. You should send this info to Keith and tell the world what they're doing now. No one realizes this.

I was shocked to read it. My heart goes out to your entire family and I'll keep them in my prayers. rec'd

[angrycarpenter]

93. I would never take any action without his permission

I will ask him next time I see him.

[The Backlash Cometh]

92. shit...

[freefall]

95. Hopefully, something will intervene and prevent your uncle's

deployment. The fact that he faces the possibility shows how low the United States has sunk.

:kick:

[obiwan]

98. Sorry about your uncle.

Technically, he wasn't drafted, since there is no draft. No doubt he was "stop-loss"'ed.
This "war" really sucks, doesn't it? (We have not actually declared war since 1941). Technically, what we have here is a "police action" set in motion by the president. I'm 53. They can come and get me since I burned my draft card in 1973 and have never served in this bogus military.

God bless America, but fuck the government.

[99th_Monkey]

103. If he said "Hell no, I won't go" he might get national press coverage.

It would be a great 'personal interest' twist on the US military's bald-faced desperation for "any semi-able warm body" it can muster to hand a gun and send into Bush's endless NE quagmires. Perhaps it could be juxtaposed with some well-informed estimates of how many new recruits would be available if the military would simply adopt a non-discrimination policy for openly accepting self-described gays/lesbians to serve. Seems like just the kind of story Democracy Now and/or Bill Moyers would love to run.

[shireen]

104. consult a lawyer ...

When your uncle left the service after Gulf I, was it made clear to him that he could be called up at anytime? Is there anything in the discharge documents that indicates he is "active reserve?" Find out if the military misrepresented the terms of his discharge.

This is not a draft. But it sure sounds a bit weird.

I'm really sorry to hear this. At 50, and after already serving his country, he deserves to continue living his life at home.

[liberalhistorian]

106. Excuse me while I put on my flamesuit here.

OK, all set. It seems to me that the proper term in this case would not be "drafted", but "called up", since there is no draft and he was still voluntarily in the reserves. When you sign that piece of paper upon enlistment, you need to be really careful about reading ALL the fine print down to the LAST detail, as you really should with everything you sign, for that matter. It's made clear that, as long as you are in the reserves, you are subject to such a call-up as this, and, frankly, your uncle should have been aware of this from the beginning.

That's not to say that I agree with his being called-up or that I don't agree with the sentiments expressed here regarding the war/occupation. We just lost a young man here on the SD Indian reservation I live on, he was the grandson of a legal client of my husband and I and was killed in Afghanistan just a couple of weeks before Christmas, at only 23 years of age; it's truly sickening and his mother and family are devastated, as you can imagine. Also, my cousin's husband is in Iraq; they got married last December and he's spent almost all of their entire first year of marriage in Iraq, he won't be back until March. I hope to God he does return, they're both only 23. She's holding up well, but it's really, really hard for her and we did what we could to support her at the family Christmas party. Believe me, I want this goddamned occupation to end TOMORROW. It's just that your family shouldn't be shocked or surprised and your uncle should have been aware of this possibility from the time of his first enlistment. If he didn't want to be called up, he probably shouldn't have stayed in the reserves. There's no draft and no one is forced to enlist against their will.

[angrycarpenter]

110. he tried to re-enlist after 9/11

they told him his specialty was obsolete and that there was no place for him.

in the years since he finally owned up to the fact that his career was truly over.

now out of the blue they send him a letter telling him to report in about 20 days!

they are showing no regard for this man who has moved his family all over the world to stay in the army and has been rejected for duty twice on the grounds that his specialty was no longer in need.

He will report as ordered and will do his job to the best of his ability, I admire his dedication. Furthermore I never meant to imply that the army is not within the terms of any agreement he made when getting out. The only point I had if any was that this situation is wrong. He was given no choice but to report or else. It may not be "the draft" but it is close enough for me.

[Squatch]

121. Saying that "Paratrooper, D.I, Rangers" are obsolete

will earn you an ass-kicking in certain bars in my neck of the woods.

What's his MOS (specifically)? It usually 2 numbers and a letter, like "11B"

[angrycarpenter]

125. no idea but it had something to do with intelligence.

those were all I could remember specifically.

trying to avoid giving too much information about him. There are some who come here that are less than sympathetic to progressive ideals.

[NNN0LHI]

107. If he had not signed up for the ready reserve and the stipend could they have bothered him now?

If this was the case it sounds like he was fully aware he was subject to be recalled into active service.

I am not sure how this all works though.

Don

[libodem]

109. Well I'll bet those college aged Republicans'

are laughing their asses off. Hell NO they don't have to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is an insane world. I hate how our world has been ruined. No wonder bush is building concentration camps and spying on all of us. Life has become so unbearable and crazy the people may lose control of their better judgment and start an insurrection. This truly f'ed up.

[doublethink]

112. We're singing about it .... have been for bout a year now .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YOzMHiT5Bo

If you have a myspace account add us as a friend here ...

http://www.myspace.com/nonamesoldierband

and check out our song "Conscription" too .... peace.

[tom_paine]

114. That is disgraceful. Simply disgraceful. My condolences on your tragedy.

I don't know what else to say.

[Marrah_G]

118. It's not a draft it's the IRR

Irregular Ready Reserves or perhaps he is in the reserves.

If you are a retired commissioned officer and they need our area of expertise you can be recalled to active duty at any time. My brother just did a year's active duty at age 42.

[Squatch]

119. IRR = Individual Ready Reserve

not "irregular"...although recalling overweight, balding, over-the-hills may seem a bit irregular. (no offense to overweight, balding, over-the-hills)

[Marrah_G]

122. Heh you are right

And I am not completely functioning yet this morning.

Hmmm... you have the bald part right...but he is disgustingly in shape.

[NaturalHigh]

123. This boggles the mind.

I'm glad I was finished with the ready reserve years ago. The way things are now, though, I'm still not so sure they won't think a fat man like me who's been out of the military for over a decade should be brought back.

[GreenTea]

126. Thay can call you up until your 56-Well it's better I guess than 76, 86 or 96-Most still can run....

and think quickly at 56.....Those that can't at 56, are either ill, or they are complete drug or alcohol burnouts!