Army Forces 50,000 Soldiers Into Extended Duty To Fight Bush's War

[Bronco_Beerslug]

It should be obvious by now that the nation is not at war but only a percentage of American military who are being asked to give up their lives to fight Bush's war, no matter how long it lasts.

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Army forces 50,000 soldiers into extended duty
By Will Dunham Sun Jan 29, 10:54 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended under a policy called "stop-loss," but while some dispute its fairness, court challenges have fallen flat.

The policy applies to soldiers in units due to deploy for the
Iraq and
Afghanistan wars. The Army said stop-loss is vital to maintain units that are cohesive and ready to fight. But some experts said it shows how badly the Army is stretched and could further complicate efforts to attract new recruits.

"As the war in Iraq drags on, the Army is accumulating a collection of problems that cumulatively could call into question the viability of an all-volunteer force," said defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute think tank.

"When a service has to repeatedly resort to compelling the retention of people who want to leave, you're edging away from the whole notion of volunteerism."

When soldiers enlist, they sign a contract to serve for a certain number of years, and know precisely when their service obligation ends so they can return to civilian life. But stop-loss allows the Army, mindful of having fully manned units, to keep soldiers on the verge of leaving the military.

Under the policy, soldiers who normally would leave when their commitments expire must remain in the Army, starting 90 days before their unit is scheduled to depart, through the end of their deployment and up to another 90 days after returning to their home base.

With yearlong tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, some soldiers can be forced to stay in the Army an extra 18 months.

HARDSHIP FOR SOME SOLDIERS

Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman, said that "there is no plan to discontinue stop-loss."

"We understand that this is causing hardship for some individual soldiers, and we take individual situations into consideration," Hilferty said.

Hilferty said there are about 12,500 soldiers in the regular Army, as well as the part-time National Guard and Reserve, currently serving involuntarily under the policy, and that about 50,000 have had their service extended since the program began in 2002. An initial limited use of stop-loss was expanded in subsequent years to affect many more.
(CONTINUED)
http://tinyurl.com/7m9xl

[Swedish Extrovert]

This is scary. Very scary

[W*GS]

And here I thought you liberals supported the draft.

Oh well - asking for philosophical consistency from you guys is a waste of time.

[loborugger]

I got out almost 15 years ago... so I am a bit rusty on the facts. However, I think it goes something like this.

1. The Constitution provides for every male to give 8 years to "the cause."
2. The 8 year ante can be upped by the Commander in Chief in time of national emergency.

It is crappy if your held up in a stop gap loss. But its the brakes that go with service.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

It is crappy if your held up in a stop gap loss. But its the brakes that go with service.

It's crappy that all the young republicans who are pro-Bush and pro-war don't have the courage of their convictions and don't volunteer to serve in Iraq.

Where is their alleged "patriotism?"

Way to "support the troops."

[Swedish Extrovert]

Well my fingers are crossed.

I hate this ****

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I got out almost 15 years ago... so I am a bit rusty on the facts. However, I think it goes something like this.

1. The Constitution provides for every male to give 8 years to "the cause."
2. The 8 year ante can be upped by the Commander in Chief in time of national emergency.

It is crappy if your held up in a stop gap loss. But its the brakes that go with service.

It's BS! These guys having to serve tour after tour for attacking and invading a country that was absolutely no threat to us. It's not even a war, let alone a national emergency.

[Broncos1]

If we didn't go into Iraq and a major terrorist attack occurred in this country the liberals would have Bush's head on a platter for not protecting us. The second that Sadam had the ability to launch a strike agaisnt us he would, be it Nuclear or a terror attack. Hundreds and thousands of terrorists are currently bieng killed over there instead of over here. And as far as not bieng a threat and not a national emergency, what part of the goverment do you work for, that allows you to get all of the classified information that makes you such a expert on every DAMN thing!

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

If we didn't go into Iraq and a major terrorist attack occurred in this country the liberals would have Bush's head on a platter for not protecting us.

:bs:

Iraq was not a threat to us. Therefore, the invasion of Iraq was not justified by any need to protect America.

The second that Sadam had the ability to launch a strike agaisnt us he would, be it Nuclear or a terror attack.

Saddam had no such ability. He didn't even have the ability to threaten his neighbors. The bush junta misled the American people with talk of mobile weapons labs, "mushroom clouds," etc., whose whereabouts they claimed to know.


Hundreds and thousands of terrorists are currently bieng killed over there instead of over here.

Before Dim Son invaded Iraq, "hundreds of thousands of terrorists" were not in the country. Now, thanks to the chimp, Iraq is another Afghanistan. Bush managed to turn one of the only secular regimes in the region into another Islamic theocracy like Iran. Way to go, Bush!

And as far as not bieng a threat and not a national emergency, what part of the goverment do you work for, that allows you to get all of the classified information that makes you such a expert on every DAMN thing!

:stupid:

Even your own beloved oil emperor and his illegitimate junta have admitted that there were no WMD and that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

[Play2win]

It's BS! These guys having to serve tour after tour for attacking and invading a country that was absolutely no threat to us. It's not even a war, let alone a national emergency.
Exactly. It was an OFFENSIVE and an OCCUPATION. And that's it. There never was a WAR...

An occupation of a hostile, foreign and uncertain land, it takes alot of smarts...

[loborugger]

It's BS! These guys having to serve tour after tour for attacking and invading a country that was absolutely no threat to us. It's not even a war, let alone a national emergency.

Well, I dont make the rules, just telling the way it is. I lived in El Paso in the late 90s, and I knew a handful of soldiers at Ft Bliss who were stop gapped to fill missions to Kosovo & Korea. Never saw it when I was in, but hey, the service was much larger back then.

The simple fact of the matter is this... no matter how they spin it, they are trying to do too much with too little. If you really feel badly for the boys, you could go relieve them... thats what they really need.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Well, I dont make the rules, just telling the way it is. I lived in El Paso in the late 90s, and I knew a handful of soldiers at Ft Bliss who were stop gapped to fill missions to Kosovo & Korea. Never saw it when I was in, but hey, the service was much larger back then.

The simple fact of the matter is this... no matter how they spin it, they are trying to do too much with too little. If you really feel badly for the boys, you could go relieve them... thats what they really need.
Or you could?

[loborugger]

Or you could?

I already did my time, smart guy. Your turn. That, & I am getting to old... although I hear they are bumping up the age to 42. Can you imagine trying to run, jump, etc like you used to at 17... even Jerry Rice gave up on that notion.

[Broncos Rule]

I got out almost 15 years ago... so I am a bit rusty on the facts. However, I think it goes something like this.

1. The Constitution provides for every male to give 8 years to "the cause."
2. The 8 year ante can be upped by the Commander in Chief in time of national emergency.

It is crappy if your held up in a stop gap loss. But its the brakes that go with service.


There's nothing in the constitution to support compulsory military service. The rules are based on laws inacted by Congress and executive orders issued by Presidents that carry the force of law.

Under the current rules, if you raise your hand and say the words, sign on the dotted line, your ass is theirs for 8 years.

Please read the fine print. Don't blame me son, I never lied to you. Blame your recruiter.

[defenseman]

It is 8 years. In addition, ALL and I do mean ALL who turn 18, finish High school...etc...etc....are required to get a registration number (selective service). Not some, but all. Normally , after a 3 to 4 year tour one is required to complete the remainder of his or her 8 years out in some sort of reserve component. IF, one is on active duty, might as well stick it out till the war is complete, another two years or so.
Stop loss, army, marines, and certian high iimportance, intelligence type, and spec war (SEALS,EOD,SWCC) jobs are stop lossed if you are in the middle of a conflict such as this one. I personally requested retirement about two years ago, it was denied. I had no option, and here I am still in the Navy. It's part of the job that is necessary depending on your specialty. ..........dman

[Swedish Extrovert]

I get out July of 2008.

I plan on going to Uppsala University in Sweden. I hope to God that a) they will let me leave the country on inactive reserve and b) I dont have to extend one extra day on the ****ty Kennedy.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I already did my time, smart guy. Your turn. That, & I am getting to old... although I hear they are bumping up the age to 42. Can you imagine trying to run, jump, etc like you used to at 17... even Jerry Rice gave up on that notion.

Like I said before, if you did any time in this room you would know more about the people here. The search function works pretty well.

Notice the question mark by my statement? And by BTW, like you said, they just upped the age to 42 so you're good to go.

FYI, I served over 30 years ago (4th infantry division). So next time, maybe you'll think twice about making some smart arse remark about serving in Bush's war.

[Swedish Extrovert]

It's crappy that all the young republicans who are pro-Bush and pro-war don't have the courage of their convictions and don't volunteer to serve in Iraq.

Where is their alleged "patriotism?"

Way to "support the troops."

I have steered clear of the war and politics forum for the last few years, so maybe I shouldn't sde with anyone, but I couldn't agree more.

I'm sick of fighting for this country, and any time I speak out for something I disagree with, some conservative somes out and accuses me of hating my country. If this country... and Bush... are PERFECT... Why, then, isn't your bitch-ass out here doing what I'm doing.

The amazing thing is I choose to defend my country... before going to college - after my father offered to pay for it straight up. I could then be making $60,000 a year working at one of my Dad's natural gas plants as a Chemical Engineer / Environmental Protection Officer in Wyoming. But I choose this life.... getting very little school acomplished between my 14 hour work days, making about $1,200 a month. I can't stand people who cant appreciate that and say I hate this country.

Republican pussys.

That said, I don't want to do any more than I have to. I got a little discouraged after failing BUDs, and then being passed up for Naval Air Crew, but there is still a possibility of NAC... and I only have 2 more years..... hopefully.

[loborugger]

Like I said before, if you did any time in this room you would know more about the people here. The search function works pretty well.

Notice the question mark by my statement? And by BTW, like you said, they just upped the age to 42 so you're good to go.

FYI, I served over 30 years ago (4th infantry division). So next time, maybe you'll think twice about making some smart arse remark about serving in Bush's war.


Good for you... I hold your opinion in higher regard than those who serve nothing but themselves and spend their time complaining. As for your other point... if you think I wanna read 7 thousand plus posts, just to size you up, I am gonna pass. I've got better things to do, but thanx for the offer. There are plenty of folks on here who post things like, "I've said it before," I dont imagine it would hurt you.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I have steered clear of the war and politics forum for the last few years, so maybe I shouldn't sde with anyone, but I couldn't agree more.

I'm sick of fighting for this country, and any time I speak out for something I disagree with, some conservative somes out and accuses me of hating my country. If this country... and Bush... are PERFECT... Why, then, isn't your b****-ass out here doing what I'm doing.

The amazing thing is I choose to defend my country... before going to college - after my father offered to pay for it straight up. I could then be making $60,000 a year working at one of my Dad's natural gas plants as a Chemical Engineer / Environmental Protection Officer in Wyoming. But I choose this life.... getting very little school acomplished between my 14 hour work days, making about $1,200 a month. I can't stand people who cant appreciate that and say I hate this country.

Republican p***Ys.

That said, I don't want to do any more than I have to. I got a little discouraged after failing BUDs, and then being passed up for Naval Air Crew, but there is still a possibility of NAC... and I only have 2 more years..... hopefully.

Right f_cking on!

Post of the day!

^5 :thumbsup: