Via Light of Reason, this article describes the way Bush has been forcing members of the U.S. military to serve far beyond what they thought they’d agreed to:
Prior to September 2001, the armed forces last used stop loss in 1990, during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, under then President George H. Bush. President George W. Bush authorized a new Stop Loss policy on September 14, 2001, in Executive Order 13223. Since then, the Army has announced 11 stop-loss orders.
On 4 November 2002, a new stop loss policy affected over 60,000 soldiers. With this policy, a typical Ready Reserve soldier could be affected up to 30 months: 3 months during alert, 12–24 months while actually mobilized, and 3 months for demobilization. Ready Reserve soldiers who also possessed a certain skill or specialty could be affected until the later of 90 days after demobilization or the completion of an additional 12 months active duty.
Over the past year, the Army alone has blocked the possible retirements and departures of more than 40,000 soldiers. Hundreds more in the Air Force, Navy and Marines were blocked from retiring or departing the military. Under the latest Stop Loss iteration, announced in January 2004, seven thousand additional soldiers will be required to stay in the theater for the duration of their unit’s deployment and up to a maximum of 90 days afterward, said Col. Elton Manske. Because the stop-loss order begins 90 days before deployment and lasts for 90 days after a return home, those troops will be prohibited from retiring or leaving the Army at the expiration of their contracts until the spring of 2005, at the earliest.
Some Guard troops and reservists complain their release dates have been extended several times and they no longer know when they will be allowed to leave. On their Army paychecks, the expiration date of their military service is now listed sometime after 2030 – the payroll computer’s way of saying, “Who knows?”
The article argues that this is one of a number of steps which are quietly being taken to reinstate the draft. I’m not that convinced; I don’t think we have to worry about the draft being reinstated secretly. (Some things just can’t be kept secret – sooner or later, someone has to say “you are ordered to report…,” and then the cat’s out of the bag). Nonetheless, the article is interesting, and reports on a lot of stuff that’s escaped the mainstream presses scrutiny.
Myself, I’m struck by yet another example of how much contempt this president exhibits for members of the armed forces. He tries to cut their pay, he cuts their benefits, he takes away their overtime, and now he’s keeping them against their will. I’ve asked it before: When Bush meets a U.S. soldier, does he struggle to keep himself from openly sneering and spitting in the G.I.’s face?
A lot of conservatives have been critical of the “chickenhawk” thing, because they misinterpret it as saying “if you haven’t served in the armed forces, you’re not qualified to have an opinion on military matters.” But that’s not the point at all. It’s about character, not qualifications.
A chickenhawk is “a person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it; particularly when that enthusiasm is undimmed by personal experience with war; most emphatically when that lack of experience came in spite of ample opportunity in that person’s youth.” Being a chickenhawk doesn’t make anyone wrong or right in their opinions about war; it just makes them a person of low character..
Actually, while keeping the draft itself a secret would be impossible, the administration could do its utmost to keep the PREPARATIONS for reinstating the draft in the shadows. It takes a lot of logistics to manage the notification, processing, and mobilization of that much cannon fodder. The relevant stacks of paperwork have to be produced and shipped nation wide, offices must be formed and staffed, and doctors must be in place long before the conscripting can begin.
You can imagine that such preparations would look really ugly for the POTUS during an election year, especially after he declared “victory” so many times…
Er…actually, it’s not accurate to call this a draft. Stop Loss keeps critical personnel in the military, and soldiers know it’s a possibility. The general public might not know, but that’s a different issue. I always understood the draft to mean yanking people into the military, not temporarily keeping them in past their ETS date.
My sister in law was supposed to get out of the Army in March. She’s done her time, and admirably, having been promoted rapidly to Seargant. Now, she’s been told that she is staying for 14 more months, 12 of those in Iraq.
And no, ginmar, this isn’t normal. Neither her nor her soldiers had heard about this policy until they were handed their orders.
Keith, I’ve been in for twelve years, and I’ve heard about it. As a matter of fact, I fall under it. If you’re in certain MOS, you do have to try to know the regs that govern that MOS.
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter on behalf of my fiance’ MSG James H. Meyer, who is presently serving this country in the U.S. Army. Serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 and now 2.
He is a 36 year veteran, and I’ve never met anyone who’s heart and soul supports the call to protect this great nation more than his. He was in Tikrit, Iraq and is now in Kuwait waiting to be sent home. It is also for ALL of the brave men and women who are serving this country with him. He is with the 846th Transportation Company, and they have been there since April 12, 2003 for total of 421 days. He was sent to Kuwait, because after a year they were told they were coming home. The day they were supposed to leave for home, they were informed their time had been extended.
Sir, I saw on the news that these extended soldiers wanted to stay..were happy in fact to do so. I don’t know where they received that information as the information I get is that they feel like they are in “jail”. The very worst part however, is that nobody can or will give them a reason for being kept there. They no longer have jobs to do. Some of them no longer have weapons. They are trying to make it so they cant even leave the camp, on emergency leave or otherwise. Im told since they were extended they have only been given meaningless missions.
Did these people do something wrong? Or, was their only mistake believing in those who are in command. There appears to be no viable reason for their forced, prolonged presence in Kuwait. I refer to them as being hostages, and very sadly, thats how they feel.
I used to have the utmost respect for the military, but when you hear the one you love who willingly went to fight this war, refer to his situation as being on “lockdown”..it makes one wonder. If their presence is so very important, why are there other transportation companies being sent home? Why are these soldiers being kept sir, when their replacements are there? Why are they not even being told what the purpose in their time being extended is for? Why is it that we as Americans, would want to push our soldiers to the very edge mentally and emotionally, and their families as well?
I have a son who is working vigorously to be able to serve in our military as best he can. However, after seeing first hand how we treat our soldiers, I will do my best to discourage it. That is a very sad stance for me to take, as I previously thought serving ones country was the most honorable thing a person could do. Its heartbreaking to loose faith in this wonderful country and its leaders, and I’m appalled that we as Americans would treat our soldiers in this manner. What is truly heartbreaking however, is that the soldiers have lost faith as well. I’m told that the morale of the troops is as low as it ever was in Viet Nam. That alone says so very much.
I’m sure this letter means very little to someone in your position. I’m just one person, one voice, one heart. But I think someone should realize, that before these men and women are soldiers, they are human beings. They did their year, and they did a good job. Now they deserve to come home, or at the very least, they deserve a fair and reasonable answer as to why they are being detained. To hear the pain, sadness, hostility and frustration in their voices because of the situation is a crime. These people put their lives on the line for us. They at least deserve to be treated with some degree of respect. Don’t you think? Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My best wishes go out to all of the men and woman who’s time has been extended. May you return home safely, and quickly.
Sincerely,
Kristine Lyons
Las Vegas, NV
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter on behalf of my fiance’ MSG James H. Meyer, who is presently serving this country in the U.S. Army. Serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 and now 2.
He is a 36 year veteran, and I’ve never met anyone who’s heart and soul supports the call to protect this great nation more than his. He was in Tikrit, Iraq and is now in Kuwait waiting to be sent home. It is also for ALL of the brave men and women who are serving this country with him. He is with the 846th Transportation Company, and they have been there since April 12, 2003 for total of 421 days. He was sent to Kuwait, because after a year they were told they were coming home. The day they were supposed to leave for home, they were informed their time had been extended.
Sir, I saw on the news that these extended soldiers wanted to stay..were happy in fact to do so. I don’t know where they received that information as the information I get is that they feel like they are in “jail”. The very worst part however, is that nobody can or will give them a reason for being kept there. They no longer have jobs to do. Some of them no longer have weapons. They are trying to make it so they cant even leave the camp, on emergency leave or otherwise. Im told since they were extended they have only been given meaningless missions.
Did these people do something wrong? Or, was their only mistake believing in those who are in command. There appears to be no viable reason for their forced, prolonged presence in Kuwait. I refer to them as being hostages, and very sadly, thats how they feel.
I used to have the utmost respect for the military, but when you hear the one you love who willingly went to fight this war, refer to his situation as being on “lockdown”..it makes one wonder. If their presence is so very important, why are there other transportation companies being sent home? Why are these soldiers being kept sir, when their replacements are there? Why are they not even being told what the purpose in their time being extended is for? Why is it that we as Americans, would want to push our soldiers to the very edge mentally and emotionally, and their families as well?
I have a son who is working vigorously to be able to serve in our military as best he can. However, after seeing first hand how we treat our soldiers, I will do my best to discourage it. That is a very sad stance for me to take, as I previously thought serving ones country was the most honorable thing a person could do. Its heartbreaking to loose faith in this wonderful country and its leaders, and I’m appalled that we as Americans would treat our soldiers in this manner. What is truly heartbreaking however, is that the soldiers have lost faith as well. I’m told that the morale of the troops is as low as it ever was in Viet Nam. That alone says so very much.
I’m sure this letter means very little to someone in your position. I’m just one person, one voice, one heart. But I think someone should realize, that before these men and women are soldiers, they are human beings. They did their year, and they did a good job. Now they deserve to come home, or at the very least, they deserve a fair and reasonable answer as to why they are being detained. To hear the pain, sadness, hostility and frustration in their voices because of the situation is a crime. These people put their lives on the line for us. They at least deserve to be treated with some degree of respect. Don’t you think? Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My best wishes go out to all of the men and woman who’s time has been extended. May you return home safely, and quickly.
Sincerely,
Kristine Lyons
Las Vegas, NV