Shoot the Afghanistanis if you don't get promoted

[gallo]

It seems that SSG Bales was upset because he didn't get promoted last year. Since he joined after 9/11, that would mean that he had around 10 years in the service at the time. (Maybe he should have waited a few days, since the new SSG to SFC list was just released. I wonder if he was on it.)

My son enlisted at about the same time. He is coming up on 10 years. He is also a SSG. He was also not on the previous (not eligible) or current promotion lists to SFC. The difference is that my son didn't expect to be. This was his "first look" for promotion after 9 years service. He was also disappointed. Next year he will have accumulated more points, including his current deployment to Afghanistan with elements of the 1st Infantry Division. I pray that he doesn't decide to follow in the footsteps of SSG Bales. But, on the other hand, SSG Bales has had 3 previous combat deployments in Iraq. My son has not (after training, served at Ft. Rucker, AL, Ft. Bliss, TX, Camp Zama, Japan, and Ft. Riley, Ks [1st Inf Div], and now Afghanistan).

Maybe it was the three previous combat tours, along with the financial problems he was having that tipped him over. How sad. PTSD and domestic problems to boot. How sad. A respected warrior that is now regarded as a criminal.

[Angry Citizen]

On the one hand I shouldn't sympathize with him at all, but you're right - he's the product of society, most likely. This is why I think no soldier should be allowed to serve more than one tour in front-line combat, unless they have particularly useful skills like fluent Arabic. Not only would it keep the PTSD cases down, but it would force the politicians to win a war through strategic means rather than attrition.

[grandpa]

On the one hand I shouldn't sympathize with him at
all, but you're right - he's the product of society, most
likely.
This is why I think no soldier should be allowed
to serve more than one tour in front-line combat,
unless they have particularly useful skills like fluent Arabic.

No doubt this is, in many ways, society-related. After this story, no one should want to be the grunt anymore. But that is just wishful thinking on my part, and wishful thinking is one of my internal foes.

Grandpa h.

[theophilus]

A respected warrior that is now regarded as a criminal.

Why to you say "regarded as a criminal"? If he did what he is accused of he is a criminal. Being under stress is no excuse for harming innocent people.

This isn't the first crime he has been accused of.

Afghan Murder Suspect Bales 'Took My Life Savings,' Says Retiree - Yahoo! News

[barts]

A better course might be abandoning the volunteer army, and adopting universal conscription--a draft. Everyone would be subject to the draft, and expected to meet their obligations, enforced by penalty of law.

Few Americans would not want to defend their country in a time of need. And, very few--and their family and friends--would welcome risking their lives in ill advised wars of convenience and political opportunism, as have been the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Furthermore, a draft would effect everyone across the economic and political spectrum equally. Making the decision to go to war one that would need to be taken seriously, and not one that merely served short term domestic political interests and the economic interests of those who fund politicians' political campaigns. Going to war should be about protecting a nation and its people, not about benefiting the careers of its politicians and the balance sheets of its corporations. A universal draft would go a long way to achieving that end.

Perhaps a universal draft would have given America's politicians pause about invading Iraq and Afghanistan, two countries that posed no threat to the United States, and perhaps soldiers like SSG Bales would not have had to serve multiple deployments for lack of troops.

[Angry Citizen]

Because a draft worked perfectly in Vietnam. Prevented loads of atrocities *cough* My Lai *cough* Worked great at keeping the war from spiraling out of control *cough* 1965 to 1972 *cough*

You know, I don't want to live in your America, barts. I really, really don't.

[Trojan_Ripper]

A better course might be abandoning the volunteer army, and adopting universal conscription--a draft. Everyone would be subject to the draft, and expected to meet their obligations, enforced by penalty of law.

I agree Barts. I think a 2 year conscription should be mandatory. But I see no reason for doing away with a volunteer military.

Most multiple deployments are usally asked for, but I think that anyone serving 1 year of frontline combat should then be denied for 1 year after. Special forces would not be held to this standard.

If they sign up for another 2 years the 1 year on, one year off would still apply. Anyone being drafted would at the most see 1 year of combat "if that" and all volunteers would see no more than 1 year every other year.

If someone is making the military a career they will know the system and can make it a great job with good money and benefits. Most crazies will be weeded out….by command…or they weed themselves out. Meanwhile you can be making $100,000 a year in just a few short years....sometimes even tax free.

Great post.


Wait for it....wait...

[barts]

Because a draft worked perfectly in Vietnam. Prevented loads of atrocities *cough* My Lai *cough* Worked great at keeping the war from spiraling out of control *cough* 1965 to 1972 *cough*

You know, I don't want to live in your America, barts. I really, really don't.

Because of the draft, Americans mobilized to protest the Vietnam War, and prevented worse from happening, and forced the US to end it. It would have resulted in ending the Vietnam War sooner had the draft applied to everyone.

If a nation truly needs to go to war, everyone should fight, or don't you agree?

[Jack]

...had the draft applied to everyone.

There's the rub. Even if a draft were implemented the politicians and wealthy would create loopholes to exempt their kids from a draft, just like they did the last time around. America appears incapable of instituting an equitable draft system.

[barts]

America appears incapable of instituting an equitable draft system.

If there was an equitable draft system, you can be sure wars would be less frequent and only when the public was convinced there was a real danger to national security.

[Jack]

If there was an equitable draft system, you can be sure wars would be less frequent and only when the public was convinced there was a real danger to national security.

Absolutely. That's why the politicians and power brokers will never allow an equitable draft. Having their own kids eligible for the draft would hamper their profitable warmongering.

[Trojan_Ripper]

If there was an equitable draft system, you can be sure wars would be less frequent and only when the public was convinced there was a real danger to national security.

Well then that is what everyone should argue for…. “an equitable draft system” that’s what your saying...right barts?