Memorial Day - The Death Spiral of the Volunteer Army

[RickSp]

On Memorial Day it is worth observing that George Bush is systematically destroying our volunteer military. New recruits are not signing up and experienced officers are leaving. There is no shortage of potential volunteers. There are 60 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 35 and all the Army is looking for is 80,000. In time of a war one would expect a flood of volunteers. Not this time. Young Americans may be many things, but they aren't stupid.

From yesterday's NY Times :

Why this is happening is no mystery. Two years of hearing about too few troops on the ground, inadequate armor, extended tours of duty and accelerated rotations back into combat have taken their toll, discouraging potential enlistees and their parents. The citizen-soldiers of the Guard and Reserves have suddenly become full-time warriors. Nor has it helped that when abuse scandals have erupted, the Pentagon has seemed quicker to punish lower-ranking soldiers than top commanders and policy makers. This negative cycle now threatens to feed on itself. Fewer recruits will mean more stress on those now in uniform and more grim reports reaching hometowns across America.

It goes beyond the mistreatment and ill-use of our armed forces. 57% of Americans polled say they war in Iraq "isn't worth it." Many young Americans now ask "what are we fighting for?" The answers aren't pretty. It is now clear that WMD and ties to terrorists were convenient falsehoods to rush us into war. Between Fallujah and AbuGhraib, we have become the jackbooted thugs that we claim to fight against.

Bob Herbert from today's NYTimes writes:

This Memorial Day is not a good one for the country that was once the world's most brilliant beacon of freedom and justice. ... In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, most of the world was ready to stand with the U.S. in a legitimate fight against terrorists. But the Bush administration, in its lust for war with Iraq and its willingness to jettison every semblance of due process while employing scandalously inhumane practices against detainees, blew that opportunity. In much of the world, the image of the U.S. under Mr. Bush has morphed from an idealized champion of liberty to a heavily armed thug in camouflage fatigues. America is increasingly being seen as a dangerously arrogant military power that is due for a comeuppance.

Just a few thoughts as I put out the flag on Memorial Day and mourn the needless dead of King George's War.

[Gorgo]

This Memorial Day is not a good one for the country that was once the world's most brilliant beacon of freedom and justice.

When was that?

57% of Americans polled say they war in Iraq "isn't worth it."

"Worth it?" They still think it was a "mistake," rather than a criminal venture.