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Unprepared US Rookie Troops Being Rushed Straight Across To Iraq ...
If you believe it's bad enough that the US military has lately (consistently and dramatically), lowered minimum standard recruiting requirements, then you'd better hold your your breath and, brace yourself.
Because, believe it or not, things are now even worse than you thought.
We wonder how many US citizens saw what CNN said, just the day before yesterday?
How's this for a wholly horrifying headline?
U.S. troops to forgo training in rush to IraqCan you credit it? Comprehend it? Come to terms with it? Cope with it?
Can you?
Really?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rushed by President Bush's decision to reinforce Baghdad with thousands more U.S. troops, two Army combat brigades are skipping their usual session at the Army's special training range in California.
They are now making preparations to leave their home bases.
Some in Congress and others outside the Army are beginning to question whether that decision means the Army is cutting corners in preparing soldiers for combat.
"Some" are beginning to question this diabolically daft and downright dangerous decision?
Only "some"?Shit.
What a sodding super-shambles.
It's not the premiere kind of situation that commanders would prefer, but it is adequate." Daniel Goure, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute, a think tank,said ...
Adequate?
More akin to amazing we'd say. As well as (awesomely), alarming.
What would you say?
Particularly, if you were a parent (or any other part of a family), of such a recently recruited and/or still semi-raw, young rookie.
The mind bloody boggles.
See the whole sorry story at the CNN site.
*
posted by Richard at Wednesday, February 28, 2007
10 Comments:
Why worry? Trained, half trained, untrained. What's the difference?
Cannon fodder is cannon fodder is cannon fodder.
Yep, don't worry. Remeber, there's always Walter Reed ready to lend a helping hand.
You start a surge with the army you have (or almost have). Didn't you know that, Richard?
Look on the bright side ~ like Bushco do ~ there won't be any rich kids ~ going overe there ~ properly trained or not.
{sarcasm ends}
Yes, there are numerous indications that (if not the USN or USAF, ) but at least the US ground forces are greatly overstretched.
Telltale signs:
Dramaticly increased enscription bonuses from $ 20.000 to $ 40.000. Drastically lowered enrollment standards, such as age limit raised 35-to-39 yrs. (first phase) possible further raise to 42 or even 45 years, later on during second phase. Required educational standards lowered to semi-literate level, wide-open policy regarding aliens, even with barely a shred of English comprehension. Relaxation vis a vis convicted fellons, gays and lesbians.
In spite of these extraordinary measures, the Army and Marine still forced to implement 'stop-loss programs', basically refusing to discharge those, who are eligible for it, and have optioned not to re-enlist.
This tightness in having 'boots on the ground', is the reason behind all the begging, cajoling -or if that fails,- arm twisting of NATO alies to send more of their troops to relieve Americans in Afghanistan.
Wasn't one of the reasons the military gave for an all-volunteer force being superior to a draftee force just that of training? Didn't the regular military resent the constant influx of "fresh meat" in Vietnam, because people didn't know what they were doing (and some of the newbies got mad and "fragged" their officers for making them follow orders). I feel SO sorry for this generation of youngsters. My postal carrier told me with delight that her son had enlisted -- she used to stop at my house to pee when she was pregnant with him and we'd talk and dream about our kids' futures. Even apart from the training issue (there are some very well-trained people driving around in a shooting gallery too) I can't tell you how heartbroken I am about this senseless slaughter --- even the late Diana must be turning in her grave. What did SHE envision for her sons? Do we even remember?
musings, you touched on the crux of the issue, which is poignant to me too. A generation, a generation and a half ago, a young person with high school diploma in America, still had a chance to find gainful industrial employment, which provided enough for him to start a family, in return for an honest day work.
Those jobs have disappeared completely, to the point, that even college graduates are struggling to find meager, entry-level jobs. The choice is pretty bleak, for a heartbreakingly large part of the youth in America, but elsewhere as well, which by default lead them to military carrier, as the only option available.
In a few words, they are both victims and victimizers, to an increasingly mean, authoritarian and corrupt system.
I think I can safely say, that the previous generations, gravely betrayed the present generation of youth, by not fighting the encroaching hierarchy, who robbed us blind, who killed small business and enterprenourial freedom and spirit, while they monopolized one industries and retail segment after another, and in the next stage, they turned around and exported those jobs and industrial capacities abroad, to be fulfilled by virtual slave labour, while telling us that it was for Liberty and for Freedom of the capital.
Oh shame oh shame, and woe to us, for we have stood by and watched, while a system worth preserving was dismantled in front of our eyes, while they deceived and preoccupied us with marginal issues, or games and frivolous entertainment.
The responsibility and the pain is ours. The penalty and the revenge for our gullibility and/or cowardness will be payed by our tender, prescious youth.
Tom V - Right on all counts!
Probably not as many Americans saw it as Brits. Brits love this kind of news and make a point of finding it. And then put it in their blog.
Keep spreading the hate, Old Brit.
Oaklahoma - 3 strikes and you're out.
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