First off, I am sorry that I have offended you and your family and friends, not my intention.

Second of all, I do not think I am any better than any Soldier who puts on a uniform. Being both on active duty and reserve side of the coin, both do the same things, unless back in the US.

Now if you read, I am just stating facts. You had such a high amount of Soldiers going through training, that basic training was shortened from 12 weeks to 8 weeks, causing the training to not be as efficient as it should be. People who volunteered during Vietnam were allowed to choose their jobs, people who were drafter were not allowed to choose their jobs, it was based on needs of the military. So draftees were put into positions that they did not want, infantry was one of those jobs. Now on top of that you had people driving to Canada, going to college, and many different other things to get out of being drafted, but those who were not able to, were drafted and sent to Vietnam. But they were forced to train and ship out to do their jobs in Vietnam.

So it is not about one group being better than others. It is just one group chose to go, and the other group was forced to go. And only way out of it was money, college, Canada, and some other options. So many men were sent to Vietnam that did not want to be there, thus making the ranks weaker.

And yes, the draftees won WWII, but you have to remember that draftees made up 2/3 of the military population during WWII.

The mission of course is fighting the Taliban, but the details are what would help you understand why the surge is needed.

Exactly, and that is why the US and the coalition forces practice the rules set forth by the Geneva Convention.

 

Kimiko, you are wrong, I didn't hate him...I have never been a great fan but I truly had hopes he would be at least a part of the change this country needs. My problem is he is only doing things by half measure...Either provide the troops the generals say they need or get out. I would have much more respect for the man if he just withdrew and closed out our part in this fiasco. I will criticize what I see as wrong, I don't care whether it is done bu obozo, his asslick cronies or some dumbassed right winger.

 

The simple fact is this El Casanova. I don't see any real improvement with our all volunteer Army over what it was when the draft was supplying the needed manpower. Even during Vietnam the vast majority of people that were drafted, went and served their country admirably. Hardly anyone wanted to fight and die in Vietnam but they went by the hundreds of thousands and they did their duty or died trying, and they were no less a soldier than you are.

Instead what we have now is a military that is so stretched we're setting new records for suicides and things like what happened Fort Hood. And the saddest thing of all is if we re-instated the draft this war on terror would have been over a long time ago.

Its so easy for so many of us in the US to wave that war flag and be all for charging into battle because neither them of their kids are going to be the ones fighting it.

 

deidre79,

This is not only directed against you, but others of your persuasion: that is to say the entire birther, teabaging crowd. You talk of your love of country, but what is noticeable about you is your hatred of Americans who disagree with you.

I mean this as an observation, rather than an attack on you. You know I like you despite your occasional insults.

 

Listen to the Afghan People

The New York Times Published: November 12, 2009

A recent survey directed by The Asia Foundation (and available at asiafoundation.org) is a snapshot of public opinion in Afghanistan...

Trained Afghan pollsters interviewed 6,400 Afghans, almost equally divided between male and female, in all 34 of the country’s provinces, just before the Aug. 20 presidential election...

Almost 70 percent of those polled say the Afghan National Army and police continue to need the support of foreign troops and cannot operate by themselves. For now, it appears the Afghans continue to see U.S. and NATO forces as an ally and partner, not an occupier...

Afghans have not given up on the promises of democracy — 78 percent see it as the best form of government available.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/opinion/13iht-edinderfurth.html

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In contrast to the 70% of Afghans who appear to support U.S. and NATO forces, President Eisenhower estimated that nearly 80% of the Vietnamese supported the Communists. Polling organizations were not as developed during the War in Vietnam, so this is the best estimate I am aware of of Communist support while the war was going on.

In addition, the North Vietnamese were supplied by the Soviet Union and Communist China. No foreign government supplies the Taliban. For these reasons, the situation in Afghanistan, while discouraging after eight years of war, is not as hopeless as it was in Vietnam. What we should try to achieve for Afghanistan is what existed before the Soviet invasion: that is to say a tribal confederation with a fairly weak central government.

 

I think your memory does fail you Stumbler. I was not in disagreement that we needed to take action, well thought out, well planned action with a point in mind and in fact, then get out whether we accomplished it or not, not allowing this to become another Viet Nam.

As for the general condition of the country, I have expressed concerns that go far beyond Bush. I have served the government and this country under eight, now nine presidents; I have watched this country go into decline since Jimmy Carter and with very little exception during the Reagan years that decline has been a steady one, but none as drastic as the lat 11 months.

The generals have passed their needs on to Gates, telling him clearly that they need more than twice the troops they are getting or they need to pull out completely. While I am no great strategist I know two things for certain, Generals often ask for more than they need hoping they will get something close to the number they really need (though less than half that number does not work) and having "yes men" as your experts and advisers leads to failure (read about the rise and fall of the German empire).

obozo is a fool, and he is on a fools errand, I am watching his stickers falling off bumpers like crazy around DC, Maryland and Virginia. Let's face it, when the Republicans speak about him in positive terms and the Democrats turn their collective backs on him it becomes clear he has failed the country, if he had any honor left he would follow the method used by Japan when they have brought shame on themselves.

 

When you habitually refer to Obama as "obozo" and suggest that he commit suicide, can you perhaps understand why I drew the conclusion that you hate him?

 

Occasional? Try constant.

 

Kim, I didn't hate him and I hope I am above hating him now, though my dislike for him and the damage he is doing by this recent action is pretty strong. I try not to have that stron a feeling of dislike for anyone, but you may be right, I may feel that strongly.

As for calling him "obozo" I can't help it, he looks like Alfred E. Newman and his actions portray a serious lack of intellect or understanding, at least that is what I hope, that he is just ignorant because if I believed he were not a screw up I would have to believe he is intentionally trying to break this country.

 

Oh, but you didn't think George Bush was doing any damage to the country, right? Or that he sometimes said things that reminded you of Alfred E. Newman?

Honestly...I've been amazed and shocked at the speed with which the right-wing has tried to demonize Obama, working themselves up into a foaming-at-the-mouth frenzy less than a year into his presidency. It amazes me even though I predicted it. It's nothing but payback for the Bush years, which was, to some extent, payback for the Clinton years. But do yourself a favor and try to think rationally about it for awhile, without absorbing the opinions of the usual talking heads. You might find that Obama is not the devil incarnate.

 

I meant her occasional insults directed towards me. deidre79's comments to me are usually friendly.

 

I thought hatred of Bill Clinton was pathological, and I think the same of hatred of Barack Obama. For a number of years Jerry Falwell sold a video cassette entitled The Clinton Chronicles. This accused Clinton of murder and drug dealing. It sold well. When Ken Starr absolved Clinton of any responsibility for the death of Vince Foster someone quickly wrote a book claiming that Starr was mistaken. It also sold well. Millions of whites wanted to believe the worst of Clinton. They looked for justifications of their hatred.

Currently, the delusions about Obama provide horrified fascination from a psychological perspective.

 

That's because you don't yet see her for what she is. But there's hope.

 

On a number of occasions I have seen you bait deidre79 when she wanted to back out of a dispute with you. You kept it going.

 

Sure, I bait her...because when I do, she invariably reveals herself to be exactly what she is: a hateful, ignorant, dogmatic, bigoted fool. The world has a right to know.

 

As I said before, I have served under 8 and now 9 presidents and I have seen this country go down hill since the Carter administration. I have to admit that my financial situation greatly improved under Reagan and again under Bush, but as for the country as a whole, no, it has been in decline since Kennedy took office and even earlier during the latter part of Eisenhower. As for Bush sounding like Alfred E. Newman, I have to say that I have never met a politician who didn't at one time or another.

Also as I said before, no I was not an obama supporter, but I am also honest enough to admit I am not right all the time and I prayed I was wrong, and it isn't from the talking heads that I get my information, many communications come across my desk and I am exposed to many more in my travels through governmental locals. I am tired of seeing young men and women sent into a situation where they are unable to make a positive impact, where they are under constant pressure of fear for their lives and unable to defend themselves; I am tired of seeing the names of young men and women who return home in a box; I am tired of foolish politics taking the lives of the future of our country and I am tired of seeing good people put out of work because the buerocracy chooses to support minority businesses and leave others to suffer.

 

IM IN THE MILITARY AND THE FACT HE IS SENDING MORE OVER IS RIDICULOUS!!! WE HAVE ENOUGH OVER THERE AN WE ARE STILL PULLING OUT OF IRAQ. MY UNIT IS GETTING DEPLOYED SUM TIME EARLY NEXT YEAR TO HEAD TO AFGANISTAN. I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR "YOUR PRESIDENT" HE AINT MINE, I CARE FOR MY PEOPLE AND MY FELLOW SOLDIERS, BUT NOT HIM. HE HAS ALREADY CAUSED PROBLEMS AND IT WILL GET WORSE. ITS JUST THE BEGINNING...

 

Whoa, is he not your Commander in Chief? If you say no, I suggest you be very careful who you admit that to while you are visible.

 

Whether you like it or not he is your Commander in Chief. I understand how you feel and I agree with the first part of your statement except that I believe that if we are not ready to commit a massive number (80,000) or more, we need to pull every single one out. It should be an all or nothing commitment, go all the way or pull them out.

 

When Bush was president, were you this angry at him? He got us into this mess to begin with.