Gates announces forced extensions for Army troops.
Gates announces forced extensions for Army troops.
In the latest evidence that President Bush’s Iraq escalation strategy is forcing the military to the breaking point, Defense Secretary Robert Gates “said Wednesday that he was extending the tours of duty for active-duty Army troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from 12 to 15 months.”
UPDATE: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO): “This new policy will be an additional burden to an already overstretched Army. I think this will have a chilling effect on recruiting, retention, and readiness. We also must not underestimate the enormous negative impact this will have on Army families.”
UPDATE II: Atrios notes an interesting moment in the press conference when Gates scolds a “very thoughtless” fellow Pentagon official who prevented the Army from telling troops about this extension before it was announced publicly.
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They ALL volunteered for service. Don't you libs worry about our military now -- your crocodile tears are more than obvious after your decades of contempt for the U.S. armed forces.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:39 pmWho cares about the troops. They volunteered, right?
I mean, we've turned them into murderers, terrorists, and torturers already. What's an extra three months on tour? What's the use of creating the skills if we ain't gonna use them?
April 11th, 2007 at 3:39 pmMr. Shelton's words ring true. This will have a chilling effect on our military. Where is the call from the White House for a unified sacrifice? Probably because they know what the response will be. So they keep adding onto the current military's already enormous burden.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:43 pmWhat’s the use of creating the skills if we ain’t gonna use them?
Comment by Fed the fcuk up!
Word!
April 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pmThey all volunteered to defend this country. Not to be the world's police. Not to be occupiers halfway around the country.
It's about time the chickenhawks start worrying about the state of our nation's military.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pmA forced extension of troops, or how to transform a soldier into a psychotic schizophrenic killer within a few months.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pmNext thing you know, the idiots in DC will reinstate the draft.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:49 pm#7,
Yes, we would not want to have wealthy white kids dying in this travesty when there are still plenty of no-other-way-out volunteers from the African-American, Hispanic-American, and lower middle-class American communities left.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:54 pm#7. They'll keep pushing for extensions and sucking off of the National Guard and Reserves for as long as possible. They'll add on more enticing signing bonuses to lure any fence sitters who are thinking about the service.
A draft would spell the end of this administration and possibly an open revolt.
And yes they are idiots.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:54 pmProud Dem,
The draft should be re-instated, then pussies like Jake and Patty will actually have to serve, and maybe fight for what they say they believe in. I've already challenged right wingers that the Jihadists already won, the jihadists are willing to die for their beliefs, Partick, Mighty, JAson, etc only want to fight from their keyboard. They are fake christians, fake americans, pretty much fake people and should commit suicide.
War without sacrifice for all is not a war, it's a crime.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:55 pmRumsfeld still has an office in the Pentagon.... Think he might be called a "staffer?" After all, Cheney asked recently to be called an "anonymous senior government official."
April 11th, 2007 at 3:55 pm#7 If they had the draft our troops would be home might fast. How many of the our congress families have any military in Iraq? I can think of maybe two or three at the most. Webb, Hunter, and I don't know the third congress men family member.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pmPlease reinstate the draft. we need a reason for people to get pissed off enough to go violent. The time for pacificity has ended. I just did a 14 month tour in Tall Afar and Ramadi. They're just as bad now as they were last january or worse.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pmA 15 month tour with one year off...they might as well make it a permanent change of station...like Korea. Army rotations there are 11 months, unless you volunteer to stay longer.
Well put #10. I won't promote the idea of their suicide but I agree they only talk tough but don't show it thru actual service.
My prayers go out to the members of our military.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pmBBC News website has an article up, read the comments from servicemen and their families... they are pissed big time.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:05 pmWell, if they do reinstate the draft, make sure to reinstate the "Hippies". I for one will definitely be one.
I am against the current regime.
I am against the current war.
I just want to live the way I want to live.
I have long hair.
Damn straight, I AM a hippie! Kewl beans.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:13 pmRaven
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6546925.stm
April 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pmThat's it, Tobey.... everyone check this out...... (please)
April 11th, 2007 at 4:18 pmA reason Vietnam came to an end is the troops began to BULK
April 11th, 2007 at 4:18 pmHow much more crap does it take before we see this again?
They didn't volunteer to be Bush's personal hit men and then be forced to act as human shields in an illegal occupation of a sovereign nation.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:20 pm#19... bulk (?) definition, please?
April 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pmCan we all agree that no matter what your position on the Iraq War is that our government really screwed up by not starting to expand the active-duty military once we became involved in two land wars in Asia at the same time? It takes time to create new units and expand basic training intake, and you don't see the results for a few years. Wouldn't it have made sense to expand our combat forces just in case we needed them (like we do now), even if everybody hoped we wouldn't?
April 11th, 2007 at 4:24 pmBush is using the threat of troop extensions as a weapon against the Democrats over the war appropriations bill.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pmPerhaps this is why Gates is mad that the troop extensions have become public.
Because now that it is known that Bush is the one extending the troop's tours, he can no longer attack Democrats.
Sounds to me like these troop extensions were supposed to be kept secret until after the appropriations bill was passed into law.
our government really screwed up by not starting to expand the active-duty military once we became involved in two land wars in Asia at the same time?
Comment by Dan — April 11, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
You could have learned that by playing risk.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:28 pm#20,
I bet that you are so utterly disgusted about this immoral situation that you quit your job, risked financial ruin, then put on your boots and marched to Washingon D.C. to protest this abomination and show the support for your brothers and sisters who are being horrifically exploited. Right?
I'm sure that I would lose that bet, and I'm sure that your brothers and sisters really appreciate all the typing that you are doing. Oops, except for the three who just died that is.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:29 pm#22
April 11th, 2007 at 4:32 pmThe first 4 years of this illegal military excursion suffered under the direction of Secretary of War Donald Rumsfeld, and his dream of a "leaner, meaner" armed forces, heavily dependant on technology and arms.
He and his buddies actually believed they could go into Iraq with shock and awe, and that the Iraqi armed forces would suddenly roll over on their backs.
Instead they melted into the palms, taking their weapons with them, and soon began to steal more arms and munitions out from under the noses of the American occupiers.
#22. I'll agree that this administration was woefully shortsided and has missmanaged the conflicts in both countries. They used the worst case scenarios to scare the public and used the best case scenarios to battle plan.
History won't be kind to the Bushmen.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:32 pmhellinaucket:
Well I have no sympathy for those like Patrick, FakeJake, etc, I think they are worthless human beings, and the planet would be better off with them not breathing, and voting. They sure talk tough, but when it comes to sacrifice for their country they're nothing but cowards.
----------
Proud Dem,
Well hippies were the generation before me (I'm 42), but I used to have long hair when I was younger, but just grew tired of having to deal with it, I much prefer to wash-n-go. :) I was brought up pro-union, pro-choice, pro-American, mother is a christian, father an atheist. I took my fathers side on that one.
I too am against the current regime, which is nothing more than a puppet government for the World Bank / Corporations.
I am against all wars of choice, even the invasion of Afghanistan was a war of choice, you don't eradicate terrorists with a 500 pound bomb, you have to use covert ops. 500 lb'ers just show what a murderous society we live in.
I used to be anti-gun, but bush and co have convinced me keeping guns is more for our protection of freedom. Gotta take the good with the bad on this one.
--------------
TomPaine,
Haven't seen you around for awhile, hope all is going good!
April 11th, 2007 at 4:33 pmCan we all agree that no matter what your position on the Iraq War is that our government really screwed up by not starting to expand the active-duty military once we became involved in two land wars in Asia at the same time? It takes time to create new units and expand basic training intake, and you don’t see the results for a few years. Wouldn’t it have made sense to expand our combat forces just in case we needed them (like we do now), even if everybody hoped we wouldn’t?
Actually, it would've made sense not to start those wars in the first place.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:35 pmWANTED: Very Thoughtless Fellow
Today the Pentagon asked all concerned citizens to be on the look for Very Thoughtless Fellow. This Anti-American, terrorist loving scum neglected to pass on news of the extensions to Army personnel and their families prior to public announcement.
Very Thoughless Fellow is described as a 6' 5" (including ears) caucasian bunny wearing mauve bikini underwear, a tutu, and a black turtle neck sweater. VTF is considered a security risk as he can phase shift at will. "It is almost as if he does not really exist at all", said an anonymous source in the Pentagon.
Anyone seeing VTF should report immediately to Local Law Enforcement.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:35 pmhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070411/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/walter_reed
They love the troops!
April 11th, 2007 at 4:35 pm#19… bulk (?) definition, please?
used as a verb - to bulk, to resist
A couple of years back Ray Taliaferro used this term pertaining to our troops.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:40 pmGWB. I admire your passion. I too believe they are cowards.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:42 pmtry again - Ray Taliaferro is at http://www.kgoam810.com/complexprogramming.asp
April 11th, 2007 at 4:45 pmSorry It is BALK on bulk....
April 11th, 2007 at 4:53 pmStryker brigade soldiers from Fort Lewis will have their stays in Iraq extended by three months under an order Wednesday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:56 pmthat's what I was wondering....................:)
April 11th, 2007 at 4:56 pm(a balky undergarment?)
Air Force planes and medical crews airlifted more than 850 wounded and injured servicemen out of war zones during March, according to the Air Force. In February, the Air Force flew out 767 patients.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:56 pmMilitary spending soars to keep troops in the service
The bonuses can range from a few thousand dollars to as much as $150,000 for very senior special forces soldiers who re-enlist for six years. All told, the Army and Marines spent $1.03 billion for re-enlistment payments last year, compared with $174 million in 2003, the year the war in Iraq began.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:57 pmbalk - to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do something specified (usually fol. by at): He balked at making the speech - from dictionary.com
Anyway, as long as our troops are abused and over lies - this may be the outcome.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:59 pmA comment on the BBC article post said morale had reached an all time low among the troops........
April 11th, 2007 at 5:05 pmJust let me say this extension DOES have an effect ..
"Who cares about the troops. They volunteered, right?
I mean, we’ve turned them into murderers, terrorists, and torturers already. What’s an extra three months on tour? What’s the use of creating the skills if we ain’t gonna use them?"
The guy who said this needs to go to a docter to get some help let me tell you i have been with an american soldier for 4 years now and he is no tortuar and he is defending our country why dont you be half the man he is and apprecitae him letting you be free okay ?
Thnk you
* Support our troops"
April 11th, 2007 at 5:26 pm#42,
Your "friend" does not "let" me be free, I was born that way. And I served in the military too, but I did not murder or torture anyone.
If you want to "support the troops", then stop asking them to murder and torture in your name.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:41 pmAs a matter of fact you did lose that bet idiot.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:47 pm#44,
April 11th, 2007 at 5:58 pmGlad to see that you are supporting your bretheren by doing nothing. You are a "good American". Now, go shopping like your president told you to.
That's a mighty big finger you point Fed up. What are the stances you have taken. You shouldn't go off the handle thinking this little blog is the only thing people are doing to show their frustration with this administration.
April 11th, 2007 at 6:25 pmAtrios notes an interesting moment in the press conference when Gates scolds a “very thoughtless†fellow Pentagon official who prevented the Army from telling troops about this extension before it was announced publicly.
Actually, Gate did not say it was a Pentagon official...he said a "person in this building." That certainly could be aimed at a reporter, cuz there's a number of of them that cover the Pentagon as their "beat."
April 11th, 2007 at 6:29 pmThis may seem like a naive question on my part, but I'm going to ask it anyway: In the event that something major such as the attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, do we have enough troops left to protect us here?
April 11th, 2007 at 6:37 pm#46,
I hear you. After watching all the news reports of the massive protests and anti-war activities that have been going on...oh, wait, that was the 60's and 70's. All the anti-war activity that is going on IS on these little blogs. That's the problem, at least in my eyes.
If I can be allowed to provoke some more thought, why do you only blame the current "administration"? Didn't Democrats vote for the war as well? Haven't they also continued to vote for its funding? It seems to me to be a bit too convenient for a country engaged in such an atrocity to point its finger at one another while allowing to atrocity to continue unabated.
What I'm doing is my business and I'm certainly not going to broadcast it to the powers that be on the internets or any other communications media. In case you haven't looked around in the past few years, all of the communications are monitored.
You ever heard about boiling a frog?
April 11th, 2007 at 6:53 pmGo fu*k yourself you piece of sh!t.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:02 pm"Fed the ------- up" reminds of "joe" from the other day, attacking everyone...
April 11th, 2007 at 7:08 pmThe protests that are happening are either being not reported, under reported or are being reported as smaller than they really are. It is you who are blind and need to wake the fu*k up.
Because your eyes are cloudy and you are asleep. Wake the fu*k up and smell what is being fed to you.
The Democrats, just like the UN were lied to. The intelligence was cherry picked and documents were forged. You are clueless.
Yes, because they didn't have enough votes to block it and people like you keep saying it would be unpatriotic and not supporting the troops. No, we won't take responsibility for your fu*king war.
And you have no clue what is going on here, so you need to stop pointing your fu*king finger.
"What I’m doing is my business and I’m certainly not going to broadcast it to the powers that be on the internets or any other communications media. In case you haven’t looked around in the past few years, all of the communications are monitored."
Then why the fu*k are you posting here?
No, but I am sure Bush would take you up on your offer.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:09 pm#50,
Gosh Cheney...er...Mr. Boy, did that strike a nerve?
Unlike you, I am not following the orders of a criminal administration and government and am doing everything in my power to end this crime immediately.
So, go ahead and continue to be the "patriot" that you think you are (and that Bush tells you that you are) and allow for your fellow citizens to be used as tools of murder and torture and for all those Iraqis that have been murdered, tortured, and terrorized in your name, screw 'em. Oh, and throw another little tantrum, it will make you feel better while you do nothing.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:12 pm#51,
I'm not attacking anyone, just telling it like it is. Sorry that the truth is so uncomfortable to you.
Oh, look at that, another soldier just died. As did a number of Iraqis. Ho hum.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:15 pmFed the fcuk up!
Who the fu*k do you think you are talking to punk. You aren't even from this country d!ck wad. You don't know anything about anyone on this blog our in this country. You don't know what the fu*k I stand for or what I have done for my country and my fellow Americans a$$hole. You want a temper tantrum? Bring your dumb a$$ to my neck of the woods and I will show you some patriotism.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:17 pmI wasn't indicating any discomfort....... simply making an observation.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:20 pm#52,
Under reported protests? Walk out your door and look around, see anything? Of course not. Obviously, you were not around for the Vietnam protests and anti-war movement.
As far as the Democrats that were deceived, they sure set things straight once they knew the truth, right? Yes, I know, your response is going to be that they are “working on it†or it “takes timeâ€. Yup, I’m the “blind†one.
Oh, I love this one: “Yes, because they didn’t have enough votes to block itâ€. That’s priceless! They voted for it because they were afraid of voting against it. That’s courage in your eyes?
Here’s the story about boiling a frog:
If you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, they immediately jump out. However, if you put a frog into a pot of cool water and then slowly raise the temperature to boiling, the frog will allow itself to be boiled without trying to escape.
So Kermit, how’s the water?
April 11th, 2007 at 7:23 pm#55,
April 11th, 2007 at 7:25 pmUh, Einstein, I'm a US citizen born and raised. I know that my awareness seems foreign to you.
#55,
April 11th, 2007 at 7:28 pmOh, and I see that you are a true Bushite. You don't like what someone says, threaten them with violence. Wow, what a great "American" you are.
I read or heard someplace that only approximately 5% of Americans are directly affected by someone being deployed to Iraq. This evil empire of the drunken AWOL coward has elected to hide flag draped cofins, use the same troops over and over to continue to minimize the effect upon the American people. They are only awaiting the oil deal for Chevron, Mobil, Shell, BP, Exxon etc. This war is for the military industrial complex and the oil companies. It is part of the Cheney energy task force that they wanted to make so secret. These sorry hypocritical sons of bitches or screwing our troops and our military for the good of big business. It is time to impeach.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:36 pmDumb a$$ people don't refer to their own country as "your country" If you were an American you would say "this country" or even "our country." So, no you aren't very aware of anything.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:36 pmI never threatened you. Like a loyal bushie, you think everybody is out to get you. I said I would show you my patriotism.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:41 pm#61 and #62,
Are you real? You're telling me that because of your perception of the way that I phrase things that you concluded, through your intellect, that I must be a foreigner. Are you on Bush's advisory council?
And, I apologize if I interpreted this as a threat:
"Bring your dumb a$$ to my neck of the woods and I will show you some patriotism."
I guess you just wanted me to come to your house so that you could show me the definition of "patriotism" in the dictionary. But I can save you some time. You see, the definition of "patriotism", at least in the current Amercian culture, is to choose a political party and argue continuously with the other political party, all the while allowing for the murder, torture, and terrorism of innocent people to continue unabated. Then theres that pilfering of the treasury, but who really cares about that. Right?
April 11th, 2007 at 7:49 pmHmmm...... a classical instance of Internet Argument .... lolz
April 11th, 2007 at 7:54 pm#64,
April 11th, 2007 at 7:58 pmYou see this as only a "classical instance of Internet Argument"? I'm taken a Bach.
Not my fault you can't read. But then again, loyal bushies know that reading is bad. If I wanted to say I will beat your face in, I would just say that.
But then again, you have no idea who I am or what I stand for. You just took it upon yourself to start a fight with me. Great for you.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:11 pmI wonder if gates or anyone else involved in this decisions thinks about all the soldiers that will die or be wounded for life in months 13-15?
April 11th, 2007 at 8:36 pm.
Nope, none of them care. They don't have any connection to the war. They just started it. Truly War Pigs.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:48 pm#1 Yeah, be all that you can be. 5 fricking times.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:46 pmFed up, if you actually are against the war you need to stop attacking your allies. I, for one, don't buy it. You do nothing but attack those that are anti-war. You are not a convincing objector.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:52 pmGates IS NOT ENDEARING HIMSELF TO THE TROOPS, BUT HE MUST ACT LIKE A GOOD LITTLE NAZI-FASCIST TO PLEASE THE NARCISSISTIC SOCIOPATHIC CRYBABY IN HIS FART-FILLED BUBBLE, Monkey Boy CHIMPya---AND trolls, YOU SAY THAT THE TROOPS ALL VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE---I WOULD LIKE TO COMPARE THAT TO THE CREEP WHO GOES TO A 7/11, FILLS HIS SODA CUP, STANDS BY THE DISPENSER, AND KEEPS DRINKING THE CUP DRY AND RE-FILLING IT WITHOUT PAYING FOR THE REFILLS!!!! GET MY DRIFT, repugnant-repub rightwingnut crank fudge-pachyderms and YA MORONIC trolls WHO SUPPORT THEM???? YA MUST PAY FOR REFILLING THE TROOPS, OR IN THIS CASE, RE-DEPLOYING THEM OVER AND OVER--THIS IS NOT A FREE F*CKING LUNCH OR FREE REFILLS, YOU SIMPLETON RETARDS!!!!! PAY THEM MORE MONEY AND GIVE THEM MORE REST IN BETWEEN TOURS OF DUTY, OR IF YA CAN'T DO THAT AND SUPPORT THE FAILED SURGE, GET THEM THE F*CK OUT OF Iraq IMMEDIATELY, FOOLS!!!!!
April 12th, 2007 at 12:42 amI have read many comments here about likes and dislikes of the War. The ones that should have a valid opinion are those that are there. Do you know that many people in that country want us there to help protect them from a government that can't help yet. With all the soldiers there doing there job, don't you think that the opinions made by ones that have actually no tie to the military mean nothing. They should sticj to there politics and not ones based on the livlihood of other.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:32 amFor all of those who turn your nose at the "volunteer" force. That is exactly what we are a force. While you all sit back and open your mouths and write what you want too. We (the military men and women) are fighting for your right to do so. Remember how you felt when 9/11 happened, and how proud you were when you witnessed everyone standing tall against terrorism. Why the change? We are all fed up with WAR, no one is denying that, but this is what we chose to do. We also chose to defend your right to bi$%h and complain. The military family is the strongest there is and your words will never, let me say again never break that family apart. The men and women who served even a day understand that. Those who do not have the guts to walk a mile in my boots should never open their mouths without rmembering who is giving you that freedom to do so. If the military was not fighting a WAR 1/2 way around the world the WAR might be in your back yard, could you deal with that? Or would you ask where is my countries defense? Why are they not here to help me?
Remember:
"This We'll Defend" US ARMY
Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) USMC
"Un Ab Alto" [One Over All] USAF
"Non sibi sed patriae" (Not self but country) USN
When you all understand what those mean then maybe just maybe you can talk the talk. But you will never ba able to walk the walk
Proud US Militay Man, USAF
April 12th, 2007 at 7:37 amFor all of those who turn your nose at the “volunteer†force. That is exactly what we are a force. While you all sit back and open your mouths and write what you want too. We (the military men and women) are fighting for your right to do so. Remember how you felt when 9/11 happened, and how proud you were when you witnessed everyone standing tall against terrorism. Why the change? We are all fed up with WAR, no one is denying that, but this is what we chose to do. We also chose to defend your right to bi$%h and complain. The military family is the strongest there is and your words will never, let me say again never break that family apart. The men and women who served even a day understand that. Those who do not have the guts to walk a mile in my boots should never open their mouths without rmembering who is giving you that freedom to do so. If the military was not fighting a WAR 1/2 way around the world the WAR might be in your back yard, could you deal with that? Or would you ask where is my countries defense? Why are they not here to help me?
Remember:
“This We’ll Defend†US ARMY
Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) USMC
“Un Ab Alto†[One Over All] USAF
“Non sibi sed patriae†(Not self but country) USN
When you all understand what those mean then maybe just maybe you can talk the talk. But you will never ba able to walk the walk
Proud US Militay Man, USAF
April 12th, 2007 at 7:39 amA great number of revolutions and military coups have been done by disgruntled troops after unpopular wars.
Keep cheering for the war, trolls, but don't cry later.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:59 amI understand that only the Army soldiers' tours of duty have been lengthened to fifteen months. Why haven't the Navy, the Marines, or the Air Force's tours been extended as well? Seems unfair to me to lay it solely on the Army.
April 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pmPeace.
I understand that only the Army soldiers’ tours of duty have been lengthened to fifteen months. Why haven’t the Navy, the Marines, or the Air Force’s tours been extended as well? Seems unfair to me to lay it solely on the Army.
Peace.
Comment by Annie B. — April 12, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Because the Marine Corps is too small and the Navy and Air Force dont have ground forces. They are actually drawing down the sizes of the Air Force and Navy in mass quantities over the next few years. So that leaves the Army to do all the heavy pulling. The Marines are already doing 7 months deployed with 6-9 months back home. The air force however only does 4-6 month deployments with 12 or more months back home because they dont really have a job. They air force is actually taking over some army logisitics jobs.
And what they mean by one year between deployments is that particular unit will have one year off. But what happens when, like my brigade, we just go back from a 14 months deployment and we PCS to a unit that is preparing to deploy or already deployed. I appreciate the hard decison SOD Gates had to make, but it wouldnt be a problem if it weren't for the surge that isn't doing anything but making the moles pop up everywhere else.
April 12th, 2007 at 4:22 pmi saw a few comments that really pissed me off. i bet 95% of the comments left were by people who never even served in any military branch. i am in iraq right now. although i don't like bein extended it's an extra 3 grand for the 3 months i'm doin over here. i'm pretty sure my wife and kids would rather have me home tho. to point out one i read it said only 5% of the families are affected by troops will that 5% is the most important thing to us. that's all.
April 12th, 2007 at 10:08 pm[...] Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced yesterday that all U.S. Army soldiers in Iraq would have their 12-month tours in Iraq extended by 3 additional months. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) called the policy “an additional burden to an already overstretched Army,” and warned not to “underestimate the enormous negative impact this will have on Army families.” [...]
April 13th, 2007 at 12:20 amA few of these comments made me sick! My heart broke yesterday! I had to tell my kids there daddy will not be home for Christmas AGAIN. Yes I know this is my husband's job. And yes this is what he wanted to do. And I am proud of him. Some of you, well you are nothing but some low life peice's of shit that have nothing better to do than bash the military. SHAME ON YOU!! What do you do with your live's??? Remember what go's around come's around!!
April 13th, 2007 at 1:24 amIF YOU DONT SUPPORT THE TROOPS, STAND IN FRONT OF THEM
Have a nice day:0)
Do you people understand that the Military does, in support of you? I dont think 90% of you do. We protect and defend your right to freedom. Yes MY country was founded based on God but it was also founded on Country. If you care to read history you would have known that. But as one person said earlier, #78, I believe that 95% of them havent served a day in the military. I have been deployed 18 of the last 36 months and I am in the Air Force. Some will say wow that is alot, not as much as some Army people but to me alot never the less. One thing though, to say that the Air Force does not have a job that is in correct, I am actually fullfilling an Army position right now. But I digress it does not matter, what matters is that we are fighting for peoples right to complain about something that they will never understand. And that is the brotherhood each and everyone of has served. To me the true heros are themilitary families. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the military spouses for holding the family together and being so flexible that you could bend them like a pretzel and they will never break. Thank you to my wife and kids for understanding.
I love you all.
April 13th, 2007 at 11:30 am