Army desertion rates highest since 1980.
By on Nov 16th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Army desertion rates highest since 1980.
“Soldiers strained by six years at war are deserting their posts at the highest rate since 1980, with the number of Army deserters this year showing an 80 percent increase since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003.” Approximately 4,698 soldiers deserted this year.
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Is that all?
November 16th, 2007 at 6:54 pmHow many canaries in the mine are necessary before the wingnuts figure out what most of the country did years ago??
November 16th, 2007 at 6:58 pmI would bet it’s a lot higher than that..Time will tell…Bet the death’s and wonded are a lot higher also..Blessings
November 16th, 2007 at 6:59 pmShould be pretty obvious – the stop loss, the reduced recruitment standards, the pointless war, the unclear mission, the feeling of being used.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:11 pmMust be them phoney soldier types Rush rants about. If they are, what does that say about the recruitment process that fails to ferret out the phonies before hand?
November 16th, 2007 at 7:15 pmMaybe they’re not deserting. Maybe they’re just leaving to help a political campaign like little Georgie did when he disappeared from the Texas National Guard?
November 16th, 2007 at 7:16 pmWhat the hell was going on in 1980, except for Carter being President?
Comment by Beefeater — November 16, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Among other things….
49 Hostages were being held in Tehran.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:20 pmRussian troops were in Afghanistan
Mt. St. Helens blew it’s top.
America boycotted the Moscow olympics.
The Shah of Iran died in exile in Egypt.
Reagan won the presidential election.
Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. American cars built with a lot less chrome.
The Iran -Iraq War erupts.
This is good for Republicans.
-Lamestream Media Mantra Police
November 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pmComment by Badger — November 16, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
You forgot one:
Radical extremist rightwing president elected in US
Republicans gained control of Senate for first time in nearly 30 years
Enough to send any sensible person running for the woods.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:24 pmOops. You forgot two.
Must be the Spanish Inquisition.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:25 pmWell, that’s certainly what I would do. If I was facing my third trip to Iraq in three years, knowing that this time I may not be so lucky, and knowing that we are illegally occupying another country, I would desert. The military has deserted these men, so why shouldn’t they desert the military.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:34 pmOne more thing then….
The Viet Nam War, where desertion rates were Off The Charts… had been over for 5 years.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:36 pmArmy desertion rates highest since 1980. …… Approximately 4,698 soldiers deserted this year. 6:38 pm
That 4,698 witnesses against GW Botch and Dick(head) Cheney at a war crimes trial at The Hague!!!
Speak up y’all!! Tell your stories. Convict Botch and Dick(head)!!!
November 16th, 2007 at 7:39 pmOne presumes that most are deserting just prior to deployment.
When you consider the size of the military today against the size it was back in 1980 the desertion rate is actually close to double what it was back then. In fact, it would be more meaningful to report desertation rates than deseration numbers. As it is, it is almost like comparing apples and oranges.
Where did these deserters go? Did they simply melt back into society like an illegal immigrant. Did they go to Canada? What happened with these soldiers.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:40 pmThat would be 4,698 soldiers that realized that they have been used as cannon fodder by the Liar-In-Chief for a illegal war of aggression against a country that had nothing to do with 911.
Go figure.
Buck Fush
November 16th, 2007 at 7:42 pmMy favorite corporate news distortion of this piece of information is CNN helpfully pointing out that the desertion rate was higher during the War in Viet Nam. Un-fricking-believable! We had a draft in those days and we’re all-volunteer these days. How about comparing the desertion rate among non-drafted members during Viet Nam and those today? Any ideas on how that would turn out?
November 16th, 2007 at 7:43 pmComment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — November 16, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Excellent point Col.
However, truth and the MSM just don’t mix. Well, rarely, like Keith O.
CNN will forever and ever be just another corportate suckup black hole devoid of information and truth. The MSM is a cesspool of lies, distortions and straight up bullshit!!
November 16th, 2007 at 7:48 pmNow we just need about 300,000 more and we’ll be good.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:50 pmCNN will forever and ever be just another corportate suckup black hole devoid of information and truth. The MSM is a cesspool of lies, distortions and straight up bullshit!!
One thing to keep in mind, not that you aren’t, is that the MSM, corporations, and those in power (Dem & Rep) all want to maintain the status quo at our (people, americans, human) expense. It matters little that W will be out of office, Hillary or Julie Annie will ably fill his shoes. The MSM is used by those in power and the corporations to keep us distracted and confused.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:55 pmHighest rate since 1980, around the same time when peace time casulties were higher than Iraq. What was the deal with the military during this time period?
November 16th, 2007 at 7:57 pmClass Wars!
November 16th, 2007 at 7:59 pmWhile the article states that almost 4700 soldiers deserted this year, what it does not mention is the overall figure of American military personnel who did not return to their units, which is over 10,000. Also, one should be on the lookout for a film which focuses on part of this problem called Stop Loss. It centers upon a soldier who is told that on the day that he is due to be discharged, he discovers that he will have to ship out with his unit to Iraq. The soldier is faced with the decision of whether to abide by what the military has told him to do or whether to say no to the oppressive orders that he has been given. Look for it in theaters in March of 2008. Another film which has now been released is a documentary called Soldiers of Conscience, which focuses upon the subject of why soldiers kill during a time of war and follows eight soldiers who struggle with that decision. Four of those soldiers end up becoming conscientious objectors. Unlike Stop Loss, this film will have more of a limited release. I will be seeing it tomorrow evening at one of the local art house cinemas.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:06 pmComment by Namtillaku — November 16, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
That’s why Hillarious and Trudy JulieAnnie are the front runners despite the lack of one phu(king vote anywhere in the nation yet?
They do this by cooking the polls and then kicking real alternatives like Kucinich or Ron Paul to the curb!! You hear nothing about the alternatives!!
If a government/exterminator really wants to phu(ck a society (or just exterminate some insects) just poison their information intake (pesticides or MSM) and they will run in circles and die fighting against truth/reality/food and everything that ACTUALLY MATTERS!
November 16th, 2007 at 8:09 pmNamilatku: “It matters little that W will be out of office, Hillary or Julie Annie will ably fill his shoes. The MSM is used by those in power and the corporations to keep us distracted and confused.”
Time for another reminder of 2000. Greenies, do you still think there was no difference between Bush and Gore? She’s not my favorite candidate, but the idea that Hillary is no different from the Repubs running is a goddamn distortion. These distortions are how we lose elections. Your ham-handed non-analysis is a sure-fire recipe for getting another Repub in the oval office and a war with Iran as a result.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:21 pmLet me tell you about your wonderful alternative Saint Ron Paul: he wants to dismantle Social Security, Medicare and Medicade. He wants to eliminate the departments of Education, the FCC, the FAA, the EPA and federal funding of public libraries. As a doctrinaire libertarian, he doesn’t think there should be any regulation of corporations at all. Does it really sound like a good idea to you that we don’t regulate corporate capitalism at all???!!! Please get serious.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:25 pmWith all due respect, the idea that there are no differences between Rudy and Hillary is almost insane. On almost every single issue, they are at opposite ends of the argument.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:26 pmComment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — November 16, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Except sucking from the teets of corporate FACIST CEO’s!!! They are both for the rich and only the rich!!!! NO PHU(KING DIFF!!!!
November 16th, 2007 at 8:35 pmLet me tell you about your wonderful alternative Saint Ron Paul: he wants to dismantle Social Security, Medicare and Medicade. He wants to eliminate the departments of Education, the FCC, the FAA, the EPA and federal funding of public libraries. As a doctrinaire libertarian, he doesn’t think there should be any regulation of corporations at all. Does it really sound like a good idea to you that we don’t regulate corporate capitalism at all???!!! Please get serious.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — November 16, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
I mentioned KUCINICH and ron paul! I would vote for Kucinich before Paul. I don’t know why you think I believe Paul is a “Saint.”
Are you drunk again?
November 16th, 2007 at 8:42 pmI am not surprised they are deserting, but conservative Canadian government is now refusing to give them sanctuary.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:01 pmI bet 5,ooo freepers, not being phony’s like Limbaugh, rush to the recruiters offices to make up the difference.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:08 pmhttp://space.jaxa.jp/movie/20071113_kaguya_movie01_e.html
Watch the earth rise over the moon.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:13 pmWhat the hell was going on in 1980, except for Carter being President?
Comment by Beefeater — November 16, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Who cares? What’s relevant is that it’s so bad under GWB that the desertion rate is that high. Misdirection may work for you but it doesn’t alter the facts. GWB is the worst President ever. Who would want to serve under this man? Apparently none of the trolls here, I guess they only agree with him unconditionally so long as there’s no condition of manning up to fight the wars he starts.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:50 pmhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21841263/ this ones about our missing soldiers…..their finally going looking for them………..they went missing in May
November 16th, 2007 at 11:07 pmO Bigfoot….sounds like you watch to much Faux News…..you do know that this war in Iraq is still illegal …right?I dare say if the Preznit would of focused on Afgahnistan(you know…..Bin Laden?)those numbers would be considerably lower…..oh and one more thing……We The People…did not ask our soldiers to go into Iraq.This lying asswipe the Preznit lied to everyone,including you.
November 17th, 2007 at 8:35 ambigfoot the coward is the last one to be criticizing soldiers or anyone else. he’s only too happy to get his wife’s kids out of his hair by sending them off tot he war machine. hypicrisy in action, the repuke scumsucker chickenhawk, o bigfoot.
November 17th, 2007 at 8:44 amDeserters are just deserters. The fact that some here hold a deserter’s actions above anything but contempt shows extreme contempt for the military, and military decorum.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 17, 2007 @ 8:44 am
deserters in this illegal, immoral war for oil profits are heroes, the ones that stay are the suckers and goats, with little patriotism or knowledge of the laws and rights of Americans. you are the last jerkoff who has any right to comment, coward chickenhawk, all you are doing is showing your cowardice and hypocrisy, not to mention your total ignorance of the law. no wonder you’re a repig, you have no respect ofr the Constitution.
November 17th, 2007 at 8:47 amfunny how bigfoot never had the mettle to be a soldier. cowards hiding behind bush’s cheerleader skirt, that’s all you keyboard commandos are. cowards and liars.
November 17th, 2007 at 8:51 amO bigfoot……technically your are correct…but morally ….sorry.Now, since I gave you that…..Don’t you think the Preznit also is a deserter…because he did fail to complete his obligation……..and he even got to stay stateside when he almost did it.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:04 amMe….?…….I’m a vet from 75-78..and have two nephews in Iraq right now and one in Germany……I think the Preznit is a traitor and a deserter.He can go to hell.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:09 amOK O bigfoot…..then why can’t we see his militaty records.He’s in the oval office,the country should have the right to see his records.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:16 amNo O bigfoot ,he was too busy getting coked up and whoring around to show up for his physical.Because he knew he would fail it…so he bailed.And got daddy to fix it.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:18 amyeah….almost fullfilleded his obligation…..cause he damn sure didn’t do that.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:21 amsorry about the bad spelling……need more coffeeeeeeeeeeee
November 17th, 2007 at 9:22 amFolks like Lefty Patriot despise the military, and make no attempt to hide their contempt for military institutions and military people. He’s ashamed of his nation, and thus ashamed of himself. His self-loathing is more than apparent, and thus he is to be pitied. I honestly do feel sorry for him. Life is too short to live in such negativity…
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 17, 2007 @ 9:06 am
bigfoot, you’re an ignorant tool, willingly allowing bush to trash this country and its Constitution and laws. you’re a traitor, and a coward to boot. bush is a deserter, and wasn’t charged for the same reason he leapfrogged over hundreds of other applicants to get into the “champagne” unit for pussies: his political connections. affirnative action for rich white cowards. you have no love of the USA, you pledge your fealty to Bush, a petty tyrant who has broken and ignored more laws than a mafia don. Your cowardice and self-hatred are evidenced in every one of your ignorant, fact-free posts. I don’t feel sorry for you, you have only yourself to blame for the destruction of your country and its laws. it’s a nice dodge you have there to get your kids out of the house, though, send them off to be turned into little cannon-fodder robots so bush’s friends can get richer. You should be thoroughly ashamed of your treason, but we can all see that you’re just too stupid to get it. You show that time and again. that’s why you defend an assclown whose miitary records have been hidden from sight, so that he can continue to screw you over. You’re a sorry excuse for an American citizen.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:25 amAnd if you love the military so much, bigfoot, why haven’t you ever joined up? Is it because you’re the liar? I think so. i think you’ve proven beyond doubt that you’re a shallow, cowardly hypocrite, and a born liar. You have yet to prove any of my statements as lies, but you have proven your own as lies. Good job, you should visit the lying Krongard brothers in prison; you’re one of them.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:29 amBy law, the Congress is the only ones who can declare war.So that makes this war ILLEGAL.By going to war w/o declaration from Congress the Preznit subverted the Constitution.The founding Fathers built the Constitution specificaly for this reason.To limit the Presidents powers.No O bigfoot your wrong on this one.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:34 amO Bigfoot…….Don’t you find it just a little hypocritical that they dug into Kerry’s records and swiftboated him….while shrubs records are sealed…well actually……..their missing.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:55 amNo O bigfoot your wrong on this one.
Comment by mudsharks buddy
You must be new here. Bigfoot still hopes for some WMDs in Iraq.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:56 amI like the Preznit’s speech about WMD’s…”no not here,maybe over here…nope not here either”.What an asshat.Then theres the closing of the office incharge of searching for OBL………yeah……….he’s a real patriot that one.How,in all good conscience can the repugs still see this imbicile as an honest man and leader is beyond me.This just proves that 24% of the country is so stupid……they can’t even grip reality.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:12 amhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=Pa3J-L29iT8&feature=related this says it all.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:19 amhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=zfwRb_XKFvA&feature=related this is funny.who’s on first
November 17th, 2007 at 10:24 amAny deserter of this evil war can come and hide in my closet. Bigfoot – they ARE George’s cannon fodder. We weren’t attacked by Iraq and there were no WMD. You talk about history but you seem to have forgotten those two little facts. Two of my brothers fought in Europe in World War II. One was was wounded and the other received a Silver Star for bravery in action. Just because some people don’t play follow the leader blindly doesn’t make them unpatriotic or contemptuous of the military. My brothers fought with honor in a war that needed to be fought. Quite unlike Bush’s war for oil.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:01 pmAs far as I know, nobody ever volunteered to ATACK another country. The commintment is to DEFEND AMERICA.
This is BUSH’s war, all BUSHIT. It’s not our or our army’s war.
November 17th, 2007 at 4:31 pmDeserters? No! Just human beings who decided not to be a victim in Bush’s hands. He does not deserve those kids BLOOD!
I just hope when history is written…they get it right.None of this repug rewritten crap.
November 17th, 2007 at 4:36 pmHistory will tell, and it won’t be written by neither you, nor me.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — November 17, 2007 @ 10:55 am
it will be written by me, and the other patriots on my side. You and yours will be in prison or hiding out, as traitors. You haven’t answered anything with your cowardly evasions, and your pathetic diagnoses of me are as founded in expertise as y8our military backgound. You’re a coward, and a liar, it’s that simple. I am a sane, thoughtful patriot, not swayed by the lies of arms dealers and republican scumbag sociopath liars like bush and his thugs. I haven’t the fear of your side, the “they want to kill us” cowering you do all the time, and I certainly don’t need men and women ripped from their families and enslaved in the Middle East to protect me, since they are useless there, useless and dying. Their very presence is increasing the danger to all of us, not “protecting” us. Youa re an empty-headed, thoughtless, quivering coward and fool, that’s all you’ve shown everyone with your lies and bullshit. You are allergic to facts, and all the doctors in the world can’t fix that depth of stupid. I have been absolutely, 100% right all the way through this debacle, and you have been absolutely 100% wrong, and that’s a fact. But you keep diagnosing me from afar, that worked real well for Frist.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:00 pm