Sec. Gates: Stop-loss will continue through 2009 at least.
Sec. Gates: Stop-loss will continue through 2009 at least.
During a press conference today, Secretary of State Robert Gates was asked whether he foresaw an end to the practice of stop-loss — where military personnel can be forced to remain in the military even after completing their enlistment terms — by 2009. “No, I don’t,” Gates replied, though he added that he opposes the policy, which many soldiers call a “backdoor draft,” and will work to end it:
As I’ve indicated before, I’ve pressed on stop-loss ever since I got this job because I don’t like it. But a significant percentage of those who are stop-lossed are NCOs [Non-Commissioned Officers] and the concern of the Army is that if you don’t use stop-loss you end up gutting a unit of its experienced leadership. But I hope that fairly soon, and especially with the draw-downs in Iraq, that we will begin to see a further decline in stop-loss.
Watch it:
Between May 2007 and March 2008, “the number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army rose 43% to 12,235.”
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Sucks to be sure, but we can’t stop a freight train on a dime. Hell, let’s not forget Obama isn’t even sworn in yet.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pmWhen you’re “Army Screwed”, you’re “Really Screwed”.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 pmUnless I’m missing something here, Robert Gates is the Secretary of Defense, not the Secretary of State.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pmmique Says:
Unless I’m missing something here, Robert Gates is the Secretary of Defense, not the Secretary of State.
Since when is the Secretary of State responsible for the military?
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 pmGates replied, though he added that he opposes the policy, which many soldiers call a “backdoor draft,” and will work to end it
Backdoor draft, as in “bend over and like it”.
I really do not like Obama keeping Gates on, I feel that the military men and women will just keep getting screwed over with him still in charge. I hope I am wrong.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pmWhen does the “CHANGE” come!!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pmWayne Says:
I really do not like Obama keeping Gates on, I feel that the military men and women will just keep getting screwed over with him still in charge. I hope I am wrong.
Obama has ZERO antiwar people in this foreign policy and military-industrial wet dream team.
!!!CHANGE!!….er continual…..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/3540167/Barack-Obama-says-US-will-maintain-strongest-military-on-planet-as-Clinton-confirmed-top-diplomat.html
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=13838
The War Party’s decisive influence in the Obama administration is going to be rolled out on Monday, so that even the most craven Obama-bots on the Left will be left wondering who and what they voted for. Hillary the hawk at State, Bush’s warlord Robert Gates at Defense, and Gen. Jim Jones – who wants to station U.S. troops in the occupied territories under the rubric of NATO! – as national security adviser to the president. Yes, antiwar voters took a chance on Obama, reasoning that anything would be better than four more years of Bushian belligerence, yet now they discover to their chagrin that the dice are loaded.
Oh lest we not forget, who loves the economic/extortion team but KKKKarl Rove
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122783239069463007.html
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pmHahahahahaha… I’m LOVIN it now that the 2nd Clinton Presidency is about to commence!
I just LOVE reading all of the posts decrying Obama’s obvious need to appoint people who ACTUALLY know how to run a government. It’s also ironic that he’s appointing people whose philosophies he took pains to DENIGRATE during the campaign!
With respect to Gates, Obama’s keeping the man in charge who is responsible for the winning surge strategy, a strategy Obama said WOULD NOT WORK!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 pmBTW, I am pleased that he appointed a HAWK for Secretary of State. At least Hillary wil go for military action when its warranted.
She’s tough and won’t wuss out.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 pmShe’s tough and won’t wuss out.
Tell us more about the “wuss” part.
Chickenhawk Shrub-nut-huggers are quite versed in he field of “wussy-dom”.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 am