Suicide is only way out of Iraq
January 14, 2004 12:32 PM Subscribe
Fact: The only way to leave the U.S. military is if you are wounded or dead.
Fact: More U.S. soldiers are taking their life.
Uncle Sam wants you.
Fact: More U.S. soldiers are taking their life.
Uncle Sam wants you.
This post was deleted for the following reason: a fairly ugly inference, don't you think?
The Fact is that the U.S. Military is a all volunteer force... No one made anyone join.
See here
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:45 PM on January 14, 2004
See here
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:45 PM on January 14, 2004
Jammer, I've heard that soldiers aren't being allowed to leave at the end of their terms. That the military is extending their period of service regardless of the soldier's wishes.
I've also heard, read and seen that there are soldiers in Iraq that are not properly equipped either. Some have no flak jackets, others were issued squirt guns that look like M-16s. You know, typical stuff.
But its okay because they signed up for it, right?
posted by fenriq at 12:49 PM on January 14, 2004
I've also heard, read and seen that there are soldiers in Iraq that are not properly equipped either. Some have no flak jackets, others were issued squirt guns that look like M-16s. You know, typical stuff.
But its okay because they signed up for it, right?
posted by fenriq at 12:49 PM on January 14, 2004
Another source of the problem has been a large number of National Guard and reserve troops activated for duty in Iraq who have to be treated for underlying health problems, Winkenwerder said. The Army is working to solve that problem by screening those reservists at their home bases, rather than later.
how fucking brilliant.
posted by quonsar at 12:51 PM on January 14, 2004
how fucking brilliant.
posted by quonsar at 12:51 PM on January 14, 2004
You could also, um, fill out the term of service that you signed up for. It's not like you didn't know what you were getting into when you enlisted.
strange how a liberal writing this same "tough shit" sentence in a warblog would probably be rhetorically lynched as a traitor, or worse.
but it's OK Steve, "tough shit".
I find that in extremely bad taste. I hope I'm not the only one.
heh. taste.
taste is funny -- I find in extremely bad taste that the White House uses soldiers as pawns (ie cannon fodder) and props for photo-ops but suddendly forgets about those same soldiers once they have to come back inside a body bag. but of course by then they're not good PR anymore -- they're an embarrassing reminder of the high cost of Iraq Attaq. on the other hand, the WTC dead still make for useful political lubricant, so at least they're not forgotten
No one made anyone join.
no, except Poverty nobody did, you're right:
Rincon was a citizen of Colombia, one of 37,000 noncitizens serving in the active duty U.S. armed forces. The military requires only that immigrants be permanent residents, not necessarily citizens in order to serve. Nearly 13,000 reservists are also noncitizens. Rincon was one of at least seven noncitizens among the 128 U.S. Military personnel killed so far in the war in Iraq.
All have been awarded posthumous citizenships.
you know, they'll probably get posthumous health care, and posthumous college degrees as well -- now that would be good taste, I guess
posted by matteo at 1:00 PM on January 14, 2004
strange how a liberal writing this same "tough shit" sentence in a warblog would probably be rhetorically lynched as a traitor, or worse.
but it's OK Steve, "tough shit".
I find that in extremely bad taste. I hope I'm not the only one.
heh. taste.
taste is funny -- I find in extremely bad taste that the White House uses soldiers as pawns (ie cannon fodder) and props for photo-ops but suddendly forgets about those same soldiers once they have to come back inside a body bag. but of course by then they're not good PR anymore -- they're an embarrassing reminder of the high cost of Iraq Attaq. on the other hand, the WTC dead still make for useful political lubricant, so at least they're not forgotten
No one made anyone join.
no, except Poverty nobody did, you're right:
Rincon was a citizen of Colombia, one of 37,000 noncitizens serving in the active duty U.S. armed forces. The military requires only that immigrants be permanent residents, not necessarily citizens in order to serve. Nearly 13,000 reservists are also noncitizens. Rincon was one of at least seven noncitizens among the 128 U.S. Military personnel killed so far in the war in Iraq.
All have been awarded posthumous citizenships.
you know, they'll probably get posthumous health care, and posthumous college degrees as well -- now that would be good taste, I guess
posted by matteo at 1:00 PM on January 14, 2004
strange how a liberal writing this same "tough shit" sentence in a warblog would probably be rhetorically lynched as a traitor, or worse.
I didn't intend it as a "tough shit" statement. It infuriates me that our boys aren't getting everything they need and deserve, and I get extremely annoyed with the naysayers here whose negative campaigning is leading to this sort of tragedy. I want to see the American fighting man be as effective, and well-treated, as can be.
But, perhaps its my POV, but this post didn't seem like it was saying, "Look, our soldiers aren't getting enough, let's help them." It felt, to me, alot more like an effort to parade their bodies around as yet another reason why we should Impeach Bush. I call that exploitation.
posted by jammer at 1:05 PM on January 14, 2004
I didn't intend it as a "tough shit" statement. It infuriates me that our boys aren't getting everything they need and deserve, and I get extremely annoyed with the naysayers here whose negative campaigning is leading to this sort of tragedy. I want to see the American fighting man be as effective, and well-treated, as can be.
But, perhaps its my POV, but this post didn't seem like it was saying, "Look, our soldiers aren't getting enough, let's help them." It felt, to me, alot more like an effort to parade their bodies around as yet another reason why we should Impeach Bush. I call that exploitation.
posted by jammer at 1:05 PM on January 14, 2004
In other news,
Suicide took the lives of 29,350 Americans in 2000.
In other words, the suicide rate of soldiers vs. citizens is almost exactly the same.
posted by BlueTrain at 1:09 PM on January 14, 2004
Suicide took the lives of 29,350 Americans in 2000.
In other words, the suicide rate of soldiers vs. citizens is almost exactly the same.
posted by BlueTrain at 1:09 PM on January 14, 2004
I seem to recall similar stories when soldiers were doing themselves in while suffering Clinton's invasion of Hati. I love the ping pong nature of politics. Everything comes around when the other guy is in office. What is the suicide rate among troops stationed in Bosnia?
posted by thirteen at 1:10 PM on January 14, 2004
posted by thirteen at 1:10 PM on January 14, 2004
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Fact: It seems to me like this post is exploiting the tragic suicides of American GIs to make a (very trite) political point. I find that in extremely bad taste. I hope I'm not the only one.
posted by jammer at 12:44 PM on January 14, 2004