chosendudenyc

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer 34 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - 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.
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While the totals are still far lower than they were during the Vietnam War, when the draft was in effect, they show a steady increase over the past four years and a 42 percent jump since last year.

"We're asking a lot of soldiers these days," said Roy Wallace, director of plans and resources for Army personnel. "They're humans. They have all sorts of issues back home and other places like that. So, I'm sure it has to do with the stress of being a soldier."

The Army defines a deserter as someone who has been absent without leave for longer than 30 days. The soldier is then discharged as a deserter.

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Cited from website (with appreciation) Army desertion rate up 80 pct. since '03 - Yahoo! News.

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1069

Poor little things. They've decided they don't want to kill or die, for any amount of money.
I can relate. Who can't?

I suppose we're all supposed to affect some sort of pompous outrage over their cowardice and anti-Americanism.
Whatevah.

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Lightdemon: "Is 10 going to outer space or something?"
Jerry: "...yes, 10 is going to outerspace."

Thelost1

It's kinda different in the army. There are other people who are relying on you. Just walking out is a ****ty thing to do.

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Emphasis added.

"The religion of one age is the literary entertainment of the next."
~Emerson

1069

If other people are "relying on me" to kill strangers on their behalf, they're going to be disappointed.

Why? They're replaceable.
If their hearts aren't in it, let em go.

TheNextEra

Sorry and I'm not advocating desertion in the least, however, one thing I learned from being in the Army is that NOONE is irreplaceable.

Let's take your example one step further, if someone dies, is that someone that died letting everyone down because they were depending on them? No, of course not.

There is always a replacement folks. May not be as good, but there is a replacement.

And again, I am not advocating desertion in the least, just saying that noone is letting anyone down, because if that were true, then someone that died is letting someone down. And as we all know that isn't true.

new coup for you

they signde up thinkg they get free money for college, and now that thatye have to work for it i m siuppoused ot be sympathetic? do yto think the people in the army are anything wed want ot be around? they're reupuicaln peices of shist. good that theyd ie.

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And why does your tone suggest that you do not care about children?

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike.

1069

So? They're not slaves.
If they decide they don't have the stomach for it, let em go, I say.


Shhhhh.

Thelost1

They signed up. I have no sympathy (well, little) for soldiers who got to Iraq and decided that they don't want to fight. They are all volunteers, and if getting shot at isn't their idea of a good time, maybe they should have done their research before joining.

Thelost1

“I never blame failure –there are too many complicated situations in life –but I am absolutely merciless toward lack of effort.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald

Do you see a differance between someone who won't save you from falling off a cliff because they don't want to, and someone who isn't strong enough?

NoMoreDems-Reps

I think it's understandable to protest the leader ship of America.
It would be one thing if we had "True American Patriot" types in
control of the Congress and With house, and we had to go to
war. But that's not the case. We should support our troops by
making sure the Commander and Chief is a smart, just, noble man
and not some retarded Oil Czar that could careless about the
people on the front line facing the bullets!