People signing up for Marines down as well - they missed goals for January and February. First time in a decade.
Why?
Scott: Iraq is an issue. Improving economy. Some parents are discouraging their young children from joining the services.
---
USA Today
Army misses recruiting goal
Thu Mar 3, 6:30 AM ET Politics - USATODAY.com
By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
Yahoo NewsWASHINGTON - In what could be a troubling sign for the military, the active-duty Army missed its February recruiting goal by more than 27%. It was the first time in almost five years that the Army has failed to meet a monthly target.
The Army signed up 5,114 recruits in February, 1,936 fewer than its goal of 7,050. The last time the Army missed a monthly target was in May 2000.
The February shortfall is especially worrisome because it comes as the Army is trying to lure recruits with the largest enlistment bonuses it has ever offered: up to $20,000 to some recruits willing to sign on for four years. The Pentagon (news - web sites) has also been adding thousands of recruiters for the Army and other branches.
Doug Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky, attributed the shortfall in part to compe ion from the improving economy and parents' fears that their children could be injured or killed in Iraq (news - web sites). As of Wednesday, nearly 1,500 U.S. servicemembers had died in Iraq since the invasion in March 2003.
(snip)
Yeah, I would say this is "troubling". Especially considering we're only 4 years on from one of the worst attacks on US soil in our history. An attack that created an overwhelming sense of national pride that at any other time in history would have lingered for many years. But now, thanks to the NeoCons and their ill-planned wars, we are having trouble just meeting the minimum recruiting goals of almost all the services.
Is anyone feeling a draft yet?
You basically answered your own question, in a roundabout way.we're ... 4 years on from one of the worst attacks on US soil in our history.
At what point is the swell of national pride SUPPOSED to fall back to the normal level? Are we early? Was it supposed to last 10 years after 9/11?
The fact that recruiting is down during a War should come as no surprise. The same thing happened in the Gulf War in 1991. There will be no Draft.
I've heard some are waiting for the Bush twins to enlist.
Damn Dan, are you still talking about this? Do you know why they're not making their goals? Maybe it's because they're trying to EXPAND the military! Give it up Dan, there will not be a draft.
You would think that the "mandate" voters would have their sons and daughters running to the recruiter's offices.
They want the war but want the lower classes to fight it for them.
Maybe most parents let their adult offspring make up their own damn minds.
You mean when you voted for Bush it also meant you had to send your kids to fight in Iraq? Wow, I did not know that!
No, when you vote for Bush, you send OTHER people's kids to fight in Iraq.You mean when you voted for Bush it also meant you had to send your kids to fight in Iraq?
That "mandate" thing really bugs you doesn't it Johnny?
Minorities, who enmass, disagree with W's war-time policies, especially blacks, are enlisting in the service at much lower rates compounding the shortage problem...
E StripesThe Army’s wartime recruiting challenge is aggravated by a sharp drop in black enlistments over the last four years, which internal Army and Defense Department polls trace to an unpopular war in Iraq and concerns among blacks with Bush administration policies.
The Army is straining to meet recruiting goals in part because the number of black volunteers has fallen 41 percent — from 23.5 percent of recruits in fiscal 2000 down steadily to 13.9 percent in the first four months of fiscal 2005.
“It’s alarming,” said Maj. Gen. Michael D. Roc e, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Fort Knox, Ky.
No single factor explains the drop, Roc e said, but clearly the propensity of black youth to enlist is impacted by the war and increasingly by views of parents, teachers, coaches, clergy and other “influencers.”
<cut>
Rangel said many blacks still are enticed into service by benefits and cash incentives, which are rising sharply.
“It has amazed me that, not withstanding the general feeling of the community, they still have enlisted and fought. When my outfits come home, these guys get their medals and they’re proud. But when I’m called up , they cheer and stomp their feet, knowing that I fought against the war. It’s inconsistent as .”
From that article:
So, not liking Bush wasn't the top reason? Too bad, huh Dan?Fear of being killed or injured was the top reason to avoid service for 26 percent of youth in 2004, almost double the 14 percent reported in 2000.
Somehow I just see Dan sitting at his computer smiling when he reads like this.
I wonder what he's gonna say when the Iraqis say this and go string up Zarqawi and all his men by their balls, followed shortly by the Lebanese kicking the Syrians out on their ass and the Palestinians and Israelis fostering a lasting peace while setting up the country of Palestine.
It's gotta be a ty time to be a democrat, knowing you're staring in your face some very significant events in world history that are going to result in Bush being known as one of the all-time great leaders in world history, not just the U.S.
I wonder what he's gonna say when the Iraqis say this and go string up Zarqawi and all his men by their balls, followed shortly by the Lebanese kicking the Syrians out on their ass and the Palestinians and Israelis fostering a lasting peace while setting up the country of Palestine.
It's gotta be a ty time to be a democrat, knowing you're staring in your face some very significant events in world history that are going to result in Bush being known as one of the all-time great leaders in world history, not just the U.S.
Yeah, that's gonna happen!!
yea it will happen. ing right doggie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dan is not even a democrat... he's just a pimply fat kid at a computer who likes to stir up...
I for one have never found a time when it was ty to be a democrat.
I'm one today, will be tomorrow, and probably will be when I die....and that'll make me smile when I say to republicans "go yourselves".
I don't despise all Democrats, know some cool ones actually. It's the dumb s like Dan who think that black helicopters are in constant orbit over their houses and Republican presidents want to take over the world that I laugh at.
Some of my best friends are republicans. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
As a matter of fact, after I did our income taxes I told one of them that if Bush runs in 2008, he has my vote.
Well good for you!! You go Joe!I for one have never found a time when it was ty to be a democrat.
I'm one today, will be tomorrow, and probably will be when I die....and that'll make me smile when I say to republicans "go yourselves".
*Chants*
Jooe Jooe Jooe Jooe!!
Well, if that feels right for you then go with it, but I will trust the word of award winning writer Seymour Hersh over any one else in this forum. Here is his assessment of the current situation in Iraq given in a speech last night in Louisville. Hersh said that the elections held in January was a "farce" (my words). And he asked the question, it has been five weeks since the election and why don't they have a government up and running working toward a Cons ution and more elections? Because the guys the administration wanted to win didn't win and Bush and Co are still maneuvering to get their guy into a position of authority. They need a puppet and the winners just aren't cooperating. They want democracy in name only because it is very important to them to get a figurehead that won't ask the American troops to leave. So much for freedom and elections, huh? Also said his information leads most military authorities to believe that with the Shiites winning the election there is even a greater chance that Iraq will fall into a civil war. Doesn't the news just keep getting better and better?
Bush doesn't care what the American people or the world thinks about his plans. Just flat doesn't care. Hersh says that from his contacts within the administration, naysayers are routinely pushed out and only people who agree with his and the Neocons grand schemes are allowed anywhere close to the table. W honestly believes that he is changing the course of world history and that in 10, 20 or 50 years he will be remembered in the same way that Lincoln is revered. And he has no one around him to tell him any different. The overall thought was like him or not - Bush is SURE he is right and will do anything to see it through. (ie - Social Security).
Couldn't say for sure whether we will go into Iraq or Syria now that the plans are out there for public view but he does have several military units already working on the inside of these countries doing grunt work in preparation (with no congressional oversight). Also, said that Rumsfeld has completely trashed the CIA. Concerted steps were taken to remove, run off or push from the table any and all people within the agency that did not get on board with the grand schemes. The CIA was the original group that kept saying there were no WMDs, no terrorists, Saddam not involved. The BushyBots just didn't want to hear it. The CIA is now a toothless, powerless (my words) agency. Because of laws written in the 80s that required Congressional oversight this administration has cir vented the process by declaring presidential authority to prepare for possible wars by using the military by secret methods traditionally used by the CIA for information. Since they have "authority" and it is not the CIA, King Chimp, Cheney and Rumsfeld feel they do not have to report to Congress or any one else on what they are doing. Scary, scary $hit.
He did say there were many, many patriots who work inside the government that are just aghast at what is being done to this nation. He also had very kind words for Robert Novak - allowed he was a right wing, conserative pundit but that he was very smart and very patriotic.
Finally, one last comment that Hersh made that really caught my ear - he was very dismissive of the Democratic Party. Said that it was the grassroots people that energized, moved, organized and got out the vote in the last election. He did not particularly like Kerry, but said the campaign was poorly run and still wanted him to win. He then said that the grassroots movements are what is going to be the answer for the Democratic Party and the "official" leaders can get on board or not but that the people are now powering the Dems. Good to hear.
Last edited by Nbadan; 03-06-2005 at 04:56 AM.
dan, you and your buddy seymour are idiots... find a girlfriend man... have you ever had a girlfriend since you were 13?
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