The Military, So easy, even a caveman can do it...

[thomaska]

So Charlie Rangel gives us yet another glimpse into the loony left's view of Military members...

“If a young fellow has an option of having a decent career, or joining the Army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq,” Mr. Rangel, a Democrat representing Manhattan and Queens, said on “Fox News Sunday.”​

“If there’s anyone who believes these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some generals have said, you can just forget about it. No bright young individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits. And most all of them come from communities of very, very high unemployment,” the congressman said.​

I'm not saying we all want to fight, but I believe I might fight this old idiot...​

 

[Curiosity]

Poor Rangel - he continues to embarrass himself.... proving once again, nobody has to be smart to get elected to a job in politics either.... just as he speaks of the military.

http://wizbangblog.com/2006/11/19/c...itute-the-democrats-favorite-scare-tactic.php

November 19, 2006

Charlie Rangel Wants to Institute the Democrats' Favorite Scare Tactic

In the run up to the 2004 presidential election, leftists started an internet rumor that President Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld would reinstate the draft in order to fight their "illegal" war. Now that the Democrats have majorities in both houses of Congress, guess what Democrat Charlie Rangel wants to do? Yep, you got it. Reinstate the draft:

Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 if the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee has his way.
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars and to bolster U.S. troop levels insufficient to cover potential future action in Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," Rangel said.
Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose a measure early next year.
In 2003, he proposed a measure covering people age 18 to 26. This year, he offered a plan to mandate military service for men and women between age 18 and 42; it went nowhere in the Republican-led Congress.
Democrats will control the House and Senate come January because of their victories in the Nov. 7 election.
At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," said Rangel, who also proposed a draft in January 2003, before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Standby Reserve, said he agreed that the U.S. does not have enough people in the military.
"I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. And if we can't, then we'll look for some other option," said Graham, who is assigned as a reserve judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
Rangel, the next chairman of the House tax-writing committee, said he worried the military was being strained by its overseas commitments.
"If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft," Rangel said.
He said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve. Instead, "young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it's our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals," with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.
Graham said he believes the all-voluntary military "represents the country pretty well in terms of ethnic makeup, economic background."
​

A military draft won't have a snowball's chance in hell because supporting the idea would be political suicide. But leave it to a Democrat to announce something like this.
Again, I ask: buyer's remorse, anyone?

 

[tracy]

My marine had a good job before choosing the marines and he enlisted after the war started so he knew he'd be going to Iraq. Generalizations like that are never a smart idea.

 

[Kreskin]

You think he's that off base? Most people would be aware of the "defend the country" objective when they signed. Not so sure they were aware of the "offend the other country" objectives of this administration. That might have made a difference in the choices of many.

 

[Curiosity]

Kreskin

The Re-enslistment numbers are very high considering what the rest of the world are saying.

 

[the caracal kid]

curio,

Now does that re-enlistment rate have any direct relation to what Rangel said?

 

[#juan]

Bush has allowed his big business cronies to out-source about two million jobs. Nothing like unemployment to encourage military enlistment.

 

[Curiosity]

CaracalKid

No - it has been high since the beginning of the invasion in Iraq - many troops are re-upping and some who have been in past conflicts (Gulf One) and are older are signing on. Some of my husband's buddies have returned and have written to me about their various reasons.

How Rangel's remarks will affect the current situation I have no idea. I think it is insulting to the kids who
have signed on and returned for more tours. They join for many reasons. Apparently re-enlistment is up and
recruitment is down - so if they are looking to get big numbers to sign on as new recruits - it doesn't look that
promising - especially with much of the coalition pulling out in 2007....

Here is a link to a soldier's diary.... tells a bit of the thinking...

....Like the other NCOs [non-commissioned officers] I have talked about, Sgt. Washington has a family back in the States that with the exception of this two weeks of mid-tour leave he has not seen all year. I am sure he misses them deeply, but he always goes about his job in a cool, reasoned manner. He will never complain about the hardships endured over here lest it affect his work or the morale of his soldiers. This is his second deployment; he spent seven months at a place called LSA Anaconda on his last trip over here.
The reenlistment rate over here has far surpassed our yearly goals. There are a couple of reasons behind this, some of it amounts to timing, as a number of soldiers have reached the point where they have to make the decision. Some of the reenlistments are probably due to the tax free bonuses that can be received, while others simply due to the joy of serving one's country. On most, I think it is a combination of the three.
Later in the week, we will be having a promotion ceremony for three of our soldiers, along with an awards ceremony for some of our soldiers who will be receiving the Combat Action Badge or CAB. The soldiers are receiving the CAB for having been under enemy contact; in most cases, this amounts to having been in the vicinity of an IED strike on their convoy. They are just a few of the many within this unit that have either received the CAB or CIB [Combat Infantry Badge] throughout the last nine-and-a-half months.
Promotions, awards, and reenlistments are about the three best things you can do as a commander. The ceremonies are always nice, as someone — be it the commander or the person chosen to promote the soldier — is always asked to say some nice words about the soldier.
In the big picture, these actions occur on almost a daily basis; at the start of every month, a certain number of soldiers will be promoted. Every day, soldiers over here are doing their part and earning various awards — to write about each medal given out would take an eternity. These events do not produce any earth shattering news, but for the soldiers being recognized, it is their time.
E-mail Captain Dan at soldiersdiary@gmail.com. Click here to read his bio

 

[Curiosity]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=76761

American Legion to Congressman Rangel: Apologize Now
11/27/2006 4:55:00 PM
To: National Desk
Contact: Ramona Joyce, 202-263-2982 or 202-445-1161 (cell), or Wade Habshey, 317-630-1253 or 317-966-2716 (cell), both of the American Legion
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Commander of The American Legion called on Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to apologize for suggesting that American troops would not choose to fight in Iraq if they had other employment options.
"Our military is the most skilled, best-trained all-volunteer force on the planet," said National Commander Paul A. Morin. "Like that recently espoused by Sen. John Kerry, Congressman Rangel's view of our troops couldn't be further from the truth and is possibly skewed by his political opposition to the war in Iraq."
According to Rangel, "If a young fellow has an option of having a decent career, or joining the Army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq. If there's anyone who believes these youngsters want to fight, as the Pentagon and some generals have said, you can just forget about it. No bright young individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of some educational benefits," Rangel said.
Rangel was responding to a question during an interview yesterday on Fox News Sunday about a recent study by the Heritage Foundation which found that those enlisting in the military tend to be better educated than the general public and that military recruiting seems to be more successful in middle-class and wealthy neighborhoods than in poor ones.
According to the study, 97 percent of military enlistees were high school graduates versus 80 percent of Americans in general. The study also concludes that the average reading level of military personnel is a full grade level higher than that of the general population.
"I'm not sure I understand what is unfair about letting adults make their own career choices," Morin said as he visited troops in Korea this week. "Troops serving today have a higher education level than the overall population. Why another member of Congress is insulting our troops' commitment and education level is beyond me."
Morin said the American Legion applauds and appreciates the great sacrifices of those who serve -- many of whom have put civilian careers aside, college on hold or given up high paying jobs to enlist.
More and more troops say it's duty and honor before college fund that motivated them to join. Recruiting numbers have been met this year, but more importantly, servicemembers are reenlisting so retention within the armed forces is great, Morin explained. Not everyone holds the view that we should wait to be attacked again as a nation.
"These brave men and women lay it on the line every day for each and every one of us, for which I am very grateful," Morin said. "Their selfless commitment for the betterment of our world from radical extremists is beyond commendable. It's time for members of Congress to stop insulting our troops.
"While the American Legion shares the congressman's appreciation for education, the troops in Iraq represent the most sophisticated, technologically superior military that the world has ever seen," Morin said. "I call on Congressman Rangel to not only apologize to our troops but to also fight for pay increases and make significant improvements to the current GI Bill -- reserves and guard included, as he prepares for a party chairmanship in the 110th Congress."
------
Founded in 1919, the 2.7 million-member American Legion is the nation's preeminent service organization for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, including active duty, National Guard and Reserves, and their families. A powerful voice for veterans in Washington, the American Legion drafted the original GI Bill and was instrumental in establishing the agency that today is the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
This text and a high-resolution photo of Cmdr. Morin can be downloaded at http://www.legion.org.
http://www.usnewswire.com/
-0-

 

[thomaska]

Here, unlike some Democrats, the actual STATISTICS don't lie.

US CENSUS

Its a big graph, but if you're interested, it shows that schmucks like Kerry and Rangel have their heads planted firmly between their cheeks. Hmm..strange ...70% of the military seems to be WHITE. Where does Rangel get the impression that only minorites are being crapped on by being sent to combat?

 

[Curiosity]

Thomaska

The U.S. is predominantly white majority I believe - so it follows that the military would reflect the
same ratio of minority/majority in membership.

Even many minorities are bi-racial these days.

 

[CDNBear]

UG, me caveman manaj to commpleet milataree servace and get edumakasun and stirt a budnis and muk guud munny and lok uot 4 me famalee no prublam, ug, efter me clubd perty woman on hed wit a club and drag her hom. ug ha ha ha.

 

[hermanntrude]

after you've spent time killing people in iraq and seeing the stuff that goes down around there, what other job would u go for? exactly? would you be a loss adjuster? or a gym teacher? or a shoe salesperson? Re-enlistment has always been high when people are at war, mainly because people become institutionalised and so far removed from normal experience that they can't bear the thought of a "normal" life

 

[thomaska]

after you've spent time killing people in iraq and seeing the stuff that goes down around there, what other job would u go for? exactly? would you be a loss adjuster? or a gym teacher? or a shoe salesperson? Re-enlistment has always been high when people are at war, mainly because people become institutionalised and so far removed from normal experience that they can't bear the thought of a "normal" life

A possible candidate for campaign manager of the '08 Kerry/Rangel presidential ticket, I see..:laughing7:

 

[hermanntrude]

not sure i understand your comment thomaska.

 

[CDNBear]

after you've spent time killing people in iraq and seeing the stuff that goes down around there, what other job would u go for? exactly? would you be a loss adjuster? or a gym teacher? or a shoe salesperson? Re-enlistment has always been high when people are at war, mainly because people become institutionalised and so far removed from normal experience that they can't bear the thought of a "normal" life

I saw enough death, destruction and human cruelty to last more then one life time on two Peace Keeping tours.

Yet I managed to come home, get an education work hard, in Canada, South America, the Philipines, the UK, the US, Austalia and in the ME, as a welder/fitter. Then low and behold, I built a business of my own. All the while being the patriarch of a family.

Life is what you make of it, if you have it in you to right it off, you will. If you're a survivor, a winner, a real man or a real woman, you move past the nightmares, the PTSD. Falling under its spell and sitting there feeling sorry for yourself, is a waste of time.

Hey, I'm not negating their effects, I've got my baggage, but it won't stop me from livin'.

So stop blaming the Army and/or war, for the foibles of man.

 

[thomaska]

not sure i understand your comment thomaska.

So which of the professions you listed would you recommend for me, a combat veteran with a Bachelors Degree in history, who isn't an alcoholic, doesn't beat his wife, and doesn't file for bankruptcy? Would you recommend that I not reenlist for the 4th time (coming up in january) and get out while I'm still smart and normal?

 

[tracy]

UG, me caveman manaj to commpleet milataree servace and get edumakasun and stirt a budnis and muk guud munny and lok uot 4 me famalee no prublam, ug, efter me clubd perty woman on hed wit a club and drag her hom. ug ha ha ha.

:laughing7:

 

[Sassylassie]

Well my cave man cost the Military a cool one million to train as a pilot and his IQ is off the scale, academics have always looked down their noses at the Military, I believe, because they prefer to think of themselves as elites but in reality they don't have the BALLS to serve their country. It's a nice safe place is the halls of Acadamia, just ask Iggy and Ray. Oh and Harper.

Goodone Bear :wave:

 

[Curiosity]

Thunder 6 - the MilBlogger I followed for a year was a couple of months from defending his Ph.D.

He was already in graduate studies serving one weekend a month and two weeks a year to pay for his college.... sounds like a good deal to me.