Today, the republican leadership used a manuever to require a 60 vote majority to pass an amendment sponsored by Sens Jim Webb (D-VA and Chuck Hagel (R-NE). This amendment would have required that troops have at least as much time at home as they are deployed. The amendment failed to get 60, it got 56. A procedural victory for republicans.
As a member of the army national guard, I would appreciate such a measure. I did two deployments, one 18 months, and one 15 months, which includes training that took me away from my home. In between them, I had 11 and 1/2 months at home. I love my country, but this isn't worth it anymore.
I'm a highly qualified soldier, I have a top secret security clearance and a bachelor's degree. I'm getting out in 6 months. The army can get by with the felons it now recruits.
I find Bush's exhortations of "supporting" the troops ridiculous. He and his party support only the war.
2007-07-11 13:41:31 · 11 answers · asked by menorans23 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
In answer to one of the commenters below, members of the military are allowed to criticize all they want. We cannot be actively involved in a political campaign, which would invite discipilinary action (an article 15), but certainly not a courtmartial. Courtmartials are reserved for felony offenses, usually. So the worst I can get are some disapproving looks from other, more conservative soldiers.
2007-07-11 14:05:51 · update #1
If the Clinton administration hadn't gutted the USA military, then:
(1): this law would not be perceived by anyone as needed because there would be enough troops to do this
(2): Currently, due to the small budget and small number of troops, it is impossible - supporting a law that sounds good but is meaningless is not the sort of thing that either party SHOULD do. A law of this sort is for one reason only - to play politics
2007-07-11 14:39:22 · answer #1 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The legislative process is complicated. What was the Amendment being attached too? It may have been a ploy, itself, to 'force' those who have a policy of 'supporting' the troops to vote for an otherwise unacceptable bill. A lot of those sorts of shinanigans go on in the Senate.
Though, if nothing else, such a provision would make it harder to put a sufficient number of troops on the ground, and wouldn't that make it more dangerous for those who remained?
2007-07-11 20:49:19 · answer #2 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"He and his party support only the war."
And your party only supports the farcical idea of pulling the troops out. Is that what your idea of support is? Surrendering? For someone who claims to be so high on the totem-pole of the military, you should be more wise about who is actually in favor of you. Just because this war is going on and there are unfortunate but necessary sacrifices for you and the rest of the military to have to make doesn't mean that the Republican Party is entirely against you. To believe that is equally ignorant and selfish.
2007-07-11 20:49:29 · answer #3 · answered by Emma 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You signed up with the present conditions on how much time you would get.
Someone suggests more and it is not voted in.
Because you don't get something you aren't owed in the first place (no one agreed to give you that when you signed up), you decide it isn't worth it anymore.
You sell your patriotism cheaply.
And to attack republicans as a whole, half our country, speaks volumes.
I'm a democrat. Demanding something you aren't owed in the first place doesn't put you high on the "righteously angry" list.
2007-07-11 20:47:52 · answer #4 · answered by mckenziecalhoun 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Republicans are the only party that supports the military and provides them with the funding that they need in order to succeed on the battlefield. The Democratic Party is the party that does not support the military. They are always trying to cut military funding and make sure that our military does not get the supplies they need.
2007-07-11 20:55:15 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. Knowledgeable VI 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
You knew the conditions when you signed up just like my son.
Don't whine now that you are expected to live up to those conditions...
I would love my son here more but it is not what is called for.....I did my tour he is doing his...and you did yours if you are telling the truth...
Let the rest do theirs...THATS ONLY FAIR....
2007-07-11 20:53:24 · answer #6 · answered by consrgreat 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
GOP is TOAST.
The troops did their job, now they're just caught in a civil war... time to let Iraq handle its own business.
2007-07-11 20:49:27 · answer #7 · answered by Gemini 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Republicans only support having the
troops killed or seriously injured for life.
Even then they don't support the troops
coming home in decent ways (They are
flown home in the cargo area of commerical
airplanes) and if they do make it home alive...
Republicans don't support them to get decent
medical care...they shrug and say...
Ain't our fault you got hurt....
Republicans just care about their tax cuts
and making sure Dubya gets his 3 months
worth of vacations.
2007-07-11 20:53:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
My son is on his 4th tour. Stop whining.He is highly qulified also. You are no better than he.
2007-07-11 20:58:46 · answer #9 · answered by ♥ Mel 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
cause most of the troops are minorities
2007-07-11 20:47:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋