Why did the Republicans in Congress vote against our troops?

Question

Why don't they want our troops to have just as much time at home as they spend in Iraq? With our service members having 2,3 and 4 tours of duty do they not deserve to spend the same amount of time at home?

Answer 1

Basically, it's a lose-lose situation for the Republicans. I will explain.

1. If they vote to give these servicepersons their accrued time off, the real shortage of troops will suddenly become too obvious. Once the public actually saw the true 'troop crunch' we are in, the outrage would triple.

2. By not giving them the right to take their accrued leave time, they basically tick them off and that is going to come back to bite them in the rump later. I guess the Republicans are playing the 'odds' game calculating since 70% of military personnel votes Republican then they probably won't lose that many votes.

Answer 2

Good, even after it was once made clear that there have been no longer adequate troops on the bottom to win in Iraq the Repubs failed to institute a draft to battle their struggle for gigantic Oil. They knew it could be so unpopular the American men and women would be within the streets protesting so they as an alternative simply preserve recycling the equal battered and weary troops again into the battle zone. This is how they exhibit their "support for the troops". That and the yellow ribbon bumper sticky label on their SUV. PS. Tho you'll be able to see the gungho squaddies standing behind GW applauding in his photograph ops you'll be able to now not hear a lot from those infantrymen who're feeling misused and abused with the aid of their govt. Soldiers don't seem to be allowed to ***** they usually hazard punishment in the event that they do. And you do not see any flag draped coffins both, even tho navy cemeteries are filling up with our warfare lifeless.

Answer 3

The fine print in these negotiations includes more than just a headline or two. Perhaps Republicans are trying to avoid a forced upon US draft? It costs way more to revolve soldiers short term than extended. There are also Gates says over 2 mil already in service that could be called on. Leaving some in cushy positions fearful. The package has to be written completely before it is approved.
Why do Democrats stall any hope of change debating who was wrong when they can argue for a compromise to support troops? This bill made no financial sense the way the Dem's have cut funding so close. The new armed vehicle production has been shelved when over 80% die in roadside bomb attacks because the Humvees are not strong enough tp protect our brave soldiers?
I agree with you and feel Gates should use the rest of the forces to help our troops. Heck, before this the military was down sizing? Including closing Pearl Harbor? Yes, that happened. I am a resident. It was shocking. Thank You.

Answer 4

Republicans have obstructed every piece of military legislation the Democrats have put forward. They won't even debate it. No wonder approval ratings are 18%.

Republicans would have you believe it's because the Democrats aren't doing their job. WRONG!!

Petraeus is a puppet. Period. His "improvements" don't jive with the reports of the latest NIE, GAO, BBC or the UN's civilian death list. Even the Pentagon report tells a different story.

His main job was to "convice" the Senators in Congress who were defecting , to give the surge more time to work. All on board! When 6 months pass, there will be hundreds more US soldiers dead (est 500+), thousands more maimed, billions of dollars spent and thousands more Iraqi civilian deaths. For what? The Bush legacy?

I hope (and pray), that everyone of those Reps whose terms are up in '08' lose their days job. It's way past time! Even during Nam, troops were only deployed 1 yr at a time. I can't believe it was voted down. Shameful!!

Answer 5

no way around it. they call it stop gap. thing is we don't have enough troops to pull this thing off. occupying a country involved in full blown insurgency is a difficult task at best., and recruitment is down.

i think they have mostly rotated out by now, but we had 45 year old shoe salesmen doing back to back tours! they're pushing this for all it's worth and really not going far.

don't get me wrong, i'm not excusing the methods, just commenting on the situation. it is now obvious that there was a lot of talk about this war for a long time leading up to it; but not a lot of planning.

Answer 6

nicely, even after it grew to become into made sparkling that there have been no longer sufficient troops on the floor to win in Iraq the Repubs did no longer institute a draft to combat their conflict for great Oil. they knew it would be so unpopular the yank human beings may be interior the streets protesting so as that they quite merely shop recycling a similar battered and weary troops lower back into the conflict zone. it particularly is how they teach their "help for the troops". that and the yellow ribbon bumper sticky label on their SUV. playstation . tho you will see the gungho squaddies status in the back of GW applauding in his image ops you will no longer hear plenty from those squaddies who're feeling misused and abused by utilising their government. squaddies are not allowed to ***** and that they probability punishment in the event that they do. and you do no longer see any flag draped coffins the two, even tho defense force cemeteries are filling up with our conflict ineffective.

Answer 7

The first responder to your question represents the majority of the Republican base and I dare say he speaks for them on virtually every critical issue of the day.

Another Republican mouthpiece on the radio was ranting how war is sacrifice, and therefore the American troops must be willing to make sacrifices in order to win this war ...

So apparently it's not enough to leave your family and travel half way across the world many months .... to a strange, inhospitable land ... and face many, many unseen dangers that could kill or dismember you .... that's NOT enough sacrifice for our dear little Republican friends in Congress .... They insist on denying these troop adequate time with their families between tours.

.

Answer 8

Because they know that not enough Americans support the Iraq war to fill the requirements for troops that they need.
The extension of service obligations and the use of formerly non-combat states national guard units are considered to be a 'back door draft'.
And even with hiring thousands of private army Blackwater troops, they still can;t keep adequate troop levels up.

Answer 9

If you had gotten your news from an unbiased source you would be better informed. The vote was for the troops not against them, the Dems were attempting to tamper with the military's right to control their mission. The military did not present this for a vote in Congress, the Democrats did.

Answer 10

Amazing.....as I read the many responses to your politically baited "question", it perfectly illustrates the twisted mindset of the anti-war, anti-government crowd.
The clueless, silly remarks from a group of people that have no concept of reality whatsoever.

The military is all volunteer.....that means these brave men and women have signed on to do whatever task is assigned, for the duration of their enlistment.

Your post, and many replies to it, clearly demonstrate how you Leftists only see our military as a tool for political gain and spinning Leftist, anti-American propaganda.
Virtually every anti- Republican statement made by people like yourself is directly applicable to your own agendas efforts and supporters, and not your intended targets.