Who's responsible for the 80% increase in the Army's desertion rate since Bush attacked Iraq?

Question

The soldiers, or the Commander-in-Chief who lied them into war?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071117/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_deserters

Answer 1

Army recruiters!

They are responsible for recruiting qualified men and women not wimps or brokeback sissy to serve in the finest army the world has ever seen.

Answer 2

The same person who was responsible for the 79% reduction in desertion rates between 2001 and 2005.

The number od soldiers deserting today, is only slightly higher than the number who deserted from Janurary 2000 to janurary 2001.

Which was 4,339 in 2001
vs
4,698 last year.

It easy is to pick a year number, to get great statistics, like that article did.

Of course, it wouldn't have made much impact to say,

The Army desertion rate has increased 8% since Bush took office.

And of course it leaves out the fact. that over 60% of desertions are from soldiers with less than a year in the Army, who have never been deployed.

Answer 3

The soldiers who have gone AWOL are responsible for their own actions. But I do get your point. There is increased desertion because of increased frustration about their mission and extended tours of duty. That's clear. Something else was noted not too long ago as well in the Washington Post. It was that more and more soldiers are speaking out about how they feel about this war, and it's not the sort of upbeat positive opinions that neocons would have us all believe. And they don't blame the Americans who are against this war or Congress for their low morale about it. They are smart enough to know exactly where to lay the blame. They refrain from sayiing so of course, but it's not exactly difficult to read between the lines.

Answer 4

Soldiers are responsible for themselves. Some people sign up because they think war isn't something that they'll be put into and they'll be able to get a good education through it without having to serve in a war. If they don't have what it takes to be a soldier, then don't sign up in the first place. No one is forcing them to. And deserting your fellow soldiers is shady.

Answer 5

You are not going to like the answer. But then, what the heck, you probably can't handle the truth! The individuals who enlisted are responsible for their conduct.
Perhaps if Bill had not cut thru the bone in HIS draw down, having sited that we would never again be in a two front war and therefore, do not need such a large military. Bush Sr. planned a small draw down, but Bill, Bill had no idea what he was doing. And now we're all paying for another one of his "minor indiscretions."

Answer 6

"Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced yesterday that all active-duty soldiers currently deployed or going to Iraq and Afghanistan will see their one-year tours extended to 15 months, acknowledging that such a strain on the war-weary Army is necessary should the ongoing troop increase be prolonged well into next year."

15 month tours are too long in a war zone. Any profesional soldier knows that.

Answer 7

Probably the same person responsible for the 90% decrease in enlisted personnel suicide rates under the Carter administration.

Answer 8

Statistically speaking, that's what happens when wars become drawn out and standards are lowered over time to allow less than efficient soldiers into the military.

We all like to think of the WWII generation as the Greatest Generation but the desertion rates back than sky-rocketed

The army has been stretched for sometime now, that combined with back to back deployments and lowered recruiting standards it makes it hard to keep the ranks stacked with quality soldiers

Stop trying to play the blame game, nobody is responsible it's just a side effect from war, all war

Answer 9

That's pretty bad for a volunteer army.
The stresses that a soldier, sailor or airman goes through when deployed is something a civilian will never understand.
Especially when it is a repeated/extended deployment to the same place with very little to show for it.

Soldiers are human with all the same problems that everybody else has, people forget that sometimes.
The Iraq occupation needs to come to a close soon for the sake of those who are actually sacrificing something.

Answer 10

This is a no brainer. The military personnel who joined and deserted are 100 percent responsible. I know that some people think it is ok to rationalize criminal behavior. It is not. If a man raped a female family of yours because he was abused as a child, would that absolve him of his criminal behavior?

Answer 11

Anyone who deserts has to blame someone do they not? They take no responsibility themselves.
80% increase? How many does that make a year .Bush didnt make people join. That was the persons choice.No gun was pointed at her or his head.