• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Let there be snark.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

“Alexa, change the president.”

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

All hail the time of the bunny!

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Consistently wrong since 2002

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

This is dead girl, live boy, a goat, two wetsuits and a dildo territory.  oh, and pink furry handcuffs.

So many bastards, so little time.

No one could have predicted…

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War / Desperation Move

Desperation Move

by Tim F|  April 11, 20072:38 pm| 68 Comments

This post is in: War

FacebookTweetEmail

As reported below, Def. Sec. Robert Gates just confirmed that all active duty Army troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will have their tours extended from 12 months to 15 months. He also promised a year of downtime between rotations, but I think we know which promise to take seriously.

I would be much obliged if somebody could offer a credible explanation that does not involve a near total lack of reserve forces.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Bible Study
Next Post: Nifong’s Folly »

Reader Interactions

68Comments

  1. 1.

    28 Percent

    April 11, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    You do not understand the soldiers WANT to stay and GET THE JOB DONE because they are PATRIOTS. If you were a patriot maybe you would not need for this to be expained to you so much.

  2. 2.

    Dreggas

    April 11, 2007 at 2:49 pm

    Couple that with what Olberman was saying last night, and I am paraphrasing here:

    So when things are “going good” in Iraq and we have “momentum” we send more troops or extend tours, when things are going bad in Iraq we send more troops or extend tours. Doesn’t this just show that their plan is nothing more than a perpetual presence in Iraq?

    Again that is paraphrased but in general what he said.

  3. 3.

    Luke

    April 11, 2007 at 2:54 pm

    YUM YUM keep drinkin that koolaid 28. What the soldiers want is to come home to family and loved ones.

  4. 4.

    Dug Jay

    April 11, 2007 at 3:01 pm

    The clear solution to the Secretary’s problem is to ask all of those highly concerned lefties – who ABSOLUTELY LOVE and SUPPORT the troops – to take their places in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is quite clear that these folks are very, very concerned about the difficulties imposed on the troops by such duty hardships.

  5. 5.

    Barry

    April 11, 2007 at 3:02 pm

    It’s been clear for a while that Bush’s plan is to not ‘lose’ the war, in the sense that *being* in the process of losing it is not *having* lost it. Like a team coach saying that they’re not *losing* by 147-0, they’re just behind a bit. As long as he can hand an ongoing war to the next president, he and his sycophants can claim that Bush didn’t lose the war – the next president did.

    But with the crap going on now, for the first time I’m wondering if Bush can actually keep the war going until January, 2009. Even if the troops were all now just starting their tours, they’d still be over in Summer ’08; it’s clear that the Army is scraping the bottom of the barrel now. I can’t imagine what would happen if the 15-month tours were officially extended to the old WWII ‘duration plus 6 months’.

    What are they going to put in over the course of 2008?

  6. 6.

    Perry Como

    April 11, 2007 at 3:02 pm

    Where’s the Democrat plan to break the military?

  7. 7.

    Pb

    April 11, 2007 at 3:03 pm

    Dreggas,

    That’s about right; here’s the transcript:

    OLBERMANN: If the response to things getting better is, keep the troops there, and the response to things getting worse is, keep the troops there, is it now appropriate to ask whether keeping the troops there in Iraq indefinitely has been the ulterior and ultimate motive here all along?

    RIECKHOFF: Sure, absolutely. And I think the big issue is transparency. We‘ve still got troop presences in Germany right now, and in places like Korea, and many people expect that this is just a way to keep a foothold in the Middle East so we can project power if Iran or someone else acts up. And you know what? There may actually be some rationale behind that, if you want to keep an airfield there or something else for a military asset.

    But let‘s have some transparency here. Let‘s tell the American people, let‘s tell the National Guardsmen, let‘s tell the Iraqi people. We shouldn‘t be playing a shell game with our troops and our ultimate rationale for what we‘re trying to do in Iraq and the Middle East. It really sends a bad message, and I think really erodes that bond that we have between our military and the civilian leadership.

  8. 8.

    Tim F.

    April 11, 2007 at 3:04 pm

    The clear solution to the Secretary’s problem is to ask all of those highly concerned lefties – who ABSOLUTELY LOVE and SUPPORT the troops – to take their places in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Been to any young conservative gatherings, DJ? How many recruiters did you see there?

    Funny that I don’t recall a single Republican leader asking Americans to enlist in the last six years. Not one.

    But otherwise, great point.

  9. 9.

    VidaLoca

    April 11, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    And what are those troops going to be doing while they’re over there? Seems the hot new plan is to divide Baghdad up into gated communities:

    Faced with an ever-more ruthless insurgency in Baghdad – despite President George Bush’s “surge” in troops – US forces in the city are now planning a massive and highly controversial counter-insurgency operation that will seal off vast areas of the city, enclosing whole neighbourhoods with barricades and allowing only Iraqis with newly issued ID cards to enter.

    The campaign of “gated communities” – whose genesis was in the Vietnam War – will involve up to 30 of the city’s 89 official districts and will be the most ambitious counter-insurgency programme yet mounted by the US in Iraq.

    The system has been used – and has spectacularly failed – in the past, and its inauguration in Iraq is as much a sign of American desperation at the country’s continued descent into civil conflict as it is of US determination to “win” the war against an Iraqi insurgency that has cost the lives of more than 3,200 American troops. The system of “gating” areas under foreign occupation failed during the French war against FLN insurgents in Algeria and again during the American war in Vietnam. Israel has employed similar practices during its occupation of Palestinian territory – again, with little success.

    But the campaign has far wider military ambitions than the pacification of Baghdad. It now appears that the US military intends to place as many as five mechanised brigades – comprising about 40,000 men – south and east of Baghdad, at least three of them positioned between the capital and the Iranian border. This would present Iran with a powerful – and potentially aggressive – American military force close to its border in the event of a US or Israeli military strike against its nuclear facilities later this year.

    And if all that isn’t quite depressing enough for you, see

    The Crushing Fear that Stalks America

  10. 10.

    28 Percent

    April 11, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    Luke you must not think much of our fighting men and women if you think they are so selfish that they put themselves before their country. They understand that there is a price for FREEDOM and they LOVE there country and you should not dishonor them by saying what they want you do not know.

  11. 11.

    Pb

    April 11, 2007 at 3:08 pm

    Where’s the Democrat plan to break the military?

    Clinton did it too!

    “The vice president and I have a disagreement about the use of troops. He believes in nation building. I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders. I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and therefore prevent war from happening in the first place. So I would take my responsibility seriously. And it starts with making sure we rebuild our military power. Morale in today’s military is too low. We’re having trouble meeting recruiting goals. We met the goals this year, but in the previous years we have not met recruiting goals. Some of our troops are not well-equipped. I believe we’re overextended in too many places.
    […]
    Everywhere I go on the campaign trail I see moms and dads whose son or daughter may wear the uniform and they tell me about how discouraged their son or daughter may be. A recent poll was taken among 1,000 enlisted personnel, as well as officers, over half of whom will leave the service when their time of enlistment is up. The captains are leaving the service. There is a problem. And it’s going to require a new commander in chief to rebuild the military power. I was honored to be flanked by Colin Powell and General Norman Schwartzkopf recently stood by me side and agreed with me. If we don’t have a clear vision of the military, if we don’t stop extending our troops all around the world and nation building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem coming down the road, and I’m going to prevent that. I’m going to rebuild our military power. It’s one of the major priorities of my administration.” — George W. Bush, October 3, 2000

  12. 12.

    28 Percent

    April 11, 2007 at 3:08 pm

    Exactly DugJay it is time for all these WHINING LIBERALS to PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!!1!!!

  13. 13.

    Mr Furious

    April 11, 2007 at 3:09 pm

    a credible explanation

    Obviously, the Republicans are willing for somebody else to do whatever it takes to win this war.

    What about you, liberal pussy?

  14. 14.

    Eural

    April 11, 2007 at 3:13 pm

    The clear solution to the Secretary’s problem…

    ..is to bring the fucking troops home.

    Why is that so hard to understand?

    The only forseeable outcome to the Iraq situation – according to the Bush policy in place now – is a “slow bleed” of US servicemen for generations to come to stabilize an occupation that will never be stable. That’s not going to happen because we’re out as soon as Bush is out. So every death between now and then is another wasted American life.

    With those facts firmly in mind remind me again why prolonging deployments, destroying lives and bankrupting the US to do all that is nothing other than the ravings of a sick, twisted and wholly incompetent administration?

    Whew – I feel better getting that off my chest!

  15. 15.

    Tsulagi

    April 11, 2007 at 3:14 pm

    I like how Gates in giving the reason for the extension said “I think it is fair to all soldiers that all share the burden equally.” Yet he also said Marines tours would stay at 7 and Guard/Reserve at 12 while Army goes to 15. But I wouldn’t be surprised if a little later Marines find that 7 seems a bit long. Bush math.

    Reason for it is so there can be greater numbers for The Surge. For a while. Also, the additional brigades being deployed and new rotations will be in country for essentially the remainder of Bush’s term.

  16. 16.

    Dug Jay

    April 11, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    Know-Nothing-And-Proud-Of-It Tim says:

    Funny that I don’t recall a single Republican leader asking Americans to enlist in the last six years. Not one.

    Former Senator Rick Santorum (who was a member of the leadership in the Senate) and John McCain have both spoken of the benefits to one’s country and to one’s self of joining the military.

  17. 17.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    April 11, 2007 at 3:20 pm

    I would be much obliged if somebody could offer a credible explanation that does not involve a near total lack of reserve forces.

    Well, we pack our military with ex-cons. Then, we keep them deployed in Iraq indefinitely, so that we can’t be accused of coddling criminals.

    That’s my theory, anyway.

  18. 18.

    RSA

    April 11, 2007 at 3:25 pm

    Seems the hot new plan is to divide Baghdad up into gated communities:

    How better to create a capitalist democracy in Iraq than to emulate the upper-middle class in America?

  19. 19.

    Luke

    April 11, 2007 at 3:26 pm

    Scruffy – ex-cons and Young Republicans.

  20. 20.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    April 11, 2007 at 3:35 pm

    Scruffy – ex-cons and Young Republicans.

    Ex-cons and pre-cons (a.k.a. neo-cons, at least until we get the results of the 1,001 investigations currently underway).

    Seriously, would anyone have a problem with us just setting our criminal population loose on Iraq? After all, Saddam did it first, when he let everyone out of jail in 2002. If there’s one thing that years of television have taught me, it’s that sometimes it takes a hardened ex-criminal to catch a criminal, which is what those insurgents really are. (Please, nobody google Dirlewanger Brigade. That would be cheating.)

  21. 21.

    Tim F.

    April 11, 2007 at 3:35 pm

    Former Senator Rick Santorum (who was a member of the leadership in the Senate) and John McCain have both spoken of the benefits to one’s country and to one’s self of joining the military.

    Stunning. Two Republicans. I can’t possibly imagine how I missed them. How about those recruiters at young Republican gatherings? Surely the bright young ideologues who believe Iraq is a millenial contest of civilizations must have signed up in droves. Surely.

  22. 22.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    April 11, 2007 at 3:36 pm

    How better to create a capitalist democracy in Iraq than to emulate the upper-middle class in America?

    Once Baghdad looks like Beverly Hills, we’ll trick the Hollywood celebrities into moving there, then steal their passports and leave them stranded. Take THAT, moonbats!

  23. 23.

    jenniebee

    April 11, 2007 at 3:40 pm

    Former Senator Rick Santorum (who was a member of the leadership in the Senate) and John McCain have both spoken of the benefits to one’s country and to one’s self of joining the military.

    Not that Ricky would have anybody in his immediate family join up though – I think we all know his views on Santorums in the military.

  24. 24.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    April 11, 2007 at 3:41 pm

    Stunning. Two Republicans. I can’t possibly imagine how I missed them. How about those recruiters at young Republican gatherings? Surely the bright young ideologues who believe Iraq is a millenial contest of civilizations must have signed up in droves. Surely.

    They would have, if they hadn’t had to devote themselves to duties on the home front instead, defending the blogosphere from leftist traitors like you.

    Delivering a righteous smack-down to a lefty troll in a comments thread on Red State is every bit as patriotic as serving in Iraq. It may not win you any medals, but if it keeps just one more impressionable young American from becoming the next John Walker Lindh, it was well worth it.

  25. 25.

    Pb

    April 11, 2007 at 3:44 pm

    Delivering a righteous smack-down to a lefty troll in a comments thread on Red State is every bit as patriotic as serving in Iraq. It may not win you any medals, but if it keeps just one more impressionable young American from becoming the next John Walker Lindh, it was well worth it.

    I was curious what their take on this actually was, over on Red State–but all I managed to find was a screed from Erik entitled “The Left Continues Its Celebration of the Murder of American Troops” — go figure. Hey Erik, wanna really rain on the lefties’ parade? If you pull all the troops out of Iraq, then they’ll have to call off their ‘celebration’, and you’ll have won!

  26. 26.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    April 11, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    I was curious what their take on this actually was, over on Red State—but all I managed to find was a screed from Erik entitled “The Left Continues Its Celebration of the Murder of American Troops”—go figure. Hey Erik, wanna really rain on the lefties’ parade? If you pull all the troops out of Iraq, then they’ll have to call off their ‘celebration’, and you’ll have won!

    Exactly. With no more Americans killed in Iraq, the lefties won’t have anything left to gloat over. That’s why Pat Buchanan is a member of the antiwar movement. Brent Scowcroft, too.

  27. 27.

    Bubblegum Tate

    April 11, 2007 at 3:54 pm

    Where’s the Democrat plan to break the military?

    I believe it’s to force everybody in the military to gay marry and have abortions. That oughtta do the trick.

    How better to create a capitalist democracy in Iraq than to emulate the upper-middle class in America?

    ZING!

  28. 28.

    Tsulagi

    April 11, 2007 at 4:04 pm

    but all I managed to find was a screed from Erik entitled “The Left Continues Its Celebration of the Murder of American Troops”

    Show some compassion, Pb.

    With all the furious jacking off they do to that kind of lobotomy delivered bullshit, they’ve had to put Purple Heart bandaids all over their little soldiers. But they’ll soldier on through their tears. They’re tough like that.

  29. 29.

    grumpy realist

    April 11, 2007 at 4:04 pm

    Given how many promises the military has gone back on because of “expediency”, who is going to believe anything they say in the future to prospective recruits?

    When the “emergency” keeps getting extended every six months for 5 years, at some point, it stops being “an emergency” and starts being “business as usual.”

  30. 30.

    mrmobi

    April 11, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    28 Percent Says:

    You do not understand the soldiers WANT to stay and GET THE JOB DONE because they are PATRIOTS. If you were a patriot maybe you would not need for this to be expained to you so much.

    28, you are an embarassment to yourself. Pack it up and go back to whatever else it is you do to embarass yourself. No one could be this stupid. Well… actually, are you in the administration?

  31. 31.

    tBone

    April 11, 2007 at 4:12 pm

    I would be much obliged if somebody could offer a credible explanation that does not involve a near total lack of reserve forces.

    Maybe the Pentagon wants to reward the troops by giving them an extra three months to rest, relax, and shop in the blissfully safe Baghdad marketplaces.

  32. 32.

    Rome Again

    April 11, 2007 at 4:26 pm

    You do not understand the soldiers WANT to stay and GET THE JOB DONE because they are PATRIOTS. If you were a patriot maybe you would not need for this to be expained to you so much.

    Nationalistic patriostism is the BANE of my existence. I will NEVER be one, ever!

    Take your fake patriotic BS somewhere else please.

  33. 33.

    Rome Again

    April 11, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    and I can’t spell worth schit!

  34. 34.

    Perry Como

    April 11, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    Maybe the Pentagon wants to reward the troops by giving them an extra three months to rest, relax, and shop in the blissfully safe Baghdad marketplaces.

    And ride ponies, moonbat.

  35. 35.

    I AM A SPOOF

    April 11, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    Take your fake patriotic BS somewhere else please.

    Ahem.

  36. 36.

    Jake

    April 11, 2007 at 4:36 pm

    The campaign of “gated communities” – whose genesis was in the Vietnam War –

    [Thunder crashes, wolves howl.]

    Nationalistic patriostism prostitution is the BANE of my existence.

    Altered for accuracy.

  37. 37.

    tBone

    April 11, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    And ride ponies, moonbat.

    I can’t believe I forgot the ponies.

    I also forgot all of the candies and flowers they need to sort through. That could take 3 months by itself.

  38. 38.

    Rome Again

    April 11, 2007 at 4:41 pm

    I AM A SPOOF Says:

    Really? NO SHIT! Wow, I had no freaking idea… NOT!

  39. 39.

    Rome Again

    April 11, 2007 at 4:43 pm

    Altered for accuracy.

    Thank you Jake, I appreciate that.

  40. 40.

    Perry Como

    April 11, 2007 at 4:50 pm

    I also forgot all of the candies and flowers they need to sort through. That could take 3 months by itself.

    I think the candies and flowers may actually be piled so high that they are burying the ponies. I’ll see your 3 months and raise you a Friedman.

  41. 41.

    cd6

    April 11, 2007 at 5:36 pm

    At hotair they’re really mad about … whoever leaked this at the pentagon yesterday.

    Multiple calls for said leakers to be tried for treason.

    Say what?

  42. 42.

    tBone

    April 11, 2007 at 5:51 pm

    I think the candies and flowers may actually be piled so high that they are burying the ponies. I’ll see your 3 months and raise you a Friedman.

    Good point. And let’s not forget that you have to find a way through the palettes of air-dropped cash before you can even see the vast candy/flower mountains.

  43. 43.

    Dug Jay

    April 11, 2007 at 6:38 pm

    The Nitwit (Tim) now says:

    Stunning. Two Republicans. I can’t possibly imagine how I missed them.

    His initial position was:

    Funny that I don’t recall a single Republican leader asking Americans to enlist in the last six years. Not one.

    I suspect you “missed them” because you either weren’t looking, or you’re just another dimwitted leftie spouting off a preconceived notion of what “reality” should be in your screwed up dream world. And by the way, a couple of other names, among many, are Duncan Hunter, who served as Chairman of the House Defense Committee, and former Speaker Gingrich. Hunter’s son is and has served in Iraq and is expected to announce that he will be a candidate for the House.

  44. 44.

    The Other Andrew

    April 11, 2007 at 6:58 pm

    Dug Jay–why do you think that Bush hasn’t called for mass enlistment, or even tried to institute a draft, given that this is a clash of civilizations and all? Why don’t we have war rations, a war tax, etc.?

  45. 45.

    tBone

    April 11, 2007 at 7:05 pm

    Dug Jay—why do you think that Bush hasn’t called for mass enlistment, or even tried to institute a draft, given that this is a clash of civilizations and all? Why don’t we have war rations, a war tax, etc.?

    We’re fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here! inconvenience ourselves in any way, really.

    Any other questions, moonbat?

  46. 46.

    Punchy

    April 11, 2007 at 7:12 pm

    Seriously, would anyone have a problem with us just setting our criminal population loose on Iraq?

    I fail to see how stocking our military with hardened crims is a bad idea. 1) They already know how to fight/kill/maim, 2) If a sentence reduction is tied to the number of insurgents they can scalp…well…I’m guessing we’d have Baghdad secured quickly, 3) Tats are probably cheaper in Iraq, 4) guns and ammo training largely unnecessary, as well as training for driving large, expensive vehicles they’ve never owned before.

  47. 47.

    Punchy

    April 11, 2007 at 7:23 pm

    Multiple calls for said leakers to be tried for treason.

    Say what?

    Uh…maybe this shameless hyperbole from G-tizzle:

    In an indication of the Pentagon’s concern about how hard the news would hit Army families, Gates angrily denounced a news leak of his announcement. “I can’t tell you how angry it makes many of us” that the leak denied the Army the ability to give families 48 hours notice, as planned, Gates told reporters.

    See, Crazy Lefty, the NEWS of the extension concerns the Pentagon, but not the actual extension itself…

  48. 48.

    lard lad

    April 11, 2007 at 7:25 pm

    Dug Jay—why do you think that Bush hasn’t called for mass enlistment

    I know! Pick me! Pick me!

    Because then the Americans who are fed up to the tits with this clown-car war would immediately begin haranguing hell out of the under-40 hawks and Bush cheerleaders.

    “So when are you signing up? Your beloved president put out the call… aren’t you going to answer? What, you’re too goddamned important to fight?”

    Because God forbid that America’s youthful right-wing aristocracy should have to deal with the embarassment of being called out by liberals. Surely sparing their delicate feelings is worth the sacrifice of a few hundred working class soldiers…

  49. 49.

    Zombie Santa Claus

    April 11, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    I would be much obliged if somebody could offer a credible explanation that does not involve a near total lack of reserve forces.

    Those men need toughening up, if they’re ever supposed to fight on the front lines at the North Pole. There’s still a war going on up here, and the United States is still the Number One importer of my workshop’s toys. So either you try and negotiate decent Playstations out of the clutches of those Godless Trotskyist Canadians, or you help me and my elves.

    Ho ho ho, bitches!

  50. 50.

    chopper

    April 11, 2007 at 8:01 pm

    Former Senator Rick Santorum (who was a member of the leadership in the Senate) and John McCain have both spoken of the benefits to one’s country and to one’s self of joining the military

    wow, “speaking of the benefits”, eh? that’s totally the same as asking people to enlist.

    totally. the. same.

    jesus, only the GOP would be such a bunch of pussies that the closest they could come to ask people to enlist in the army would be to mention the benefits of doing so, instead of actually having some balls and asking. i can imagine if rick santorum were a homeless dude:

    “i’m not gonna ask you for any change, but let me tell you of the benefits that giving me money would bring…”

    i’d punch him in the balls.

  51. 51.

    Chad N. Freude

    April 11, 2007 at 8:10 pm

    “I think it is fair to all soldiers that all share the burden equally.”

    He left out “but not citizens

    Which brings us to a rousing chorus of “Where have all the eager young patriots gone?“

  52. 52.

    Chad N. Freude

    April 11, 2007 at 8:13 pm

    For the eager young patriots reference, this is probably a better page.

  53. 53.

    John Ryan

    April 11, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    The retention rate of West Point grads 5 years after leaving the Point is the lowest in 35 years. The Army National Guard has now lowered its passing score on the AFQT to the 16th percentile. George Bush has broken our Army.

  54. 54.

    Tim F.

    April 11, 2007 at 9:49 pm

    Dug Jay, I dare you to actually make a point. Are you arguing that Republicans made an effort to drum up recruitment among their followers? I will laugh in your face. There was obviously, plainly no effort by the Republican party to drum up recruitment. John McCain? Sure, the base despises him. You won’t even cite an example so others can judge the context.

    Maybe you only meant to correct my statement, in which case you are a nitpicking pedant.

    Moron or pedant, your choice.

  55. 55.

    tBone

    April 11, 2007 at 10:00 pm

    Moron or pedant, your choice.

    Me? I’d go with C) Most Boring Troll Evah.

  56. 56.

    Jon H

    April 11, 2007 at 10:39 pm

    All the really smart high school students should take the ASVAB, score 99s and 100s, and then give the recruiters blueballs worse than a sailor on leave in Bangkok with a busted cock.

  57. 57.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    April 12, 2007 at 4:08 am

    All the really smart high school students should take the ASVAB, score 99s and 100s, and then give the recruiters blueballs worse than a sailor on leave in Bangkok with a busted cock.

    Sure, that seems like a good idea now, but when the GOP wins back Congress and the White House in 2008, they’ll probably write some statute that says that taking the ASVAB renders you eligible for a mandatory enlistment. (Also, talking to recruiters in the mall parking lot, or in your high school’s Career Services, or visiting the Army’s website…)

  58. 58.

    searp

    April 12, 2007 at 7:03 am

    28%:

    Here is one “lefty” (I disdain the characterization, but you like it as a shorthand for thinking people, so I use it) who has been to Iraq and will probably return.

    You are talking nonsense. Soldiers are people too. Sure they are patriots, but even patriots can be demoralized when they are sent, repeatedly, for long tours in a mess. Yes, they understand, privates to generals, that Iraq is a mess. I know, I have contact with active duty folks of all ranks as part of my job. They know how I feel about this war (stupid and dangerous), and many share my feelings.

    Patriotism doesn’t mean being stupid or supporting stupid policies. It does mean you do what your country needs you to do.

    So please stop speaking for our soldiers. You don’t, and I don’t. They are plenty capable of speaking for themselves, and they don’t have a single opinion. Those in theater are doing what combat soldiers always do: their jobs. They are doing that magnificently.

  59. 59.

    RSA

    April 12, 2007 at 8:14 am

    Former Senator Rick Santorum (who was a member of the leadership in the Senate) and John McCain have both spoken of the benefits to one’s country and to one’s self of joining the military.

    Maybe I’m seeing weasel words where there are none, but it’s possible to say those things without actually encouraging people to enlist right now because the military needs soldiers in Iraq. I wouldn’t be surprised if Santorum and McCain are encouraging people to enlist, of course; I’d still like to see what they’ve said.

  60. 60.

    Chad N. Freude

    April 12, 2007 at 8:16 am

    searp:
    Very good post, but you’ve fallen victim to a spoof. 28% is a troll who complained on another thread that his/her “satire” was being missed. He/she apparently can’t tell the difference between sarcastic and stupid.

    Patriotism doesn’t mean being stupid or supporting stupid policies.

    If only BushCheneyRove and company believed this. (Actually, I think they do, but it doesn’t suit their political objectives.)

  61. 61.

    demimondian

    April 12, 2007 at 8:36 am

    When Dug Jay mentioned Santorum’s promotion of national service, did he mean military service, or a different kind of “service”?

  62. 62.

    Chad N. Freude

    April 12, 2007 at 8:43 am

    did he mean military service, or a different kind of “service”?

    Man servicing dog?

  63. 63.

    searp

    April 12, 2007 at 9:23 am

    Chad: I don’t feel victimized, because even if 28% is spoofing, he sounds like plenty of sincere people.

    I honestly do not think Bush and Cheney think at a useful level about their policy. When I listen I do not hear any realism at all. One of 2 conclusions: they know better but are playing games, or they really are incapable of thinking seriously about security policy. Plenty of evidence for the latter, in my opinion.

    Bush strikes me as someone who was affected very personally by 9/11, drew incorrect conclusions and hasn’t been able to regain his mental balance. Somehow 9/11 set off a psychic storm that permanently altered his mental landscape.

    I am not saying that without sympathy; the obvious retort is “of course, and rightly so”. However, his job requires an ability to objectively consider policy options, and I honestly do not think that has been possible for him post-9/11.

  64. 64.

    RSA

    April 12, 2007 at 10:13 am

    Somehow 9/11 set off a psychic storm that permanently altered his mental landscape.

    What does Bush’s mental landscape look like? Sometimes I think it’s the surface of Mars, other times it’s that funny place the Teletubbies live, and still other times William James’s “blooming, buzzing confusion”.

  65. 65.

    demimondian

    April 12, 2007 at 10:23 am

    I’m thinking more Skinner’s _tabula rasa_, actually.

  66. 66.

    yet another jeff

    April 12, 2007 at 10:34 am

    Should that be current-cons, not ex-cons?

  67. 67.

    Chad N. Freude

    April 12, 2007 at 11:13 am

    Bush strikes me as someone who was affected very personally by 9/11, drew incorrect conclusions and hasn’t been able to regain his mental balance. Somehow 9/11 set off a psychic storm that permanently altered his mental landscape.

    This is possible, but I am inclined to believe that, whatever he felt, his subsequent behavior was fully consistent with his behavior before 9/11, and that he (read: Rove and Cheney) seized on the catastrophe as an excuse to pursue his/their destructive policies, including, but not limited to, this misbegotten, unjustified, self-destructive war. I think his mental landscape was not altered, but rather weeded, watered, and freshly fertilized.

  68. 68.

    Dreggas

    April 12, 2007 at 12:12 pm

    Here’s more evidence of real desperation. A good friend of mine who teaches in the ROTC program at a college back in Indiana told me last night that next year (April 18 to be exact) he is going to Iraq. Now mind you he hasn’t been sent there yet, why? Well he’s a fucking instructor for a ROTC program, his brother has already done a couple of tours there and now they are calling him up to do one in a year. All this while he is working on adopting a child from Nepal and getting other things taken care of.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - Winter Wren - Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 3
Image by Winter Wren (7/31/25)

World Central Kitchen

Donate

Recent Comments

  • Geminid on Thursday Night Open Thread (Jul 11, 2025 @ 12:47am)
  • Kelly on Thursday Night Open Thread (Jul 11, 2025 @ 12:45am)
  • Martin on Sweet Dreams (Open Thread) (Jul 11, 2025 @ 12:23am)
  • NotMax on Thursday Night Open Thread (Jul 11, 2025 @ 12:08am)
  • Westyny on War for Ukraine Day 1,232: The Cost (Jul 11, 2025 @ 12:07am)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Feeling Defeated?  If We Give Up, It's Game Over

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!