Analysis: Discontent Plaguing Military

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Soldiers always gripe. But confronting the defense secretary, filing a lawsuit over extended tours and refusing to go on a mission because it's too dangerous elevate complaining to a new level.



It also could mean a deeper problem for the Pentagon: a lessening of faith in the Iraq mission and in a volunteer army that soldiers can't leave.


The hubbub over an exchange between Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and soldiers in Kuwait has given fresh ammunition to critics of the Bush administration's Iraq policy.


It also highlighted growing morale and motivation problems in the 21-month-old war that even some administration supporters say must be addressed to get off a slippery slope that could eventually lead to breakdowns reminiscent of the Vietnam War.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=ap/slippery_slope

[BeHereNow]

1. And they think a DRAFT is going to work?

If the volunteer army is not happy, do they actually think
draftees will go along with the program?
BWAHAHAHAH!
THIS is what is going to take them down.
They can't continue their plan to rule the world without
cannon fodder.
BHN

[Bouncy Ball]

2. And you can bet

for every story we actually HEAR about, there are many more we don't hear about.

Widespread, hardcore discontent is my guess. And that's not hard to imagine.

[Just Me]

7. The truth cannot be contained.

It can be hidden, skewed, manipulated and contrived,...

,...it cannot be contained.

"They" thought the walls were caving in,..."they" ain't seen nothing.

"They" get what they gave,...a gamble,...

[benddem]

3. with the contempt rumsfeld showed

for the troops in that conference it is a wonder they aren't all going awol. The man and this administration are scum.

[Spiffarino]

4. "You go with the army you have, not with the army you might want."

That line said it all for me. In one stroke he destroyed any morale the soldiers might have had before he spoke. My first thought was, "So they're second-rate? Not what you'd hoped for?" What a noxious, weasely, incompetent bastard.

How dare he insult those people who are standing there, ready to go into harm's? My friend's husband heard it. He's getting ready to go into Afghanistan in January with his Reserve unit. He was highly insulted by Rumsfeld's remark, and I am positive he isn't alone.

[ROakes1019]

10. Rummy

My thought, on hearing him say that, was that they didn't have to go into a war at all, if they weren't really prepared. I feel we're living in some surreal, unreal world. How long before the house of cards collapses?

[lebkuchen]

13. Lots of cheering when the question was asked, Rummy needed a repeat

I hope you're right, that his response brought at least silent groans to the minds of the audience, and beyond.

I wonder if "rebels" questioning the status quo will be accepted among the ranks. When you consider the brown-shirted views of so many of our soldiers, will a query that challenges Bush truisms, made very public, be tolerated among the ranks? Or will the airing of a question that doesn't reflect positively on the Bush partyline lead to breakdown in leadership, as in Vietnam?

On the other hand, what lowers morale faster than ignorant comments made by a supervisor? Has the silver-tongued devil done himself in?

[Pirate Smile]

5. I'm sure our soldiers also really appreciate the HUGE discrepancy between

what they earn v. what the paid contractors earn.

[Just Me]

6. The "masters of the universe" are being challenged,...

,...and humbled,...

Those "masters" ain't so great. They are barely even "human".

[whirlygigspin]

8. maybe they should stop voting for Republicans

they got what they voted for, why complain now?

[villagechild]

9. F.T.A.

You wanna read discontent, read the shit house walls in the war zone!


“FUCK G.W. BUSH AND HIS FUCKING OIL WAR!”
“FUCK YOU, BASTARD! BUSH IS FIGHTING TERRORISM WHERE IT STARTS!”
“HE MUST BE AN OFFICER. FUCKING TOOL!”
“THAT’S OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF! YOU CALL YOURSELF A SOLDIER?!”
“YOU CALL YOURSELF INTELLIGENT?”

…and then there’s always something from the incorrigibles:

“FUCK THE ARMY!”
“FUCK BIG BROTHER!”
“FUCK THE $YSTEM!”

…or one of my personal favorites:

“FIGHT FASCISM! (insert <1> well drawn anti-swastika circle)
THE U.S.ARMY IS RAN BY NAZI SWINE!!”

http://www.traveling-soldier.org/

[Zorra]

11. What if they gave a war and nobody came? Lying about those nonexistent

WMD was not a smart move.

There are few things in life worth dying for, I suppose, but the PNAC lunatics sure ain't one of 'em.

[IndianaGreen]

12. It was a mutiny in 1917 that led to the overthrow of the Russian Tsar

The Iraq war is bankrupting our country just as WWI did to Russia. The discontent of US troops could explode into a mutiny, as the Russian army did at Petrograd in February 1917.

One can only hope for the day the American people storm the White House as the Russians did the Winter Palace.

[daleo]

15. Darned near paralyzed the French army too

After Verdun. Eventually everyone grows weary of war and killing and death.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Moderator]

16. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1062299