Alabama doctor going to Iraq war at age 68

[KelleyKramer]

(note- I did a quick check and didn’t see this posted, if it’s a dupe then mods please delete)

Its starting to look like Rummy and the Bushies are getting very desperate for military personnel.
Don’t you qualify for Social Security at age 67?? If that’s correct, then Bush is literally sending our senior citizens to his war in Iraq... Un-Friggen believable!!

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http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2059072&nav=0RdEOwmL

Decatur He may be 68, but a north Alabama psychiatrist says he's heading to Iraq.

John Wicks, who works at North Alabama Regional Hospital, has been called out of retirement by the Army to fill a shortage of mental health experts needed to help soldiers cope with combat stress. He could be overseas as long as a year.

The Army has not told Wicks what his exact assignment in Iraq is, or where in the country he'll be based.

Wicks is in Texas for a week of training. The Army said he will have the rank of colonel. His previous military experience includes two years active duty with the Marines and 18 years in the Alabama National Guard.

Wicks, a veteran of Desert Storm, said he may be the oldest soldier in the war, but he thinks his age isn't be a big deal because he stays in shape by riding his bicycle and working out three days a week.

[Renew Deal]

1. He's looking good.

:crazy:

[Virginian]

2. He could stay home if only

He could remember seeing Dubya in the Alabama National Guard.


"His previous military experience includes two years active duty with the Marines and 18 years in the Alabama National Guard."

[Cha]

3. Oh, he's a senior citizen all right at 68!

Whoa..seems like a clerical error or some really desperate quota fills.

[opihimoimoi]

4. He was in the Loop? at 68?? Boy, are we in trouble if we gatta look to

seniors to bail us out...

I understand the rare skills he has but there was no one younger who fit the bill... are we scraping the bottom of the Barrel here??

What next, the 80 year olds..?

[KelleyKramer]

5. He's going for Bush's re-election (ie in lieu of a DRAFT)

That was the 1st thing I thought when seeing this story.. Why else would they send a senior citizen to a military combat zone??

They are already calling up thousands of retired military personnel.. They are at the end of the rope folks.. Doing everything they can to put off a military draft until after the election.

[opihimoimoi]

6. How will this story be looked at by other Nations?? Do we look stupid or

What???

Sending elderly Grandpas to the war zone is not something a Respectable Nation does. Bush is making America look really bad, Damn.

[KelleyKramer]

7. In 2000 Bush criticized Clinton for stretching the military thin

Remember that?

In campaign 2000 Bush said Clinton had stretched our military thin and said something to the effect that there were two full divisions that if called would not be able to answer.

(that of course, was another Bush blatant lie)

But look at the military now after over three years of Bush.. Sending friggen sr citizens off to a war zone!!

And if they are that desperate for troops in Iraq.. What about Afghanistan? Hunting Osama and Al Queada across the globe??