January 06, 2004
US military arbitrarily extends reservists terms.
The US military is now stretched so thin that it is now forcing reservists whose terms of duty have expired to continue serving anyway. Despite written commitments which amount to legally-binding contracts. Which amounts to virtual slavery. It also seriously weakens the future military readiness of the US since if people can't be certain that the army will honor the commitments it makes to them when they sign up, then naturally they will be reluctant to sign up.
See this
NY Times article on the subject.
The Army is preparing an order that would require about 7,000 troops now in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan to remain on duty through the end of their deployments this spring, even if they could otherwise leave the service before then, an Army personnel officer said Monday.
Once these troops return to their bases, they may also be required to remain in the service for up to 90 days while they complete their formal separation from the Army, said the personnel officer, Col. Elton R. Manske.
Another order, previously announced, already prevents active-duty and reserve troops rotating into Iraq and Kuwait this year from leaving the Army before serving 12 months on the ground, plus a similar 90-day period after they return.
... The Army, stretched by these deployments, also began a program on Jan. 1 to offer re-enlistment bonuses of up to $10,000 to those serving in Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan.
The extra bonuses are very interesting. In effect, this says that there aren't enough Americans who believe that the US is under any real threat, and that the only way they can keep the war machine going is by buying mercenaries. Very sad.
On top of that, there are continuing reports that the army cannot afford to supply reservists with the bullet-proof vests, side-arms and other auxiliary equipment that it gives to regular troops. Apparently the families of some of these soldiers are purchasing these items out of private funds and shipping them over. Unbelievable. $400 billion a year for the military, and they can't afford enough guns. And worse they are sending people into very dangerous situations without the proper equipment.
Also see this
Washington Post article,
Army Stops Many Soldiers From Quitting. And this one from
My Way News, by Robert Burns entitled
Army Trying to Keep Troops From Leaving. [Both via the ever-useful
Cursor.]
Rep. Kucinich calls it an "involuntary draft." He's right. That's exactly what it is.
