Our Deployment Cycles Are A Recipe For Disaster

not even doing the simple things (0.00 / 0)

As I was getting dressed this morning, I heard about a National Guard unit from Kentucky training in Wisconsin to be deployed in Iraq. They have to pay their own fare to get home to Kentucky prior to shipping out.  The way we are treating the troops is cold -- we wear them out and discard them.  

I am heartsick over the wasted lives

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by: JudyKayCraft @ Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 17:55:15 PM UTC

Deployment Snobbery (3.00 / 1)

Deployment Snobbery: condition common to soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, who have been deployed overseas longer than any other unit in the army. Symptoms include insensitivity to the plight of others who haven't been in Iraq or Afghanistan as long as your unit. Related to (but not as pernicious as) KIA Snobbery.

Note: The 10th Mountain Division is based at Fort Drum.

From the Combat Contradictionary.

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by: Triangulation of Death @ Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 19:19:24 PM UTC

used to post military in church bulletin, not now (3.00 / 1)

I used to see the church members and children of members who were in the military in my church bulletin. Every week it was a reminder for me to pray for them and their safety. I do not see them anymore. We, the civies, do not see the flag-draped coffins, we do not see the front line camera footage, we are disconnected from a war that weighs heavily on those in the service and their families. I do my best to stay informed and to fire off emails, sign petitions and do whatever I can to cajole or encourage those who represent me to do a better job for our veterans and our active service personnel.
But, I know that I know nothing. I will never know the sacrifice or the loss that they experience every day and for days and years to come.

I read a blog of someone who calls themselves soonergrunt. He spoke of being unable to go to the range because there weren't enough rifles for his men to justify going. That hacked me off no end. The pain and anger were tangible. I know he is not alone.
All I can do is keep firing off emails, keep on praying and vote for people like Noriega that I hope will do a better job than a yes-man/rubber-stamp like Cornyn.

Good thing we've still got politics in Texas - finest form of free entertainment ever invented.
Molly Ivins

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by: cactusflinthead @ Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 21:23:59 PM UTC

It's sad . . . (3.00 / 1)

. . . that when you watch MSNBC all day, as folks like Joe and I tend to do, you rarely see ANY coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama bowling? Sure. The fighting in Basra? Eh, not so much.

And it's just been borne out by a recent Pew poll, which Operation Truth used in its petition campaign to the networks to get more airtime for the ongoing operations:

Public awareness of the number of American military fatalities in Iraq has declined sharply since last August. Today, just 28% of adults are able to say that approximately 4,000 Americans have died in the Iraq war. As of March 10, the Department of Defense had confirmed the deaths of 3,974 U.S. military personnel in Iraq.

. . .

The drop in awareness comes as press attention to the war has waned. According to the News Content Index conducted by the Project for Excellence in Journalism, the percentage of news stories devoted to the war has sharply declined since last year, dropping from an average of 15% of the newshole in July to just 3% in February.

The presidential race is important, and it will impact the conduct of the wars, but by how much if (a) the candidates aren't making them an issue and (b) they're lost from the public consciousness through a lack of media coverage?

To sign the petition, go here.

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by: Triangulation of Death @ Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 21:46:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Keith O (0.00 / 0)

The mosaic of the thousands who have died is growing more detailed, much to my dismay.

Keith Olbermann is The Only One I know who every night signs off with the number of days since mission accomplished. I am beginning to think he might want to add in the number of casualties, but I expect he gets the point across.

I keep having this recurring vision of the two WWI veterans outside the cab. The young men exit and the two veterans are begging in the street. One is blind and the other is crippled.
Where did I hear the quote? "They use us like oranges, squeeze all the juice out of us and then throw us away."

I hope you do not have to go back Triag, or if you do you can come home soon.  

Good thing we've still got politics in Texas - finest form of free entertainment ever invented.
Molly Ivins

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by: cactusflinthead @ Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 22:44:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]