'Bout Time
Individual Ready Reserve is one of the worst ideas the Bush administration has utilized yet to solve the problem of a diminishing military. (We all know their many mistakes, so to say this is the worst is saying something indeed.)
As my cousin mentioned in an earlier post, IRR has been on the books for years now. Dubya’s simply putting it to good use.
I know a few people who are getting ready to ship out as a result of IRR. They served their country well and now have to go back against their will. Without exception, every one has been outspoken against this administration and the way Iraq has been handled. I feel for these veterans, I really do. They should be thanked for their extraordinary service and allowed to return to civilian life. They’ve earned it.
I also know people close to such soldiers, who are rethinking their allegiance to Dubya and his corrupt administration. They are softening previously hardcore regurgitations of Fox News and Rove Talking Points. I know I should be happy, or at best relieved, that such coming-around is occurring among the previously neocon-faithful.
Instead, I’m pretty p*ssed off. Bush supporters or apologists are the ones responsible for IRR and every other misguided policy and scandal. With a mighty voting voice, they brought these people into power. Now chickens are coming home to roost and they wanna cry in their coffee.
I don’t feel a bit sorry for them. They're part of the problem.
Once again, Affected Republicans feel no one’s pain but their own. IRR has been going on for a while now and I don’t remember any of these folks raising a stink about it. However, now that the backdoor draft and other such policies are affecting their loved ones – oh, the injustice! They want to call in political favors and write letters to the editor and get involved because they’re experiencing firsthand what it means to have a half-wit in the White House.
God bless activists who aren’t affected personally and still get involved. God bless those who feel for their brothers and sisters in harm’s way and speak out against it. God bless people who care for others as they care for their own.
The rest need to take a long look in the mirror and say thank-you to themselves. They’re the reasons we’re in this mess in the first place.
Welcome to the dance, latecomers. Nice to see you.
posted by kate @ 6:12 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Catherine, I am completely opposed to both the Iraq war and the current administration (can't bring myself to call a certain person "the president" or use his name). However, as both a former soldier and spouse of a career army officer (who also thinks involvement in Iraq is just undoing any good that could have come from our involvement in Afghanistan) I think the diatribes against IRR are a bit overblown and misguided. IRR has been used by both Dem and Rep administrations. Not all military personnel are subject to call up after leaving the military-only those with an IRR obligation based on their length of service or type/length of training the service provided. In peace time, and in hard economic times, many people choose to go on active duty as an IRR to accrue time to retirement or earn a full salary plus allowances for a variety of reasons including summer break from graduate school or to stay current while going the stay at home parent route. While I agree that we should never have invaded Iraq, should have had a viable reconstruction plan once we did invade, and that relying on the National Guard and Reserve for what will be a very long war is seriously stupid I don't think activation of IRR soldiers is a "back door draft." These people knew what their obligation was when they volunteered to join then left the military. If they thought it wouldn't happen to them all they had to do was look to the first Gulf War when many people just shy of their time limit for IRR were called up.
Kate:
You wrote - "I also know people close to such soldiers, who are rethinking their allegiance to Dubya and his corrupt administration. They are softening previously hardcore regurgitations of Fox News and Rove Talking Points."
and
" they brought these people into power. Now chickens are coming home to roost and they wanna cry in their coffee."
I wouldn't be too hard on them, they are victims on some levels. They believe that our government would not lie, or betray their interests, so they have a natural trust for the statis quo.
I don't think that they deserve a pat on the back for comming around, but a little sympathy for surviving a con job couldn't hurt.
After all, I too am a recovering conservative. I came around just after we invaded Iraq.
I don't mind when people re-think their position or, as Dennis Prager says, think a second time. I just get frustrated when Republicans show no sympathy for others and then something happens to them or their loved ones and all of a sudden they've had an epiphany. Don't get me wrong - glad to have anyone on our side. I just wish bad things didn't have to happen to Repubs before they saw the light.
That is all.
First of all, your premise to this whole story is we are doing something wrong and these people lives are being wasted. There's nothing bad or wrong about spreading democracy and freedom to oppressed people. Secondly, when you enlist in the armed forces you aren't in charge anymore. That is perfectly understood from day one of boot camp. It's a selfless sacrifice and service to country. I'm sorry some join for the wrong, misguided or misunderstood reasons, but they do read the small print before they sign on the dotted line. And the ones who don't...
Your cousin can resign his commission as an officer and he won't have to worry about the IRR.
Lastly, why are dredging up this story anyway? All of your links are from summer 2004. Try something a little more... what do you call it?? relevant. Maybe something from this week?
Having links from 2004 that hit the nail on the head in 2006 is very relevant and smart use of historical data. Kudos
I have dedicated my entire Blog (for the most part) to this topic. At The Command T.O.C. I have talked about the I.R.R. recall and what a fiasco it is. I was one of the "original" who was recalled in 2004. I submitted an exemption and finally won it and was discharged in the spring of 2005.
You can also read a great continuing discussion at one of the posts titled IRR Question for those hitting their MSO. Thank you for your great post and I will be linking to it.
Thanks for "dredging" up this story. Though some think this is "old news", this is my family's life right now, and will be for the next year and a half at least..
I was called up in January. I participated in the invasion of Iraq, and immediately got out once I got home to be with my family.
My service obligation to the IRR exipres in May of this year, yet the Army called me up 5 months prior to that date with the intent to keep me for "545 days, unless extended by proper authority." Yeah, I was 18 and didn't read the fine print, but is it fair to keep me 9 years when I signed up for 8? Oh by the way, most of the IRR doesn't get any compensation or benefits. I don't, because I wanted nothing to do with the military after I got back from Iraq the first time.
Oh by the way, they called me up to be a Civil Affairs officer (which is not what I was before), but they called up too many officers so they are looking for "other things" for us to do. The latest is that they are planning to send us to train the Iraqi Military. Note that many have called this the most important mission in Iraq. And read the papers and you'll see mention that we are sending our "elite" soldiers for this task (Army Times). I'm no slouch, but come on, is a guy who's been on the couch for over 2 years really our nation's "elite" soldier???
There are more people in my exact situation. You won't find this story anywhere other than in blogs. Talk about a waste of tax payers' money. There are plenty of folks being paid by the army to sit around until they "find" a job for us. Thanks for interupting our lives.
This is in response to Port Tampa:
You are incorrect on many points. During the Gulf War, the IRR was called to back-fill deploying soldiers. IRR soldiers, until now, have never been used for cannon fodder.
I have served in combat in Iraq. I know what it takes to prepare a soldier for that war. Sending IRR people into combat is unprecedented and criminally negligent. One could argue that the National Guard and Reserve aren't well enough trained (look at their casualty rates compared to active duty) so why would we send citizen directly to a war zone. We know better than this.
They are untrained, unpaid, and received no benefits. You are referring to people who volunteer to accrue retirement. Most IRR are people who served on active duty, and are released unless a national emergency requires their specific skill.
Also, people DO NOT understand the IRR when they enlist. You can find numerous court cases on fraudulent enlistment, recruiters tell soldiers that the IRR will not be used unless a draft is implemented.
Finally, IRR call-ups are supposed to consider prior hazardous duty. I served in Iraq for a year, on active duty, and I've been recalled by the IRR to go back to Iraq. My occupation is not in shortage, they are going to reclass me. I have not trained in 2 years; they are going to give me a short refresher course and then send me to combat. I have not taken any money or benefit since completing active duty; I simply want to get on with my life. I've earned it.
Lastly, I think Army officers have failed to live up to their duty, "Mission First, People Always." You and your officer husband should read Dereliction of Duty, which describes the role that officers had in perpetuating the wasteful war in Vietnam. Why are Army officers afraid to tell the truth? They lie like the politicians because they want their rank and their retirement more than they want the American people to know the truth. I think that's nice that your husband is against the Iraq War. If he were a real leader, he would leave the army in protest or speak out to the media. The last Army officer with integrity was General Eric Shinseki. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Thanks for taking my tax dollars. While I've been working, you've been living off government money. Now that the Army is out of people, they call me to go back to Iraq. What a fine Army.
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