Military says all-volunteer force is better
Mr. Herbert charges us with all kinds of transgressions committed against our armed forces. Here are some examples:
” . . . with most of the country tuned out entirely, we’re still suiting up the soldiers and the Marines, putting them on planes and sending them off with a high stakes (life and death) roll of the dice.”
“. . . the overwhelming majority of the American people want no part of the nation’s wars. They don’t want to serve, they don’t want to make any sacrifices here on the home front — they don’t even want to pay the taxes that would be needed to raise the money to pay for the wars.”
“To the extent that we think about the wars at all, it’s just long enough to point our fingers at the volunteers and say: ‘ Oh yeah, great. You go. And if you come back maimed or dead we’ll salute you as a hero.’ “
” . . . the idea that so few are willing to serve at a time when the nation is fighting two long wars is a profound indictment on society.”
“If we had a draft — or merely the threat of a draft — we would not be in Iraq or Afghanistan. But we don’t have a draft so it’s safe for most of the nation to be mindless about waging war. Other people’s children are going to the slaughter.”
Mr. Herbert’s accusations raise a lot of questions, the first of which is “Who the hell do you think you are!”
The same things Bob Herbert says about Americans and the wars could be said about America’s local police forces. A small segment of American society volunteers to serve as law enforcement officers. Our police put themselves in harm’s way every day, “again, and again, and again, and again . . .” How does one “pitch in” to help the police fight their wars? If Bob Herbert happened to be in a position to observe a police officer chasing a suspect down the street, would Bob Herbert pitch in by stopping the pursuing officer, arguing that it was his (Bob Herbert’s) turn to bear the burden. After all, that officer undoubtedly has put his life on the line again, and again, and again. Such a scenario might end up with the suspect escaping (perhaps harming someone later), and Bob Herbert being arrested for interfering with a law enforcement officer in the discharge of his duty. Way to go Bob, you were a big help! Our police put their lives on the line every time they respond to a shooting, a domestic disturbance, or even approach a vehicle stopped for speeding. Those police officers are someone’s children. Is Bob Herbert ignoring them?
Back to the wars, U.S. military leaders have consistently stated that the all volunteer force is far preferable to one that utilizes a draft. The all volunteer force results in America fielding an army that is superior to one populated by draftees. Bob Herbert’s diatribe, partially quoted above, raises the question: what is more important, putting the best army possible into the field to face America’s enemies, or being able to say to some draftee “See fella, how do you like being shot at?” Obviously, Bob Herbert is itching to do the latter. Fielding the best army possible seems to be irrelevant to Mr. Herbert.
As far as I can tell, most people pay are willing to pay their taxes, although they aren’t necessarily happy about it. Do we have to wear a smile to suit Bob Herbert when we write checks to Uncle Sam or our local taxing authority? Does Bob Herbert wear a smile when he pays his taxes? A few thousand rich people caught by the IRS stashing money in UBS bank accounts in Switzerland is a pretty flimsy basis for indicting Americans across the land for being unwilling to fund the wars. The trillion dollar deficits being projected by the CBO and the Obama administration are not the result of Americans’ unwillingness to fund the wars but, instead, represent the reality of certain entitlements that have been in place for a long time (Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid) along with underlying demographics, plus the Obama adminstration’s other grand plans for the future. Mr. Herbert should keep in mind that, in addition to paying his taxes, he is free to make donations to the United States government any time he wants to do so, in the same manner that any of us would contribute to any charitable organization.
Given Bob Herbert’s outrage at his fellow Americans, it is surprising that he didn’t mention the donation alternative. What’s stopping him ? Perhaps he views his article under scrutiny here, and similar ones past and future, as his effort to “pitch in”. Gee, that’s a big help Bob.
John Fokl
The real reason for the military to be anti-draft is self-preservation. Call up all those required to register for selective service and the war ends by next week. The people wouldn’t stand for their sons and daughters to be drafted and the generals know it. Peace may be their profession, but war is their avocation and lifeblood to congressional funding.
Ask anyone who has served in Iraq or Afghanistan about the giving nature of the American people (above and beyond their taxes) and you will soon discover how far removed from reality Mr. Herbert is.
Mr. Herbert,
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. You are wrong! The military has met or exceeded all recruiting goals since 2006. We don’t NEED a draft. Recruits aren’t “brainwashed”. There are several reasons for joining. Economy, benefits, job skills, etc….. They are free to execute their contract and leave the service or free to re-enlist. Your comments were not only insulting to those of us, past and present in the all volunteer force, they were also ignorant and baseless.
John,
–A translational template is required when reading anything from Herbert and most of the other statist-propagandists who call themselves journalists.
–Using that template, I have deciphered Herbert’s true meaning:
How can we get the military to be less effective and in-flux with conservative ideals? We should re-institute a draft process, and get more of the disaffected and trouble-makers into the military. Then we might be able to start a Vietnam-era style corps-of-subversion, allowing we statists to do to them what we are doing in non-military society.
–For a good example of their concern, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw
–It is revealing as to their situation, and will bring a tear to the eyes of any true patriot. Thank you Magnum.
As an active serviceman myself, a draft is not what is needed. What is needed is a larger military, and unfortunately some people believe that you can only accomplish that by a draft.
Once the military reaches pre Clinton strength all of this nonsensical talk will end.
Memento,
We will never reach cold war numbers. Just doesn’t make any sense. I would like to see more invested in entry level training and technology; we could actually reduce end strength numbers. But a draft????? Hell no!
Yes we will reach that level. It’s stupid to think we wouldn’t, there isn’t some magical reason that we won’t if we keep on the pace we have been on.
And a lower number of soldiers means the same people are getting deployed five to six times. That is NOT the answer.
John Fokl,
Your interpertation of Bob Herbert’s piece is very disturbing. I re-read it before typing this post to assure myself that we read the same opinion piece.
Your selective examples that you used in your letter really distort the true intent of Bob’s writing. Typical for a conservative.
Bob included a part of a speach Obama made last week to the VFW “We are a nation of 300 Americans, yet only less than 1 percent wear the uniform”. Is Obama bashing those that are not serving or praising those that do???
“If we had a draft” is not stating that we SHOULD re-invent a draft. How could that be taken as you say “Bob is itching to get the draft started”??
Your also took part of his sentence and distorted it to look like a slam to those who complain about paying taxes. Did that hit home John, so you had to change the pragmatics of the sentence to fit your conservative mind?
This country has never engaged in 2 wars and implemented tax cuts at the same time except under the BUSH Adm. Since this country can no longer survive using this logic, it is Obama’s fault.
You also left out the book Bob referred to called “2nd Tour, Hope I Don’t Die”. The book is the work of photographer Peter van Agtmael who has spent a lot of time following around combat troops in both countries.
Most of us humans would probably shed tears viewing the pictures, I imagine, but you left that part out.
Your outrage to those entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid must be the axis of evil in your mind and the cause of all our budget problems. We should just let our Senior Citizens die, right John??
To compare a police officers job to a military soldier serving in combat thousands of miles away in a foreign land is quite a stretch. Does the police officer go home every day? Are they shot at on a daily basis? Do their fellow officers get blown up by IED’s while riding next to them in their police vehicles? Come on John?
The greatest point of Bob’s piece is the last sentence which reads: We shouldn’t be leaving the greatest monumental burden to a tiny portion of the population, sending them into combat again, and again, and again, and again.
God Bless all of our veterans! Bob Herbert would like us all to think of them today, tomorrow, and everyday until the Wars in both countries end and our great military is home with their loved ones. That is the point Bob Herbert was making! Read it again John.
There are many volunteers around the country doing what ever they can for our military families. A local group just left for Tennessee to give a “baby shower” to a military wife due to have twins. What is stopping you from donating your time and money?? Must be those nasty entitlements that cost you so much!!
Memento,
“It’s stupid to think we wouldn’t, there isn’t some magical reason that we won’t if we keep on the pace we have been on.”
Wow, I’m certainly not stupid. I have to wonder how long you have been on active duty if you think we are going to approach anywhere near the cold war numbers. Ain’t gonna happen. Were you around then??? At the end of the cold war we were at around 770,000 soldiers. The Army now is authorized an end strenghth aroung 550,000. I agree with you on the deployment issue, it’s taking it’s toll. BTW, you can always choose to get out if you wish.
If you notice its ALWAYS Democrats that want the draft. Isnt that interesting? Is that so they have another reason to bitch and moan? Yea, like they need another one!!!