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Rationalizing the Media
Jason Van Steenwyk over at Iraq Now wrote up this insiteful commentary about why the media are suddenly "discovering" soldiers actually leave behind families when they deploy. He also gives a very nice explanation as to why such a practice is a Good Thing:
The idea [behind restructuring the Army so that many functions were part of the reserve] was this: if the Army simply could not go to war in any strength without a large scale reserve call-up, then a far broader sample of communities--and a far broader array of Senators and Representatives in congress--would have a real stake in ensuring that the Army was not foolishly committed, or committed to the field before the populace had committed itself to winning.
This also provides a nice counterpoint to David Hackworth's assertion that the draft should be reinstated because an all-volunteer force is not representative of the country at large.
In a way this is true. The problem is that from what I have been hearing (From several reservist who have been called up) is because of the way this has been handled we aren't going to have much of a reserve when this is done.
The troops in the NG and Reserve were not prepared for an extended deployment into Iraq. Active duty units are being sent home BEFORE reserve units that have been there the same amount of time. While the troops in the reserve are more than willing to fight for thier country, were ready, willing, and able to march off against a direct threat like Bin Laden and Afghanistan, they are much less willing to be deployed for long periods of time for "Nation Building."
While the author of this site is willing to comment on the need for the US to bring down dictators for the "Good of their people" this is not, by and large, the reason folks are in the reserves. They are there to help their neighbors during crises (Hurricanes, earthquakes etc) as well as protect thier country from external threats (Al Queida etc). Unfortunatley this isn't what they are being asked to do and from what I have been hearing, as soon as it is possible for them to get out of the reserves they will.
Then What??
Posted by: Jeff on January 13, 2004 09:51 AM