Former Army Officers: "Start a Draft, or Withdraw from Iraq"

DeadCanDance · Oct 16, 2007

In the Washington Post today, 12 former Army captains declare that “five years on, Iraq is in shambles,” and that “short” of a military draft, “our best option is to leave Iraq immediately":

As Army captains who served in Baghdad and beyond, we’ve seen the corruption and the sectarian division. We understand what it’s like to be stretched too thin. And we know when it’s time to get out. […]

To continue an operation of this intensity and duration, we would have to abandon our volunteer military for compulsory service. Short of that, our best option is to leave Iraq immediately. A scaled withdrawal will not prevent a civil war, and it will spend more blood and treasure on a losing proposition.

America, it has been five years. It’s time to make a choice.

The soldiers’ criticism comes just days after Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former top commander in Iraq, called the war “a nightmare with no end in sight"

This column was written by 12 former Army captains: Jason Blindauer served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Elizabeth Bostwick served in Salah Ad Din and An Najaf in 2004. Jeffrey Bouldin served in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Ninevah in 2006. Jason Bugajski served in Diyala in 2004. Anton Kemps served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Kristy (Luken) McCormick served in Ninevah in 2003. Luis Carlos Montalván served in Anbar, Baghdad and Nineveh in 2003 and 2005. William Murphy served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Josh Rizzo served in Baghdad in 2006. William "Jamie" Ruehl served in Nineveh in 2004. Gregg Tharp served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Gary Williams served in Baghdad in 2003.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101500841.html

RetiredGySgt · Oct 16, 2007

DeadCanDance said:
In the Washington Post today, 12 former Army captains declare that five years on, Iraq is in shambles, and that short of a military draft, our best option is to leave Iraq immediately":

The soldiers criticism comes just days after Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former top commander in Iraq, called the war a nightmare with no end in sight"

This column was written by 12 former Army captains: Jason Blindauer served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Elizabeth Bostwick served in Salah Ad Din and An Najaf in 2004. Jeffrey Bouldin served in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Ninevah in 2006. Jason Bugajski served in Diyala in 2004. Anton Kemps served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Kristy (Luken) McCormick served in Ninevah in 2003. Luis Carlos Montalván served in Anbar, Baghdad and Nineveh in 2003 and 2005. William Murphy served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Josh Rizzo served in Baghdad in 2006. William "Jamie" Ruehl served in Nineveh in 2004. Gregg Tharp served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Gary Williams served in Baghdad in 2003.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101500841.html

And now if some Journalist goes out and gets 5 Majors to say we should stay and help you will just dismiss it. Which I guess is ok, cause guess what? I am dismissing your 5 Captains.

Shogun · Oct 16, 2007

"REAL captains want to be there! It's the PHONY captains that the MSM get ahold of...."

:eusa_dance:

Avatar4321 · Oct 16, 2007

Why not read General Sanchez's speech for yourself about how he criticizes the Media and partisan politics in Washington for causing the problems in Iraq?

http://www.militaryreporters.org/sanchez_101207.html

Gunny · Oct 16, 2007

RetiredGySgt said:
And now if some Journalist goes out and gets 5 Majors to say we should stay and help you will just dismiss it. Which I guess is ok, cause guess what? I am dismissing your 5 Captains.

All we REALLY need are five 7.62 mm rounds. :badgrin:

doniston · Oct 16, 2007

DeadCanDance said:
In the Washington Post today, 12 former Army captains declare that “five years on, Iraq is in shambles,” and that “short” of a military draft, “our best option is to leave Iraq immediately":

The soldiers’ criticism comes just days after Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former top commander in Iraq, called the war “a nightmare with no end in sight"

This column was written by 12 former Army captains: Jason Blindauer served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Elizabeth Bostwick served in Salah Ad Din and An Najaf in 2004. Jeffrey Bouldin served in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Ninevah in 2006. Jason Bugajski served in Diyala in 2004. Anton Kemps served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Kristy (Luken) McCormick served in Ninevah in 2003. Luis Carlos Montalván served in Anbar, Baghdad and Nineveh in 2003 and 2005. William Murphy served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Josh Rizzo served in Baghdad in 2006. William "Jamie" Ruehl served in Nineveh in 2004. Gregg Tharp served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Gary Williams served in Baghdad in 2003.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101500841.html

I am curious as to WHY they are all FORMER Army Captains--- Retiring early? pushed out???? What??.

Gunny · Oct 16, 2007

doniston said:
I am curious as to WHY they are all FORMER Army Captains--- Retiring early? pushed out???? What??.

Losers who couldn't cut it? :eusa_whistle:

doniston · Oct 16, 2007

RetiredGySgt said:
And now if some Journalist goes out and gets 5 Majors to say we should stay and help you will just dismiss it. Which I guess is ok, cause guess what? I am dismissing your 5 Captains.

'pearsyou can't even read. there were 12.

Annie · Oct 16, 2007

Why couldn't they have included any that have served in the past year or so? Why back to 2004?

doniston · Oct 16, 2007

GunnyL said:
Losers who couldn't cut it?

You KNOW that? or just quessing? I got out after twelve, being utter disgusted with the military (and I was up for M/SGT at the tme)(Hardly a loser)

Gunny · Oct 16, 2007

doniston said:
You KNOW that? or just quessing? I got out after twelve, being utter disgusted with the military (and I was up for M/SGT at the tme)(Hardly a loser)

You can speculate but I can't?

They sound like losers to me.

doniston · Oct 16, 2007

GunnyL said:
You can speculate but I can't?

They sound like losers to me.

I didn't speculate.--- I asked a question. You made a flat statement.

Gunny · Oct 16, 2007

doniston said:
I didn't speculate.--- I asked a question. You made a flat statement.

Really? Did you miss the "?" at the end of:

Losers who couldn't cut it?

AllieBaba · Oct 16, 2007

My guess would be that they aren't real. I'm sure we'll get the dirt on them.

It's just another example of the left creating the news.

Gunny · Oct 16, 2007

AllieBaba said:
My guess would be that they aren't real. I'm sure we'll get the dirt on them.

It's just another example of the left creating the news.

Oh, they're probably real. Probably got passed over for promotion and had to get out and wanted some face-time in the media to spew some sour grapes.

The fact is, a draft isn't going to change a damned thing except divide this nation further. It certainly isn't going to win a war -- or secure the peace in an occupation -- so long as they continue pursuing the same unsound tactics.

DeadCanDance · Oct 16, 2007

GunnyL said:
Oh, they're probably real. Probably got passed over for promotion and had to get out and wanted some face-time in the media to spew some sour grapes.

The fact is, a draft isn't going to change a damned thing except divide this nation further. It certainly isn't going to win a war -- or secure the peace in an occupation -- so long as they continue pursuing the same unsound tactics.

Oh, they're probably real. Probably got passed over for promotion and had to get out and wanted some face-time in the media to spew some sour grapes.

Captains retire from military service all the time. And not because they suck. Because they don't intend to make the military a lifelong career.

Diuretic · Oct 16, 2007

There'll be no draft, that would mean sacrifice by others and not solely the professional military.

Annie · Oct 16, 2007

Diuretic said:
There'll be no draft, that would mean sacrifice by others and not solely the professional military.

Right, we should enforce the conscription of those we don't need, at the expense of those that serve willingly, whatever their motivations.

Gunny · Oct 16, 2007

DeadCanDance said:
Oh, they're probably real. Probably got passed over for promotion and had to get out and wanted some face-time in the media to spew some sour grapes.

Captains retire from military service all the time. And not because they suck. Because they don't intend to make the military a lifelong career.

You would be incorrect. One cannot make only O-3 except under certain conditions and remain in the service long enough to retire at a minimum of 20. They have to make O-4 (Major).

So, while there are exceptions to the rule, no, "captains DON'T retire from military service all the time."

They either choose to get out once their initial commitment is up, or they get passed over for promotion and are forced out due to attrition.

DeadCanDance · Oct 16, 2007

GunnyL said:
You would be incorrect. One cannot make only O-3 except under certain conditions and remain in the service long enough to retire at a minimum of 20. They have to make O-4 (Major).

So, while there are exceptions to the rule, no, "captains DON'T retire from military service all the time."

They either choose to get out once their initial commitment is up, or they get passed over for promotion and are forced out due to attrition.

they either choose to get out once their initial commitment is up

Bingo.

Former Army Officers: "Start a Draft, or Withdraw from Iraq"

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