[Rhodes22-list] Political/warin Iraq.

[Herb Parsons]

I suggest it's a symptom of many things. A society that feels less and
less true responsibilty to live up to it's obligation. That would
account for the "I don't WANT to do what I said" part. A society that
has been very long living in relative peace. That would explain the "But
I didn't think I'd have to FIGHT when I joined the military".

That fact is, there were plenty of AWOLs and deserters during WWII as
well. As a matter of fact, if memory serves me correctly, WWII was the
last war where we court-martialed and executed a deserter.

In any war, we'll have a number of shirkers and cowards.

>>> robert at squirrelhaven.com 9/29/2004 7:40:26 PM >>>
Herb Parsons wrote:
> 
> So, you're advocating the idea that reservists should be free to go
AWOL
> or even desert if they don't agree with their commanders? I REALLY
try
> to stay out of the political discussions on here, but that one I
would
> take a BIG issue with.

Whoa, Herb - WAY not what I said!  Check it out.

I suggested that the AWOL figure (if accurate) is a
symptom of our country's polarization.  Like Viet
Nam...

/Bob Skinner

-----------------------------------------
What I said:

> Perhaps the message is not that desertion/AWOL is OK,
> but rather the fact that so many reservists (if the
> number is correct) are willing to risk so much in
> defiance of orders.
> 
> A reserve army structure is naturally more influenced
> by civilian issues than the regular forces.  IMHO, it
> is very possible to overstress a reserve/volunteer
> military structure with a divisive or unpopular war.
> 
> Perhaps that is what is going on...
> 
> /Bob Skinner
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