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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: geode00 who wrote (176415)	11/30/2005 6:22:51 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

If the latest purpose of the US Military is to train Iraqis to stand up for themselves, then why not put Iraqis into these nice facilities, give them a whole second uniform and better pay? This would entice others to join up so the US can leave. Actually, the US IS turning over the facilities it has used in Iraq to the Iraqi army. I don't know if it's public knowledge regarding the exact bases we plan to consolidate to, but it's around 4-5. The rest are going to be turned over the Iraqi army. Funny thing about your complaints related our troops eating too well and having what you seem to believe are "luxurious" living conditions. The last time I was at Camp Victory having lunch, I must have saw several dozen Iraqi soldier eating there as well. And believe me..their plates were STACKED full of food and they had smiles on their faces sitting amongst several hundred American soldiers. So Iraqis do have the opportunity, at least some of them, to enjoy the same facilities as the US soldiers. Of course, I know if you had your way, all US servicemen would be eating MREs and T-Rats for every meal. I'm sure you'd also love to reduce their paychecks and take away their tax exemptions.. Maybe you should be Hillary's military advisor.. Your hatred of the US military would dovetail exceptionally well with her views.. ;0) These are the troops who beg and plead for armor plating on their Humvees and the latest body armor, night vision goggles and the like. Yep, that makes so much sense. Ahh.. the old "lack of armored vehicles" argument. Considering that most of these vehicles were designed, procured, and maintained by the previous administration, maybe you'd like to explain why they didn't have such armor protectiong originally built into their design. For that matter, maybe you'd like to lamblast FDR, Truman, LBJ and every other administration that has sent soldier into battle why each and every vehicle wasn't armored. Think of how many lives were lost in all of our previous wars because such armor wasn't incorporated into the design of light vehicles. And since you're so concerned about cost, maybe you'd like to explain how you would suddenly convert each and every vehicle in the US inventory to an armored configuration within the space of a year.. Please incorporate a discussion of "supply-demand" factors and how it would increase the cost astronomically. Or maybe you'd recommend a "Manhattan Project" program for armoring the vehicles that were never designed to be armored in the first place. Mercenaries supposedly fighting a war for the country? What a terrible, terrible idea. From my impression ANYONE who is involved in a war on behalf of the US is a mercenary. I wonder how you feel about the insurgents and terrorists who are often hired by the day, or mission, to commit their acts of violence against innocent civilians. Are they mercenaries?? If there are 120K contractors in Iraq, what is the likelihood of the US Military being able to recruit 120K people to fill their shoes? Hmmmm. I'm all for it. But you'll have to speak to congress about your proposal. They are the ones who set limits on the size of our military forces. But then you have to ask yourself how much it would cost to maintain such a force structure during peacetime (basing, housing, medical care, PCS moving costs). I know there are lot of generals who would love to see the manning level of the ground forces increased by several hundred thousand personnel.. More money for them to control and spend.. In light of such long-term costs, maybe hiring temporary contractors to perform ongoing services isn't such a bad deal. At least we can be fired when their services are no longer needed. Btw, yes... soldiers ARE buying TVs and cheap furniture at the PXs and local Iraqi markets. I myself had purchased a satellite dish, refrigerator, microwave, two toaster ovens and combination TV/DVD.. all for $200 last year from some soldiers who were rotating back to the states. It was a GREAT "drug-deal" (the terminology we use.. ;0) Unfortunately, I had to sell or give them all away when I moved to another location. My current "appliances" consist of my laptop and one of those 12 volt electric Ice Chests.. I'm living pretty high on the hog, aren't I??.. ;0) Fortunately, I work so much that I don't need to rely upon such luxuries to keep me occupied.. Where did you develop such hatred for all things military?? Hawk