Overuse of Marines continues

Faced with a shortage of volunteers, President Bush authorized the US Marine Corps to use "involuntary recall" to meet troop demands in Iraq and Afghanistan. The initial recall applies to approximately 2,500 Marines, but there is no cap on the number of troops that may eventually be required to return overseas.

Recalled troops will be drawn from the pool of Marines on Individual Ready Reserve, a military status held by those who have already fulfilled their four-year active duty requirement, but remain on contract with the Marines for an additional four years. There are approximately 59,000 Marines on Individual Ready Reserve.


These soldiers should never have had to go to Iraq in the first place. And face possibly not coming back. Or see their buddies blown up in front of them. Or lose part of their bodies. Or part of their mind. Or watch women and children die. Yet, they endured. And served with honor. Even though the cause was not honorable. They did their job without question in spite of that. Now Bush wants to send them back??

Let us not forget that victory in Iraq was achieved in Spring of '03. It was a conflict that would last six days, six weeks, doubtfully six months. Yet now, in Summer of '06, our glorious leader says that Iraq will not be "settled" under his watch. Now he wants to send battle-scarred young men and women, who have already served our country, back to Iraq for another chance to join the friends they lost during their first term of service. In a war that was declared "won" three years ago. In a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, and everything to do with corporate profits.

Nay, George. Leave our sons and daughters alone. Far too many have already paid the ultimate price for your corporatism and greed. Perhaps you can "outsource" some military from a foreign land. You DO seem to have a solid grasp of THAT concept. Perhaps foreign soldiers will be willing to die without good cause, and for one-third of what you have been paying our true American boys and girls. I'm surprised you haven't already presented this plan. . .

Hat Tip to HuffPost