On Wednesday U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates finally admitted that U.S. forces are so stretched that the esprit de corps is almost broken. And, he did little to boost military morale or halt plummeting support for the war on terror when he begrudgingly announced that:
… All active-duty army troops now in Iraq or Afghanistan or headed to either country will serve 15-month tours of duty, up from the usual one year, effective immediately.
Alas, given the way this amorphous war is going, the victory Bush seeks is no where in sight. And it is unconscionable for him to cover his ass for the remainder of his presidency by extending the tours of duty of these beleaguered and dispirited troops to execute his inherently-unsustainable” surge” strategy.
After all, that America is fighting a “war on terror” is now an obvious fiction. Because, in fact, America is fighting a guerrilla war in Iraq that is emulating all of the ominous developments of the Vietnam War.
Yet Bush remains determined to lead America back into the crucible of another Vietnam. Indeed, the only uncertainty that remains is whether political forces will compel reinstating the Draft before they compel full-scale retreat from Iraq (never mind that thousands more will die while politicians fiddle over these fateful prospects).
Related Article:
Congressman calls for reinstating the Draft
military draft
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.