http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/16/national/main3513410.shtml


(CBS/AP) Soldiers strained by six years at war are deserting their posts at the highest rate since 1980, with the number of Army deserters this year showing an 80 percent increase since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003.

__________________
99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Wouldn't you desert as well after so many years of useless war and no progress?

I don't blame them, specially when they are being recalled back to duty after completing their term. If the situation was like WW-II, I am sure there would be minuscule desertion rates.

__________________
99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

The law will take care of them.

I just saw a local show interviewing a panel of 6 Iraq veterans. They were all in their mid to late 20s. The main thing that stuck out was that they are offended by Americans saying "I support the troops but I don't support this war". To them it's all or nothing - you can't support a soldier or marine and then balk on the mission he or she was trained for. They lamented the lack of backbone and commitment among some of their fellow countrymen.

This was not a conservative talk show - it was produced by our liberal-minded county local access, with no swear words blipped out - I was pretty surprised.

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Yup, hunt them down and throw them in jail.

The 80's........LOL

Highest rate since the 80's, I found that interesting. What was going on in 1980?

Reality Check Chicken Little!

Wiki “US Army Personnel as of 2007/8/31 1,055,734 actual 2007 rate of desertion 9 per 1000 (less than 1% !) 9501.606 desertions. So less than 1% (0.9%) desertion rate ( as opposed to a prewar Clinton army rate of 0.5%) equals the 80% increase!!!!! 42% over last year 2006 – 0.7% vs. 2007 – 0.9%! Statistically insignificant unless you have nothing better to offer. When any thoughtful person considers the rate of dessertions vs. the rate of reenlistments (although I have not been able to find the actual 2007 total number the renlistment goal was 80,000 ( at minimum 7.58%) and the media widely reports that goal had not only been been achieved but exceeded) over the same time period, one can only conclude that the posting of such out of context information is nothing less than irresponsible sensationalism! Already this statistical garbage is heralded loudly and frequently from and by most liberal media, talking heads, politicos, and the great unwashed left leaning koolaid drinking masses. Fortunately such conduct only further reveals how foolish some have become!

On a side note you’ve got to wonder how the other Gurkha’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorkha) really feel about stuff like this happening!?

Good luck and Semper Fidelis!

"Wouldn't you desert as well after so many years of useless war and no progress?

No! And 99.1% agree! It's clear; if you have never served, you will never know!

Here's an article about desertions that contains all the figures, and more, that you have cited. And it's from a news source generally identified as "liberal".
When the actual number of deserters from year to year is compared, the results are far from insignificant.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/16/national/main3513410.shtml?source=mostpop_story

I was wondering the same thing Howie. Anybody know? Or is this just anti-war propaganda.

I'm not too keen on the war either, BTW.

I think keeping soldiers in the battle for extended periods is always bad. Dessertion is probably not the only problem resulting from our current policies.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

If the profiteers lose control in the upcoming elections this will all change. God help us if they don't.

The war is to protect national security interests. You must be clueless since you can't see the big picture. And obviously you must not have a TV or read a paper otherwise you would know what progress has been made.

Better not go up against a 5th grader, you would lose....

__________________
MB-less

Someone needs to compare the size of the Army vs. desertions, as you said the numbers are misleading as presented.

For example if you take 2 points in time, at one point the rate is 7 per 1000 and the other is 9 per 1000 thats a big jump. But lets say the Army only had 1000 at the first point and 10000 at the second. The rate is .7% the first time and .09% the second. Clinton gutted the military so comparing desertion rates in those times is a joke.

As an aside, the number of annual military deaths in active duty is less since the war started than it was before the war. You don't see that on the news.

__________________
MB-less

Clinton was following what Bush41 did.


"The reductions I have approved will save us an additional $50 billion over the next 5 years. By 1997, we will have cut defense by 30 percent since I took office."

G.H.W.Bush 1992 State of the Union speach

Finally here is someone that understands why we invaded Iraq.
Could you please identify for the rest us these national security interests?

Back on the subject, what was the desertion rate in 1980 and before? Why was the rate high then when the US military had nothing more than garrison duty in Europe and the Pacific?

B