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	<title>Comments on: National Guard Enlistment Drop</title>
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		<item>
		<title>By: Citizen/Soldier</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29981</link>
		<dc:creator>Citizen/Soldier</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:23:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29981</guid>
		<description>Hey Mikey 

You sound like you have an opinion.  Let&#039;s put the ball in your court.  What have you done to defend the United States?  I&#039;m currently serving my 10th month in Iraq with the 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, When I do have a chance to check my email, I read my favorate news source, OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY.  Defending the US doesn&#039;t stop at fighting on our soil.  It means fighting all over the world, where ever the fight takes you to prevent the fight from coming to our soil.  That job has become more difficult since our enemies (terrorists), in case you didn&#039;t know, have become harder to see, track and locate.  Because I&#039;ll tell you what, if the fighting comes to our soil what are YOU going to do about it.  I imagine you&#039;ll be dazed and confused looking to a Soldier, Marine, Airmen, Navy and/or Coastguard or a veteran of all the above to save your ass.  This is why more of you need to quit numbing yourselves with the idea that nothing is going to happen to you.  I can&#039;t spell it out any easier for you mike.  The very military that keeps you safe and allows you to have a nice place to live your life, is having trouble replinishing its ranks because many people in American society do not want to experience the burden of what it means to have freedom.  Many think freedom is just something you&#039;re born with.  Is freedom just something you&#039;re just born with in the U.S.A Mike?  There are over 180,000 U.S. troops putting their lives on the line, who don&#039;t seem to think so.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hey Mikey </p>
<p>You sound like you have an opinion.  Let's put the ball in your court.  What have you done to defend the United States?  I'm currently serving my 10th month in Iraq with the 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, When I do have a chance to check my email, I read my favorate news source, OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY.  Defending the US doesn't stop at fighting on our soil.  It means fighting all over the world, where ever the fight takes you to prevent the fight from coming to our soil.  That job has become more difficult since our enemies (terrorists), in case you didn't know, have become harder to see, track and locate.  Because I'll tell you what, if the fighting comes to our soil what are YOU going to do about it.  I imagine you'll be dazed and confused looking to a Soldier, Marine, Airmen, Navy and/or Coastguard or a veteran of all the above to save your ass.  This is why more of you need to quit numbing yourselves with the idea that nothing is going to happen to you.  I can't spell it out any easier for you mike.  The very military that keeps you safe and allows you to have a nice place to live your life, is having trouble replinishing its ranks because many people in American society do not want to experience the burden of what it means to have freedom.  Many think freedom is just something you're born with.  Is freedom just something you're just born with in the U.S.A Mike?  There are over 180,000 U.S. troops putting their lives on the line, who don't seem to think so.</p>
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		<title>By: mike</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29959</link>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Dec 2004 02:18:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29959</guid>
		<description>&quot;fight for our freedom&quot; and what we can do for our country? Citizen Soldier what are you smoking? We are defending something but it isn&#039;t &quot;our&quot; freedom. Open up your eyes. Get a clue.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>"fight for our freedom" and what we can do for our country? Citizen Soldier what are you smoking? We are defending something but it isn't "our" freedom. Open up your eyes. Get a clue.</p>
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		<title>By: DC Loser</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29918</link>
		<dc:creator>DC Loser</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2004 20:28:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29918</guid>
		<description>Anjin-san,

  Why would Iran have to do anything to install a pro-Iranian government in Iraq?  That&#039;s the most likely outcome of the January elections anyway with the united Shiite voting slate backed by Sistani and SCIRI.  And that will be the ultimate irony of the whole war - American blood spilled to put in an Iranian style theocracy.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Anjin-san,</p>
<p>  Why would Iran have to do anything to install a pro-Iranian government in Iraq?  That's the most likely outcome of the January elections anyway with the united Shiite voting slate backed by Sistani and SCIRI.  And that will be the ultimate irony of the whole war - American blood spilled to put in an Iranian style theocracy.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: anjin-san</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29917</link>
		<dc:creator>anjin-san</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2004 19:49:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29917</guid>
		<description>James,

I certainly hope you are correct, but I have a hard time seeing it. Unless Bush&#039;s grand plan is just to declare victory, go home &amp; leave Iraq poised for civil war, with Iran waiting in the wings to install a pro-Tehran goverment.

We were told recently the back of the insurgency was broken.  Of couse that is total garbage.  I think my cynacisim is justafied.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>James,</p>
<p>I certainly hope you are correct, but I have a hard time seeing it. Unless Bush's grand plan is just to declare victory, go home &#038; leave Iraq poised for civil war, with Iran waiting in the wings to install a pro-Tehran goverment.</p>
<p>We were told recently the back of the insurgency was broken.  Of couse that is total garbage.  I think my cynacisim is justafied.</p>
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		<title>By: James Joyner</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29916</link>
		<dc:creator>James Joyner</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2004 19:34:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29916</guid>
		<description>We&#039;ll be drawing down in Iraq in six months or so, so the demand will ease.  The issue is one of the configuration and size of the active force and the over-reliance on the RC.  A draft is just not a viable option militarily, let alone politically.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We'll be drawing down in Iraq in six months or so, so the demand will ease.  The issue is one of the configuration and size of the active force and the over-reliance on the RC.  A draft is just not a viable option militarily, let alone politically.</p>
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		<title>By: USCitizen/Soldier</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29915</link>
		<dc:creator>USCitizen/Soldier</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2004 19:33:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29915</guid>
		<description>I am a Captain in the US Army National Guard and there are several things that the government has been looking to do to recruit new troops and retain those already in. #1) Drop the retirement age from 60 years of age to 55. #2) Offer the soldiers TRICARE health insurance when in part time service, we will pay for it. #3) 10 year, 15 year bonus incentives to keep those who are here and trained. #4) Tuition assistance for spouse and children, right now only for the soldier.  All of the above is said to be too expensive.  What is going to be the price of freedom?  We are going to have to do something to make the military attractive because no one wants to just fight for their country to defend their own freedom.  It&#039;s all about what can my country do for me not what I can I do for my country.  So since there seems to be more COWARDS in the US today, who won&#039;t even fight for their own freedom.  The National Guard and I&#039;m sure all other military branches will suffer in the recruitment of good quality US citizens to fight for everyone elses freedom this year and many years to come.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am a Captain in the US Army National Guard and there are several things that the government has been looking to do to recruit new troops and retain those already in. #1) Drop the retirement age from 60 years of age to 55. #2) Offer the soldiers TRICARE health insurance when in part time service, we will pay for it. #3) 10 year, 15 year bonus incentives to keep those who are here and trained. #4) Tuition assistance for spouse and children, right now only for the soldier.  All of the above is said to be too expensive.  What is going to be the price of freedom?  We are going to have to do something to make the military attractive because no one wants to just fight for their country to defend their own freedom.  It's all about what can my country do for me not what I can I do for my country.  So since there seems to be more COWARDS in the US today, who won't even fight for their own freedom.  The National Guard and I'm sure all other military branches will suffer in the recruitment of good quality US citizens to fight for everyone elses freedom this year and many years to come.</p>
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		<title>By: anjin-san</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29908</link>
		<dc:creator>anjin-san</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2004 19:03:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29908</guid>
		<description>Not a problem, I am sure that the chairborne rangers who have been cheering so loudly for the war are ready to sign up for combat duty.

Or maybe not...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Not a problem, I am sure that the chairborne rangers who have been cheering so loudly for the war are ready to sign up for combat duty.</p>
<p>Or maybe not...</p>
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		<title>By: DC Loser</title>
		<link>http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/national_guard_enlistment_drop/comment-page-1/#comment-29905</link>
		<dc:creator>DC Loser</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2004 17:36:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=8484#comment-29905</guid>
		<description>They&#039;ve been poo pooing this notion that recruitment and retention was going to be a problem.  Now there is no more denying it and they need to do something to get more people into uniform.  Anyone feel a draft?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They've been poo pooing this notion that recruitment and retention was going to be a problem.  Now there is no more denying it and they need to do something to get more people into uniform.  Anyone feel a draft?</p>
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