Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Misty
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Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
...last night on an MTV special about the election reaaaallllly got to me.
MTV had a soldier who just returned from Iraq interviewing the Presidential candidates at different events.
When he got a few minutes with John Kerry, he asked him about a plan he has to insure that 40,000 additional men and women join the armed forces. The soldier asked how he planned to do that without re-instituting a draft and his response went something very close to this:
'Well, I believe that with a responsible foreign policy, we can promise new young people that they won't get deployed every five minutes, and that they won't really have to worry about serving, and this will lead to a greater interest in joining the armed forces and increase our numbers'.
Does this idea frighten the crap out of anyone else? I mean, do we really want soldiers that are worried about getting deployed? Isn't the purpose of our armed forces to be WILLING to fight for us? This seems like a pretty naive idea for a Presidential candidate.
Opinions
shelzyp
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
My take, and might not be what he meant, but I take it that he means we won't be sending troops to every country, like we have in the past, and will not continue to be the police of the entire globe.
reallybehind!
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
i don't really think it's naive. i'm sure they're are a lot of people that joined up in 2000 and 2001 for some of the other benefits (money for college, expereience etc) and said oh cr@p when 9/11 happened. i'd love to think that everyone joins the military with the selfless motive of i wanna fight for my country but i know it's not true and i think he recognizes that too. maybe not the right thing to say but..... of course it doesn't really make sense to me why we need to increase the numbers if we're not going off fighting somewhere else 'every 5 minutes' but whatever.
and i think i'd be more frightened of the soldiers who aren't afraid to get deployed. i think it's natural to be a little scared of going to a foreign country to get killed.
jmo of course
ChristineC68
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
I think it natural for a soldier to worry about being deployed. We are continually hearing about soldiers being wounded and killed overseas. If I enlisted, I would be prepared to do that but I would be afraid of getting hurt/killed.
Misty
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
I completely understand that it's fair for a soldier to be worried about getting deployed...who in his/her right mind wouldn't?
His statements very much came off in a way that indicated a much more lax approach to the military, which is the one thing we don't need right now. I admire the idea of getting more people to join, but I agree...why should they think we won't need them if you are asking for more of them? lol.
This just confused me. The idea just seemed a bit out of left field.
ChristineC68
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
You're right, it is a very contradictory statement.
I guess he's saying if we have more then enough soldiers, we won't need you as often.
BMD'sPeanut
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
I assume he means something like: with better relationships with foreign countries -and less of a likelyhood of going to war with these countries- it may entice young people to join the armed forces because the chances of actually having to go fight a war might be minimal...But it is contradictory when he says that we need our number (of soldiers) increased... He probably just made a stupid statement...Possibly taken out of context.
Misty
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Posted by CIMINOK
I assume he means something like: with better relationships with foreign countries -and less of a likelyhood of going to war with these countries- it may entice young people to join the armed forces because the chances of actually having to go fight a war might be minimal...But it is contradictory when he says that we need our number (of soldiers) increased... He probably just made a stupid statement...Possibly taken out of context.
That is exactly what he meant (or I should say, exactly how it came off) which to me, is extremely naive in the post 9/11 world.
BMD'sPeanut
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
So you're saying it's naieve (or wrong) of him to let us (and those young people considering joining armed services) believe that the chances of US going to war are minimal?? (And using this as part of his campaigning?) Just trying to be clear. Tone and intention often get lost in written word.
Becky
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
I think it is a stupid statement, plain and simple. Most likely it is not what he meant and his choice of wording is poor.
I am all for reiging in our military and not using Americans as police officers of the world. I am also all for better foregn policy that would prevent having to resort to the use of military.
But I can't get on board with a policy that seeks to enlist 40,000 people into the armed forces by telling them that they wont have to go to war. Joining the service means you are ready, willing and able to do just that.
It just doesn't make sense. Hopefully he will clarify that sometime in the near future.
Misty
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Posted by CIMINOK
So you're saying it's naieve (or wrong) of him to let us (and those young people considering joining armed services) believe that the chances of US going to war are minimal?? (And using this as part of his campaigning?) Just trying to be clear. Tone and intention often get lost in written word.
The word naive does not mean wrong, it means lacking in informed judgment. And yes, I do believe that it is naive to think that in a post 9/11 world, we stand minimal chances of going to war, whether we engage in combat in nations we are directly or indirectly effected by. This does not mean I think we will always be going to war (I am far from a war monger), this means that I'd rather believe we stand a greater chance now, than to lead myself into a comfortable peace only to be greatly disappointed should something happen.
And yes, I think it's wrong (not naive) to use this notion as part of a campaign. If the statement is completely miscontrued, fine, but I'd like to hear a more informed version of it before I make that judgement. Hopefully it'll pop up again.
BMD'sPeanut
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Understood.
070502
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
I believe he meant they they wouldn't be deployed all the time. A year ago year long deployments weren't the norm and now they are, and most of the guys and girls come home for a short time and are just shipped off again. I think what he means is if he gets all those people that the military won't be spread so thinly.
But whatever, I think he is a jerk and most democrats are known for not being pro military anyways.
As a military spouse I am looking for more of an answer that a candiate promises to take care of his soliders and families that he has now if they did that more people would stay in. Atleast with Bush we have gotten increased tax breaks and a slight increase in salary.
ETA. Is your quote correct? It sounds a bit off from what I heard last night
dcwife
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Right after 9/11 a girl I knew was so upset because a lot of her friend's were going to have to be deployed because of ROTC. SHe didn't think it was fair that they would have to go overseas. I think they shouldn't have taken the money for college if they were not serious about being in the military.
Becky
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Well, I think it is inaccurate for you to say most democrats are not pro-military. I am a democrat and I am certainly not ANTI-military. I am just not fond of sending American troops into battles that I don't think we have any business fighting. I have no issue with the military itself or the job the military does in response to orders from the President. I have had several family members in the military going back to my grandfather who served in WWII.
Wanting to spend less money on military endeavors because I believe that our troops should not be the police officers of the world is a far cry from being anti-military.
070502
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
I said 'most' and it is known that most democrats aren't into building and funding a large military. Everyone wants a military when they need it.
Misty
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
No, it's not 100% accurate, I paraphrased because I couldn't remember exact words, but this is the gist of what he said....
And I agree wholeheartedly with this statement:
I am looking for more of an answer that a candiate promises to take care of his soliders and families that he has now if they did that more people would stay in. Atleast with Bush we have gotten increased tax breaks and a slight increase in salary.
Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
living in a military city I have an idea of what he meant...
In San Diego we have seen ships come back and have to leave right away again...it definitely tugs on the morale of these sailers and marines...and their families...it also hurts the economy when our reservists are called...
as for Kerry...remember he fought in Vietnam...and there are some bad a** things that he did during that war to save his fellow soldiers...I think if ANYONE of the candidates (INCLUDING Bush) knows what the draft could be liek...and the fear a soldier has...its him...
and its not that Democrats aren't 'pro-military' that implies that they do not support troops...I could count the people in this country on my hands that don't support the troops...
the point is the military does a lot more than fight...they develop technology...decipher intelligence reports...fly to the moon and beyond...if there is a fear of being deployed the military is going to lose top students and thinkers to private industry...
JMHO
HappyEverAfter
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Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Posted by yabbobay
and its not that Democrats aren't 'pro-military' that implies that they do not support troops...I could count the people in this country on my hands that don't support the troops...
the point is the military does a lot more than fight...they develop technology...decipher intelligence reports...fly to the moon and beyond...if there is a fear of being deployed the military is going to lose top students and thinkers to private industry...
JMHO
I agree- most Democratic candidates are not 'anti military', but they dont take as hard line stance as the Republicans do on military spending and deployment. If you look historically prior to 9/11, military spending was usually a big issue dividing republicans and democratic candidates.
Many democratic candidates are not against military spending, but are for putting more money towards domestic issues than spending to increase our military power.
Re: Ok, political discussion that might get ugly, but something John Kerry said....
Posted by 070502
I said 'most' and it is known that most democrats aren't into building and funding a large military. Everyone wants a military when they need it.
this is where many people will not be able to agree...
I want a military to protect our nation...help assist NATO and the UN...
I do not want a military large enough that goes into other countries that have resources that we are interested in 'to help'
while yes the people in some of these nations do need help...and I favor that...I truly do not believe that is what Bush's intentions were...look into the info the Paul O'Neill uncovered last month...
