Mass Exodus

Thanks to TPM for this link: Many Troops Dissatisfied, Iraq Poll Finds. I find this fact most interesting:

"A total of 49 percent of those questioned said it was "very unlikely" or "not likely" that they would remain in the military after they complete their current obligations. In the past, enlistment rates tended to drop after conflicts, but many defense experts and noncommissioned officers have warned of the potential for a historically high exodus, particularly of reservists."

This article basically says that regardless of what this administration would have you believe, the Stars and Stripes put together a survey and found some enlightening results. They realize that this was NOT a scientific survey, but I think the results are still quite relevant. As the article says, "the survey results suggest that a combination of difficult conditions, complex missions and prolonged tours in Iraq is wearing down a significant portion of the U.S. force and threatening to provoke a sizable exodus from military service."

How will the neo-cons handle this? And don't tell me they will re-instate the draft.

You know, I read a few days ago in a major news source (so it must have been big news) that most of our current soldiers are from rural areas. Is this supposed to be surprising? I didn't read the article, but I wonder if it pointed out that a majority of people in service are also minorities. And how many minorities are in Congress again?

There is a great article in the current issue of Harper's Magazine about the GOP's obsession with the military. If you haven't read it yet, I recommend that you do. If it were online I would link ot it, but it isn't. =( It is an in-depth article about the kind of people who make up the military and why the GOP wants America to be more like the military that serves it.