June 29, 2004
It's Not the Draft, but It Is Conscription
Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |The Pentagon announced today that it was issuing an involuntary recall of 5600 retired and discharged soldiers for (possible) service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those being recalled to duty are known as the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The IRR is a "reserve" military pool of individuals who served less than eight years in the military. That "pool" of retired personnel has about 110,000 members (If you can't access this link try the UTJ permanent link), though the CNN report says there are 118,000 people in the IRR.
The recall of the IRR is yet another sign that the military is stretched very thin. During the 1991 Gulf War, the Pentagon called up 20,000 IRRs, but that was for short term duty. The current assignments are rumored to be for 18 months. (I heard this in one report, but have not been able to find it in print).
According to CNN, The Pentagon has been screening the IRR list for the past several weeks " in search of qualified people in certain high-priority skill areas like civil affairs." They also note that the Pentagon has been reaching "deep into its resources." The FT article states that the Pentagon has been contacting those in the IRR requesting them to volunteer for assignment, but thus far only about 1,100 volunteered.
A notification was sent to Congress about the recall, which is required by law. Congress called Rumsfeld on the carpet earlier this year for increasing the size of the active military with Congressional approval. There is no indication in either article that Congress has approved the recall (and resulting change in troop strength), just that they were notified.
Articles
6/29/04 CNN, Army to recall former military members
6/30/04 Sevastopulo, Financial Times, Pentagon to recall further 5,600 reservists (FT is a subscription only service so I have made a copy of the article UTJ permanent link)
Posted by rowan at June 29, 2004 05:50 PM | TrackBack | Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |As I mentioned in a comment on TalkLeft today, the focus on "specific skills" should ring a bell.
Posted by: The One True b!X at June 29, 2004 06:05 PMI see that George is getting the short end of the stick from congress on a few things not just the media and opposing political parties. I am relieved to see that they are screening individuals not just blanket recalling them. Some one has a brain.
I also want to point out encase someone gets the wrong idea about george... Do you really think Bush is crazy enough to try to hold power with military force if he loses the election? Why would any one think he would depose a tyrant, in Iraq, just to become one? The point is there and I am sure some wacko will start preaching this garbage soon.
I just may be that wacko....speaking as Viet Nam Veteran and a Veteran for Peace I am very concerned about this so called "conscription" and at this point I wouldn't put anything past "W". It is of course unlikely but by viturue of the fact we perceeive it as unlikely makes it likely.
I was aware of torture occuring in Viet Nam, prisonors being pushed out of helicopters and the like, people are capable of strange things in strange times, but I didn't think I would see it again in my lifetime....I was wrong. Ask some of my comrades about the military mindset.,
"it is HOW HIGH AND WHAT COLOR SIR !
Bush lost the first election. When the going gets tough, Diebold gets going!
Posted by: Mathew Maavak at June 30, 2004 03:51 AM