Volunteer Army Coming Up Short

Someone in the 1960's asked," Suppose they gave a war and nobody came? Forty- plus years later we may find out the answer to that valid question. In the 60's, the U S had a draft. If one didn't show up, the military police would go pick'em up. But with the all volunteer army of today, enlistments are drying up. Major Gen. Michael Rochelle who is the Army's top recruiter recently announced some bleak statistics. Normally at this time of the recruiting cycle for 2006 35% of the goal would be met. But now the goal is only 10% met. The results for 2005 goal of 80,000 new recruits has only produced about 36,000 so far-"normal times" would have shown a number closer to 65,000 at his time. Both of these totals are ominous.

Prospective recruits have become aware of the futile wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Little or no justification for the wars and the resulting civil wars in both countries have U S troops as targets and/or caught in the middle. Why would someone who understood those facts sign up?

Congress recently passed an increase in death benefits to $100,000 from $12,500 for a military loss of life.What a cynical government ploy. The only jobs to be had in Iraq with a 70% unemployment rate is with the security forces. America will pay for hired guns at the expense of infrastructure projects. But in America ther are other choices of jobs. Prospective recruits for the armed services should wait for a better foreign policy to defend.