You are on a serious roll today Jo. I agree that going UA is never the right choice. But, what about going to Canada to evade a draft? Just curious.

I would agree UA (AWOL in the Army) is a poor choice when faced with odious prospects, like a 2nd/3rd tour in Iraq. And that's a true statement, because there are a small number of GIs facing their THIRD deployment in 3.5 years.

Most of course are facing or have started their second deployment. Those who haven't been through it have no idea how terrible combat deployment is. It's a major rip to the family, and the pucker factor is about a 6.2.

I can remember, as a child, asking my father about his service in the Pacific theater. He didn't like to talk about it, but as I remember it, he spoke of the necessity to fight back after Pearl Harbor. I remember visiting him in a VA Hospital just before he died. I was in uniform, having been given compassionate leave, and he sounded so sad when I told him I was awaiting shipment. (He and my mother divorced when I was about 12, and I didn't see a lot of him after that.)

I told him how bitter I was about shipping to Nam and how much I loathed what we were doing there. He never said so in the same words, but he managed to express his disappointment over what was happening to our country. I try to imagine how this man, almost a stranger in the emotional sense, would view the destruction wrought in this country by these criminals. Like me, he loved his country, and willingly exposed himself to danger for the sake of the ideals upon which the US was founded.

Leaving your homeland - exile, really.. Canada...

It takes a lot of courage to cut yourself off from family, home, the whole thing. My prayers and respct go out to these soldiers.

I agree going AWOL is the last thing a soldier should contemplate. But on the other hand the trooper was correct in disobeying an illegal order. It is ironic that this president chose to ignore his own service obligation in a champagne unit, yet he expects today's reserve and guard to carry the brunt of his adventure in Iraq. I support our troops, whether it be serving in combat, or standing up for their beliefs and refusing.

I feel a draft.

60 Minutes had this story up in December. Of course, they're lefty pinko commie bastages. Or the liberal media. Or whatevah.

it doesn't seem fair that these people can't snort cocaine, and go to alabamy to work on a nazi political campaign. why don't they just call their daddies and get them off the hook? i hear it works for some deserters.

Thankfully, Canada does'nt sacrifice it's young to the Oil Gods. If it did, I would have done whatever necessary to ensure my 3 son's(now in their 40s)safety.

Lurch, could you speak more of your experiences in Vietnam? Where were you stationed, did you face combat, any purple hearts, any thoughts would be appreciated---my husband is still working thru his PTSD and I learn more from him each year.

Hi, Natalie, olde farte, old soldiers' war stories are usually boring. LOL. I was assigned to the 2nd Bn, 502d and later in the 1st Bn, 7th Cavalry.

I don't know what you want to know. All in all, it was waaaay too exciting. I'm real sorry about your husband. I don't really know what to tell you in order to help because it's very difficult for someone who's never been there to understand what it's all about. I don't want to start a polemic here, so I'll just cast a passing sneer at the 101st Fighting Keyboarders' enthusiasm for George and Don's Most Excellent Adventure.

Feel free to email me with specific questions.

I don't think a draft is necessarily a bad thing, but we're going about it the wrong way. Bear with me on this.

What we need to do is draft the people who believed the war was such a great thing. After all, they talk so much of patriotism and heroics, why not give them the chance to have some war stories of their own? Let's give Ann Coulter the chance to fight against the Muslims she hates so much. (she can scare them away with her anorexic drag-queen looks, provided the Pentagon doesn't set off on those "gay bombs" they've been talking about). Give Mike Savage the chance to make his racist bile a reality. And finally, Rush Limbaugh should have a real reason for his bloated ass to be addicted to painkillers.

If going AWOL was good enough for GW, it ought to be good enough for the rest...

Morale is a big problem. Record numbers of Senior retired and recently retired Generals are speaking out.

G.W.B.enedict has turned against our soldiers.

Morale is a big problem. Record numbers of Senior retired and recently retired Generals are speaking out.

G.W.B.enedict has turned against our soldiers.

1. Timely
   
2. Strategery
   
3. Webb wins
   
4. Huh?
   
5. Bunnypants in Bagdad
   
6. Outage
   
7. Filthy Lucre Watch
   
8. Playing the numbers
   
9. My letter to Countdown
   
10. Jefferson's Nigerian Scams