Marines Call Up Thousands

[Doug]

DOUG
This only makes the war more unpopular.

==
(CBS/AP) The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing to order thousands of its troops to active duty in the first involuntary recall since the early days of the war.

Up to 2,500 Marines will be brought back at a time, and there is no cap on the total number who may be forced back into service as the military helps fight the war on terror. The call-ups will begin in the next several months.

The number of troops in Iraq has climbed back to 138,000 — the prevailing number for much of last year. Troop levels had been declining this year, to a low of about 127,000, amid growing calls from Congress and the public for a phased withdrawal. Escalating violence in Baghdad has led military leaders to increase the U.S. presence there.

This is the first time the Marines have had to use the involuntary recall since the beginning of the Iraq combat.

======
Read the rest here.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

But it isn't a draft. See they keep their promises, sort of.

[Betsy]

I am AMAZED by the number of my daughter's friends who have signed up for the Marines and the Army after they graduated from high school (she just graduated this spring). I would have thought that's the LAST thing anyone would want to do. (Yes, my son joined the Coast Guard, but in that branch it's VERY unlikely he'll ever go to Iraq or anywhere near there. In fact, he's been stationed in New York for the next four years starting in October.) But as soon as these kids finish boot camp, they're likely to head off to war and the next time we see them might well be in a flag-covered coffin. She knows about a half dozen young men who are taking that path.

[Dardedar]

...they're likely to head off to war and the next time we see them might well be in a flag-covered coffin.

DAR
Even more likely that they will be injured via PTSD or be damaged goods in some other way. 2,615 US (rather ironic that US is the initial for "us") killed in Iraq (as of today) is one thing, but the numbered of injured is almost ten times that: 19,609.

And the number of Iraq KILLED is perhaps ten times that.

People see a movie of two people having sex and they call it obscene, pornographic.

Here is real porn. Bush talking nonchalantly about 30,000 people being killed on the way into Iraq. And they will even play it during primetime.

D.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

It's why the neocons are so determined (and publically pushing) evil being defined as homosexual marriage or flag burning. If people stop knee-jerk reacting to the political position of who says it, there would be no discussion. Real evil is making up reasons to kill people, then doing it. Real evil is maiming and starving people for political gain. Real evil is treating people, of whatever nationality, as pieces on a gameboard or characters in a video game - as not real, and so unimportant if they're "lost" - just put in another quarter and go on.

[Hogeye]

It's why the neocons are so determined (and publically pushing) evil being defined as homosexual marriage...

While your main point is on the mark, we need to recognize the difference between neocons and fundies. You are really speaking of fundies here, a different faction of the current "conservative" coalition than neocons. They may overlap and cater to each others whims, but they are not the same.

Here's an article by Justin Raimondo (editor of antiwar.com) about neoconservatism, which lists its seven main features: "Neo-Conservatives" - What and Who They Are. It begins:

Neoconservatives are pro-bombing, pro-empire Washington policy wonks (almost never with a business or military background) who have filled the vacuum on the Right, where most Americans have little interest in foreign policy and know little about foreign nations.  They dominate Republican foreign policy because they care about it, whereas most Americans don't.  They also are heavily financed by Murdock's media empire and their control of the 4 largest conservative foundations.  If their wars leave the Republican Party in ruins after the next election, they can easily return to the Democratic Party from whence they came.  Indeed one of their leaders is already threatening to--See Going Back Where They Came From by Pat Buchanan...