"Gen Richard Hearney reminds us that during the Second World War US armed forces had a 50:50 balance of warfighters to support personnel. Today that ratio is 30:70" ("Teeth to Tail: Defence Reform for the New Century," <http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw010810_intro_n.shtml>).
>Many of those units are mobilized reservists and NG units, because
>the US military has downsized those functions to the part time
>forces. These are not warrior types--they are the guy from the mail
>room who fixes trucks or the guidence counselor from the high school
>whos a Army nurse on the side.
One of the students in one of the classes I taught this winter got called up and shipped to Kuwait. I understand that he will be in the rear with gear. He was not at all happy about having to go.
>They are very aware of the flimsy basis for this aggression and IMHO
>will be disciplined but NOT HAPPY to be doing this.
>
>BTW when I went through Army basic training in 1985, they instructed
>us on rules of engagement and the Geneva conventions and proper
>conduct in combat re civilians, etc. Its not like they spent tons of
>time on it, but it was brought up.
I agree. GIs are not as ignorant as some LBO-talkers make them out to be, nor are they conscienceless killing machines. _Far from it_, in fact -- if the decision were left up to them, there probably would be no war on Iraq now:
***** Uneasy G.I.s speak their peace By RICHARD SISK DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
AL JABER AIR BASE, Kuwait - Many of the U.S. troops poised for battle here would give peace a chance if they had the choice.
Doubts about going to war can be heard openly in conversations among the troops gathered in tents at night and in their random talks about their duties with a reporter.
Several military chaplains at this fast-growing launch pad for air strikes also said airmen, sailors, Marines and soldiers assigned here have shared the same misgivings in private sessions.
Surveys are impossible and, to be sure, the kick-butt attitude appears to be dominant.
But even those most eager for combat tend to allow that their disagreeing buddies have valid points to make about what they sarcastically call a "do-over war," meaning that they would be finishing a job left undone by then-President George Bush in 1991.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Barber, a Catholic chaplain, said "it's a problem of conscience" for many of the 7,000 Marines and sailors in his field ministry.
'The bigger picture'
Barber told of a fighter pilot who sought counsel "not just about his personal fears, but about the prospect of killing innocent civilians. And then there's that Iraqi conscript who bears us no ill will. His crime would be that he was born Iraqi."...
Barber said the political anti-war message from the French and others and the moral anti-war stance of Pope John Paul have resonated with many.
"I've been surprised at how much sympathy there is with the position of the Pope and the archbishop [Edward O'Brien, head of all Catholic chaplains]," Barber said.
"Even some of the officers are wondering - if it was up to them, they wouldn't have this war," Barber said. "That's why war is such a bad thing."...
Originally published on March 16, 2003
<http://www.nydailynews.com/03-16-2003/news/wn_report/story/67633p-62940c.html> *****
Listen to what Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Barber has to say above: "Barber said the political anti-war message from the French and others and the moral anti-war stance of Pope John Paul have resonated with many." Soldiers are paying attention. We have an obligation to tell the truth as clearly as we can, so that skeptical soldiers will be able to muster the courage to refuse. -- Yoshie
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