Friday, August 03, 2007

  • Troop Rest

    The US House of Representatives passed a bill that would require that US soldiers spend an "equal amount of time at home as in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan."

     

    If a soldier spent a year in Iraq, he/she would be allowed a rest period of a year before being sent back to Iraq.

    President Bush has said he would veto the measure.  He has said that the US generals should decide how long soldiers are deployed not Congress.  Here is the link:  Link

    Should soldiers be allowed equal amount of time at home as in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan?

                                                     

Comments (92)

  • valen9403
    yes
  • Leonidas
    absolutely. The psychological effects of combat are horrific. Anyone who has talked to any veteran of Vietnam knows that. If Congress isn't going to take care of the mental health of soldiers...then they ALL should be deployed to work in Iraq for a few years. Idiots...
  • XristosAnesti

    I'm in favor of handing government powers over to whoever speaks up first.

    The president declares war with nobody's approval? Great! The judicial branch has decided to do the legislative branch's job too? Awesome! The vice-president wants to bomb Iran? Cool! Division of powers is so 18th-century!
  • ButifulDisaster19
    Yes
  • firewillconsume
    At least equal time!! But they should also have the option of opting out, because if they have no home life they may prefer staying.
  • IssyMae
    I'd say the military knows better than congress on what is best for those in uniform.
  • ocelot61
    As much as it would be a good thing for the soldiers, there are two problems with it: 1) they are soldiers who volunteered and we are a nation at war. It would be one thing to make that law in time of peace. Right now, it adds to the mixed messages we're sending, saying we don't really support the mission that has been given the troops. 2) (and more importantly) Scary precedent. This may seem good and unharmful, but what about the next time Congress decides it can tell the generals how to run the military? Once you start tying the general's hands with legislation like this, you're in trouble, because Congress is simply too slow to respond to the needs of war in time, even if they think they can run the military better than it's being run now.
  • SuperEvilPopTart64
    Yes. In fact, they shouldn't be in Iraq at all.
  • This_Is_Important
    Yeah, I mean we see countless examples of this in the sports arena:

    Football players play one season then take one off
    Basketball players play one season then take one off
    Professional marathoners train for a year then take a year off
    Olympic hopefuls train for a year and then take a year off

    So you see, it makes ABSOLUTE sense to give these people a much needed "rest interval" of one year to recharge them and get them ready for another tour.

    Oh wait... I got that totally wrong! So did congress!
  • droptop11
    i think that is a good idea.
  • WomanOfLight
    Oddly enough I agree with Bush, I think the military should make this decision.
  • RaVnR
    good to know the Thief in Chief isn't hypocritical about "supporting our troops," eh?
  • Tzaddick
    How the heck should I know!  I don't serve in the military, and I'm not planning the nation's world class military.
  • AristotleForDummies
    they should do a three days on, three days off system where they fly back and forth every third day.  it
  • AristotleForDummies
    they should do a three days on, three days off system where they fly back and forth every third day.  it would
  • AristotleForDummies
    they should do a three days on, three days off system where they fly back and forth every third day.  it would solve
  • AristotleForDummies
    global warming too.  and what's with your page fucking up my comment?
  • ComaWhiteX
    Yes, yes, yes, yes.
  • flowerchild80
    Bush is an idiot.
  • shellybean99
    Yes. The president is a total utter jerk. People are not gonna stay in the millitary if they can't have any predictability or stability in their careers or lives.
  • DrugInducedDuck
    Says the man who has never seen a day of combat.
  • happydeviant

    i love how all of the sudden your readership think bush is an idiot. if i remember correctly, when he was up for election, all of your christian right winger readers were singing his praise.

    anyway. i think the sodiers need more break time and less war time. we need to get those guys the hell out of there.

  • Fiery_Dragonfly_07

    Yes, most definitely. I haven't read the link yet, but does this also include soldiers serving in Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries? Soldiers need a break from the constant stress and worry of serving in this "war". They need to be able to come home and see their families and get to know their children, etc. The majority of people who don't support ideas such as this don't know anyone serving, they don't understand how difficult it is for everyone involved. The mental stress put on soldiers is horrifying, not only from the actual combat, but knowing that their families are here without them. This law isn't about controlling the military, this is about doing what's best for the physical and mental health and safety of the men and women who are risking their lives fighting for their country.

    IssyMac and squeakysoul, I would assume that no one close to you has served in the war. But if you ask anyone who has served in this war (or probably any war) and the vast majority will agree with Congress. If the officers who have the authority to make this decision aren't going to, then someone must step up and do it. 

    This coming from the future wife of an Army sergeant who has already served and fought for his country, and will probably be sent back to do so again at the end of the year or the beginning of 2008.

  • im_in_my_own_little_world34
    Yea they should.
  • ILoveMyCarrots

    I think it's a fantastic idea. 
    I think George Bush is an effing idiot.
    And I think the Deviant should run for president. 

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