Nationwide Army Recruiting Stand Down 5/20/05

[Terre]

from dKos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/10/234243/586#9

edit: Another dKos Diary with links and password to use for article:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/10/233957/479

by Richard Cranium
From All Spin Zone: http://www.allspinzone.com/blog/

Earlier today ... frequent commenter Johnny Zucchini mentioned a story that was making news in his neck of the woods, Houston, TX.

On the local news last night they did a story about a young man (20) who was called by a US Army recruiter. They had apparently had conversations in the past. The young man told the recruiter he had married and he and his wife had a baby, so he wasn't interested in enlisting. The recruiter wouldn't let it go, so the kid hung up the phone.

The recruiter called him back and left a message in which he claimed a warrant for the kid's arrest would be issued if he failed to show up in person at the recruiting office at a specified time - all caught on tape.

The kid's father was angry - Bush country, Houston, Texas.

I did some digging around and found a link to audio of the message.

The Department of the Army is in full retreat on this and is calling for a nationwide stand-down on recruitment on May 20, 2005. (registration required)

Not to be cynical or anything, but does anyone else think that this "stand-down" could be a shift from "ethical recruitment" to conscription?

CBS has also now picked up the story. Links and commentary over on All Spin Zone.

Check the dKos and AllSpinZone links for more.

Well, it seems the heat is getting just a tish too hot in the Army kitchen now, and they need to re-group?

We need to get the hell out of Iraq - my 16-yr-old son is not goin' anywhere for * - period.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

1. does anyone else think that this "stand-down

could be a shift from "ethical recruitment" to conscription?

Actually that was my first thought when I read the post title. Doesn't seem like the military is in position to stand down.

[Terre]

3. I haven't got a clue

but somethings up, and I don't like it. Gives me the willies, and brings to mind the night of the 2000 election, when I couldn't sleep, worrying that Bush would win.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. I don't like it either

This is getting very scary and I don't like it. When I first heard about that story it was very scary. The guy said "no" and they threatned to arrest him because he wouldn't come!!! This is getting out of control and how much more can people handle? How much more is it going to take for people to wake up and realize that Bush isn't doing anything good for them?! What can we do? And through this latest event it's plain to me that Bush is still pushing to go to Iran but he knows he has no support from the world community and nobody is joining the military so they're having to do something. They can't publicially say they're having a draft because Bush made a campaign promise and he knows if they do that nobody will vote for republicans again in 2006/2008. :scared: I don't like this at all.

[Bozita]

2. Arrest warrant if you don't show up at the recruiting station?

Good thing the US has an all volunteer military.

Must be a window open. I feel a draft.

[bluestateguy]

4. MIlitary recruiter is no longer an honorable profession

Those people should find other lines of work.

[seabeyond]

5. i cant see any reason the military would stand down in recruitment

for any reason. they have broke so many rules and dont adhere to ethics at all. the whole government ignores rule of law. they lie cheat and steal

recruitment has been down three? months running. i cant see they can afford to stand down, even if they felt they had an issue to address

they are heading to syria and have iran in their sites for june?

and the troops are exhausted and thin

makes no sense

[benburch]

6. The draft boards will be ready for a lottery by month's end.

That is the schedule set last year.

The machinery of a Draft is warmed up and ready to destroy young lives.

[Bozita]

9. A DUer inquired about a position on his local SSS board ...

... roughly 2 years ago.

Surprise! He was appointed to just such a position.

It wasn't long before he was called by some general (don't recall if he was regular military or National Guard). He was thanked for volunteering to serve on his local board. Gee whiz ... there was an opening on an SSS appeals board. Did he want to serve?

He accepted, IIRC.

That's what I remember.

[Generic Other]

8. I had the very same thought

Recruitment has fallen 25%

Ongoing counter-recruitment efforts at high schools are being successful. Kids are opting out of being contacted by recruiters.

Each recruiter is expected to sign up 24 per year. If they can't get that many volunteers, they are in deep shit.

[BikeWriter]

10. "How Far Will The Army Go?"

McSwane contacted his local army recruiting office in Golden with a scenario he created. He told a recruiter that he was a dropout and didn't have a high school diploma.

"No problem," the recruiter explained. He suggested that McSwane create a fake diploma from a non-existent school.

McSwane recorded the recruiter saying that on the phone.

"It can be like Faith Hill Baptist School or something -- whatever you choose," the recruiter said.
http://news4colorado.com/localnews/local_story_118125046.html