Link -> The U.S. military rarely tracks down deserters.

FT. BRAGG, N.C. -- Despite a rise in desertions from the Army as the Iraq war lengthens to a fifth year, the U.S. military does almost nothing to find those who flee and rarely prosecutes those it gets its hands on.

An Associated Press examination of Pentagon figures shows that 174 troops were court-martialed by the Army last year for desertion -- a figure that amounts to 5% of the 3,301 soldiers who deserted in fiscal year 2006. The figures are about 1% or less for the Navy and the Marines.

Some deserters are allowed to return to their un...

Link -> The U.S. military rarely tracks down deserters.

FT. BRAGG, N.C. -- Despite a rise in desertions from the Army as the Iraq war lengthens to a fifth year, the U.S. military does almost nothing to find those who flee and rarely prosecutes those it gets its hands on.

An Associated Press examination of Pentagon figures shows that 174 troops were court-martialed by the Army last year for desertion -- a figure that amounts to 5% of the 3,301 soldiers who deserted in fiscal year 2006. The figures are about 1% or less for the Navy and the Marines.

Some deserters are allowed to return to their units, while most are discharged in noncriminal proceedings on less-than-honorable terms.

Pentagon officials say that although the military is stretched thin by the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, it would be a poor use of time to go after deserters. As a result, the Pentagon does little more than enter their names into an FBI criminal database.

What should we be doing to combat these Neanderthals? I never hear what
we should do...only what we are doing wrong. Maybe we should just
timidly go about our business and pretend that THEY AREN"T TRYING TO EXTERMINATE ANYONE WHO DOESN"T FOLLOW MUHAMMED!

But isn't the above statement just as extremist. sparling darling?? And wouldn't you agree that we've been told so many lies (not just by Bush&Co... this middle east crap goes waaaayyyy back, yes??) that it makes it a bit difficult to discern what the real issue is?? If we even take a casual look at our meddling in the middle east over the past 20+ years, it really does seem that our govt's justifications for ...

What should we be doing to combat these Neanderthals? I never hear what
we should do...only what we are doing wrong. Maybe we should just
timidly go about our business and pretend that THEY AREN"T TRYING TO EXTERMINATE ANYONE WHO DOESN"T FOLLOW MUHAMMED!

But isn't the above statement just as extremist. sparling darling?? And wouldn't you agree that we've been told so many lies (not just by Bush&Co... this middle east crap goes waaaayyyy back, yes??) that it makes it a bit difficult to discern what the real issue is?? If we even take a casual look at our meddling in the middle east over the past 20+ years, it really does seem that our govt's justifications for warring around and playing chess over there don't really hold water.
Granted, if one accepts that the 911 terrorism was of middle east origin, then we have reason to be pissed, but even if that's the case, I have so many questions. And now we're supposed to believe that our intent in this war has nothing to do with terrorism, nothing to do with retribution or 911, nothing to do with oil, rather it's some humanitarian effort on our part to restore order during a civil war?
Just like this, right now. You're one of the folks I can count on around here to answer me without attack. Have you any idea how tired I get of constantly being attacked as a "leftwing nutjob"?? I admit that I lean left, but I'm no radical of any flavour!
The extreme leftists might take away my membership card for this post:
2nd Cuppa (or Not Fully Awake)
I wish more folks would be a little more introspective and examine themselves and what they relly think/feel instead of spouting the rhetoric of their side/position/camp.

Talk to Action
(yes, it's a pretty left-ish site, but still)

has a gret article on the need to combat this screaming, defensive, an