Interesting Conversation
Submitted by Khomar on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:08I was talking with my brother-in-law yesterday about the army. He is going to be deployed to Afghanistan sometime next year, and he was talking about how they are steadily diminishing the size of the military by discouraging re-enlistment by reducing bonuses and other benefits. He said that they are undermanned right now. The general wanted 150,000 troops for Afghanistan, but he was told to only ask for 50,000 (and received 40,000).
And yet they just passed a record $640 billion military budget.
If they are reducing the size of our military and they are not adequately equipped (which he has stated in other conversations), where exactly are they spending that money? Could it be to fund their new private military?
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This is todays DoD announcement on Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2009 IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 794-09
October 13, 2009
DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2009
The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for active and reserve components for fiscal 2009.
Active Duty Recruiting for Fiscal 2009. All four services met or exceeded their recruiting goals for fiscal 2009.
-The Army had 70,045 accessions, making 108 percent of its 65,000 goal.
-The Navy had 35,527 accessions, making 100 percent of its 35,500 goal.
-The Marine Corps had 31,413 accessions, making 100 percent of its 31,400 goal.
-The Air Force had 31,983 accessions, making 100 percent of its 31,980 goal.
Active Duty Retention. Retention was successful for all services in fiscal 2009.
Reserve Forces Recruiting for Fiscal 2009. All six Reserve components met or exceeded their goals for fiscal 2009.
-The Army National Guard had 56,071 accessions, making 100 percent of its 56,000 goal and the Army Reserve had 36,189 accessions, making 105 percent of its 34,598 goal.
-The Navy Reserve had 7,793 accessions, making 101 percent of its 7,743 goal.
-The Marine Corps Reserve had 8,805 accessions, making 122 percent of its 7,194 goal.
-The Air National Guard had 10,075 accessions, making 106 percent of its 9,500 goal, and the Air Force Reserve had 8,604 accessions, making 109 percent of its 7,863 goal.
Reserve Attrition. Losses in all Reserve components are among the best in recent years. (Note: This indicator lags by one month).
Detailed information on specific recruiting data can be obtained by contacting the individual military recruiting commands at (502) 626-0164 for Army, (210) 565-4678 for Air Force, (703) 784-9454 for Marine Corps and (901) 874-9049 for Navy.
The reserve components can be reached at the following numbers: National Guard Bureau (703) 607-2586; Army Reserve (404) 464-8490; Air Force Reserve (703) 697-1761; Navy Reserve (504) 678-6055; and Marine Corps Reserve (504) 678-6535.
U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
On the Web: http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/
Media Contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public Contact: http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html or +1 (703) 428-0711
I decided to look up the
I decided to look up the 2008 Report for comparison. I crunched the numbers, and here are the results:
Army: -15%
Navy: - 8%
Marines: -21%
Air Force: +13%
Army National Guard: -16%
Army Reserve: -10%
Navy Reserve: - 17%
Marine Reserve: +13%
Air National Guard: -7%
Air Reserve: +15%
2009 Recruitment: 296,505
2008 Recruitment: 324,737
Difference: -10%
So the military recruitment is down 10% from last year.
They say that retention is strong, but I have found no numbers to support that statement. The anecdotal evidence I hear does not match that, however, as many people are leaving as soon as their contracts are up.
I recall several months ago they lowered the quotas
because they were not getting anywhere close to their goals. In typical government style, they just lowered the bar. I hope their luck doesn't improve.
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Thanks for the info, Khomar.
With doubt now removed as to whether recruitment is up or down, this leaves your question in the OP begging an answer.
Where is the increase in the military budget going?
Just a gut feeling
Mercenaries
I have also heard that some of the combat experienced veterans are getting disgruntled, because they receive 1/3 of what the KBR / Xe guys get for doing essentially the same job ( with stricter rules)
I think this is a very
important thread and information. I also think that they plan on eliminating our troops because they no longer need them. All those so called suicides we heard about I don't believe they were suicides but suicided because they were not willing to do what was wrong. Remember Russia when it went bust and all the Russian soldiers in Afghanistan had to hitch rides on BUSES back home. Think about it. I hope our guys and gals have bus fair to get back home if they are left high and dry overseas. The money is not going to our military but THEIR PRIVATE military. God give us help and guidance because we sure as hell need it.
Prepare & Share the Message of Freedom through Positive-Peaceful-Activism.
Another thought...
Could it be to fund Obama's civilian national security force?
There was a story in May describing creepy paramilitary training of teens in a Scouts "Explorer" program.
'Homeland Security Trains Scouts To Fight Terrorism'
http://infowars.net/articles/may2009/140509Terrorism.htm
"The Explorers program, a coeducational affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America that began 60 years ago, is training thousands of young people in skills used to confront terrorism, illegal immigration and escalating border violence — an intense ratcheting up of one of the group’s longtime missions to prepare youths for more traditional jobs as police officers and firefighters."
Oddly, the training depicted Iraq vets as terrorists.
Until the story, I was not even aware the Boy Scouts of America had a non-Scouting subsidiary "Exploring" program that worked with law enforcement.
You're probably familiar with the Phoenix Joint Terrorism Task Force pamphlet from a while back, and more recently, the DHS report on "right-wing extremists" (which also made mention of veterans), and the MIAC report, so I'm not going to post links.
I'm not sure who the intended recipient of the DHS report was, but the Phoenix pamphlet and the MIAC report were intended for law enforcement and not meant to be seen by the general public.
It's no wonder, given the people they attempt to portray as potential terrorists.
It is very disturbing that information like this is being sent to law enforcement to bias them against very curiously targeted people.
Knowing that DHS is reaching its claws into local law enforcement, and knowing that there is a youth group working with law enforcement that is being trained by Homeland Security and also being biased toward some people targeted in the above reports, is it a stretch to wonder if the federal government is taking opportunity here to amass its own youth brigade under cover of the time-honored Boy Scouts of America?
Are we witnessing the birth of the civilian national security force Obama spoke of and could some of the money you are asking about be going toward the funding of it?
Could it be
for the military to spray chemicals over our heads? Could it be for our military space program? Could it all be black ops? No one watches the money.
As opposed to the draft...
...hiring mercenaries frees these despots of the national boundaries normally incurred upon them by the legal war process.
They can recruit 'contractors' from Nepal or China without any passionate marches on the capitol or angry constituents.
Best of both worlds for tyrants, may they burn in hell.
I may not know the truth, but I know when I'm being lied to...
I may not know the truth, but I know when I'm being lied to...
Contractors
Mercenaries are the preferred tools of dictators. There's much more graft available for the war machine suppliers when contract mercenaries are used.
The $$$ is being spent on developing a clone army
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"The consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of the ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it."
- Robert E. Lee, 1866
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RON PAUL 2012
That sounds like a plausible possibility.
Maybe there are even intentions of paying off the Taliban. I remember seeing that talked about recently.
Also, quiltingsando posted a thread yesterday talking about Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and how maybe it supposed to be for something that was intended that didn't go as planned and fell through. (She was pondering the Georgia/Russia situation because of the timing of Biden's and Powell's remarks about something coming up.)
Link to her thread: http://www.dailypaul.com/node/110649
Maybe there are intentions of something big to set Obama up as some kind of hero to usher in an era of ~peace~ and they need funding for it.
Who knows, but it's definitely interesting info from your brother-in-law.
reply
Good call Jiminy! Remember Dr. Paul discussing this exact pay-off tactic during the interview with Russert ... the Civil War discussion.
Maybe so..
"Also, quiltingsando posted a thread yesterday talking about Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and how maybe it supposed to be for something that was intended that didn't go as planned and fell through."
Imagine if that "something that didn't go as planned and fell through" happened the way it happened - for a higher purpose? What if Obama was somehow the reason it fell through, and because of his action (or inaction, as the case may be), we are still on course for a powerful spiritual awakening?!! :) I'm just sayin..
Remember, patience is a virtue! Let's pray for our leaders' wisdom and right action.
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It is good and proper to respect the U.S. flag, perpetuated with the blood of American heroes. It is a fatal mistake not to recognize those who wrap themselves in the same flag to cover up their crimes against the American people.
~ Sherman H. Skolnick
. @ @ . Power to the People!
@ O @ -----> PEOPLE
. @ @ . NOT Corporate Entities!
If there was such an event planned...
...and Obama was the reason it fell through, I'd think his action/inaction was blunder before I'd think he was in defiance of TPTB.
Had he challenged them and thwarted some scheme of theirs, he probably wouldn't have lived long enough to hear the announcement that he had won the prize.
Regarding a higher purpose, I certainly won't discount God's hand in the coordination of things.
As for a spiritual awakening...
If a spiritual awakening of truth comes as a result of Obama, more than likely it will be despite him, not at his behest.
Matthew 7:20: "..By their fruits ye shall know them."
Amerianna, Obama demonstrates consistently rotten fruit and he surrounds himself with corrupt and diabolical people.
He has expanded the wars. He continues rendition and supports warrantless wiretapping, just like Bush, and he excuses torture. He advocates indefinite detention and mandatory service (aka involuntary servitude).
If we are in for a spiritual awakening, I honestly cannot envision Obama as being the harbinger of it.
I believe we are heading for
I believe we are heading for a powerful spiritual awakening and a period of great darkness. I am not sure we can have the one without the other because we have grown so comfortable and blind. The real tsunami that is about to break on our country is a moral one -- the realization of how depraved we as a nation have become as a people. In many ways, the government is simply a reflection of the majority of people in this nation, and while the leaders may take it to a whole new level, we must remember that our greed is what built the system we now live in.
The war in Iraq and Afghanistan is not really about oil. It is about lifestyle. How many Americans are willing to give up their lifestyle so we can actually end the wars in those countries? Am I? Are you? It is not as easy of a question to answer as we might think. To pull out of Iraq would likely mean the end of the dollar as the world reserve currency and therefore its death nail. Much of the current value of the dollar is due to our military supremacy. Take that away and what do we have left? A service based economy.
The morally right thing to do is to pull back, pay off our debt, and live within our means. We should expose the fraud and lies and convict those criminally responsible. However, there is a great deal of cost as even if we "win" and get all that we ask for including a reinstatement of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, there will still be much pain and anguish to endure as we readjust to a maintainable lifestyle. This is not going to be an easy road either way.
I believe we are in the beginning stages of a major spiritual battle, and already I am seeing dividing lines being drawn even within the Christian church in America. Remember that often the greatest revivals occurred during the harshest persecutions.
"I believe we are heading
"I believe we are heading for a powerful spiritual awakening and a period of great darkness. I am not sure we can have the one without the other because we have grown so comfortable and blind. The real tsunami that is about to break on our country is a moral one -- the realization of how depraved we as a nation have become as a people. In many ways, the government is simply a reflection of the majority of people in this nation, and while the leaders may take it to a whole new level, we must remember that our greed is what built the system we now live in."
As you say - it is and can only be yin and yang - but this is, has always been and will remain to be a very personal journey for each individual on our planet. We will not necessarily see only the darkness in each of our own spheres of existance - some will be very blessed, as long as they are willing to give back to those around them who are in need. My husband and I are currently experiencing a period of blessings in our own personal sphere that goes beyond anything either of us has ever experienced, and I believe we are being prepared to do just that.
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It is good and proper to respect the U.S. flag, perpetuated with the blood of American heroes. It is a fatal mistake not to recognize those who wrap themselves in the same flag to cover up their crimes against the American people.
~ Sherman H. Skolnick
. @ @ . Power to the People!
@ O @ -----> PEOPLE
. @ @ . NOT Corporate Entities!
Perhaps the best way to
Perhaps the best way to describe what I see coming is that there is going to be greater contrast between light and dark whereas the world had become increasingly gray. The blessing will shine brightly even as the forces of darkness gather and strengthen.
Very good visualization!
Kind of like walking into a higher plane or field of vibration, or not - depending on your own personal journey. You are right about the forces of darkness gathering and strengthening - as are the forces of light. Whoever is MOST DETERMINED will win. I choose the light!
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It is good and proper to respect the U.S. flag, perpetuated with the blood of American heroes. It is a fatal mistake not to recognize those who wrap themselves in the same flag to cover up their crimes against the American people.
~ Sherman H. Skolnick
. @ @ . Power to the People!
@ O @ -----> PEOPLE
. @ @ . NOT Corporate Entities!
Eventually, good will win
Eventually, good will win because God is good, but in the meantime, there will always be good even when evil thrives. In times of great darkness, the good is made to shine the brighter to display the glory of God.
I couldn't have said it better, myself!
Thanks, Khomar, for an awesome read and reminder!
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It is good and proper to respect the U.S. flag, perpetuated with the blood of American heroes. It is a fatal mistake not to recognize those who wrap themselves in the same flag to cover up their crimes against the American people.
~ Sherman H. Skolnick
. @ @ . Power to the People!
@ O @ -----> PEOPLE
. @ @ . NOT Corporate Entities!
Draft
Could it be that bonuses are down to create a situation that would 'require' a draft to provide the extra bodies? I'm surprised that the economy hasn't, by itself, led more young people to the enlistment office. Maybe it will as the economy continues its decline.