Well, in a time of war, it is news when the military (all-volunteer, of course) is struggling to find recruits.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Except they arent. As the story mentions, the goals were met the last 10 out of 12 months, and the last 3 years in a row. But 2 months of not meeting goals, and its a "struggle" all of a sudden. The military has consistenly recruited over 100,000 every single year since the war began. Many of which are soldiers who stayed on after having seen battle.

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http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

That's .03% of the population or .07% of the work force . Even missing a month says a lot about the lack of desirability of that job.

It's always been a struggle. You forget to mention that the military has more recruiters than ever and the enlistment bonuses have never been higher and people are still shunning the job.

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

Can you imagine a private entity offering someone with a GED, no skills and perhaps a police record a $20k signing bonus, pay above the private sector, full benefits and a free college education? And still being unable to get the bodies they need?

Except they arent. Over 100,000 are volunteering every year.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

Where are you getting this number?

In 2006 the US army took in 69,395 new recruits.

Of those recruits 8,129, 12%, were accepted with moral waivers (criminal records).

12,313, 18%, were accepted with medical waivers for afflictions such as asthma, high blood pressure and attention deficit disorder.

8,328, 12%, were unable to pass the category IV army aptitude tests which were waived.

Not exactly the cream of any crop, but without those waivers army recruitment would have fell far short of goals.

Look in the OP. The military recruits about 15k every month, the reserve about 12k. Not mention retaining about 50k. My number is low if anything. Not sure where americano got his numbers. It doesnt mesh with the official numbers.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

Low? Your numbers are far off the mark. 80,000 is the annual army recruitment goal for 10-1-2006 through 9-30-2007.

Year-end recruit goal in reach, but not easy - Military News, Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times

Our soldiers are not mindless automatons. They chose to go to Iraq, ordered or not.

Considering the percentages of waived qualifications that's debatable.

Anything that contradicts a conservative has a liberal slant. Haven't you heard about reality's liberal bias?

__________________
Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

Maybe you guys should get a room.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

They still don't have enough to win.
That's the bottom line.
The country, starting with the president, isn't willing to do what's required to win.

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“ The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.”

Adam Smith , The Wealth of Nations 1776

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"
FDR's second Inaugural Address