Well, I'm not getting sent off to fight just yet

[b0mbrman]

To start, please forgive me for making this post kinda vague...I'm sure you can find out everything I know just by watching CNN but just in case...

I'm in the Army Reserve and this past week, I was kinda figuring I'd be one of the first to go considering my Specialty (MOS = Mission Oriented Specialty) is one you'd expect to be pretty involved in Counterterrorism Operations.

When I got to drill yesterday (saturday) the very first thing they told us to do was go to the parade field for a mass talkin' to from a 1-Star general...

Of course, I assumed that he was going to give us a speech along the lines of "Well, you watch the news and you know what we do. Lock, cock, and get ready to rock boys." but instead he told us that our unit's not on the list so we could tell our loved ones that we're not going anytime soon. He also told us to stay ready just in case we do get the call someday.

The bigger story though, is how I would feel if I had to go or how any of you would feel. On the one hand, I was made really angry and sad this past week and wanted to do my part to help but on the other, I've gotten pretty used to the life of a college man.

Of course, I'd definitely go if told to, just not sure what I'd feel for sure if he gave us the word...So, the question is: how would you feel if you were told to go?

 

[ShadowHunter]

They're already picking who's going? Wow. Scary stuff.

My prayers are with you and everyone else in the armed services.


EDIT: I think I would afraid if I had to go, but I would go without hesitation. It's my duty as an American citizen to pay taxes, be in a jury every once in a while, and defend my country/freedom when some terrorist decides he wants to fvck with us.

 

[Rogue]

To be honest, I'm waiting for my call too. If called upon, I fully expect to do everything I can to rectify this situation. I am a garrison Miliarty Police officer, meaning my training makes me best suited to conduct policing operations and protection in places like Washington D.C. or New York as part of the homefront protection and security operations. I haven't fired an M-16/M-4 in over three years now as our primary weapon is the M-9 Beretta. Anything I can do to help is what I'm willing to do.

 

[HowardStern]

They probably won't even mobilize much reserves. They don't need them. Their camels are no match for our tanks and planes. It will be just like the Gulf War.

 

[Cooltech2k]

<< They probably won't even mobilize much reserves. They don't need them. Their camels are no match for out tanks and planes. It will be just like the Gulf War. >>



The reservers werent to fight the camels, they were to protect the home front while the real military did the camel slaughtering...

 

[b0mbrman]

I wouldn't say that HowardStern...we keep our troops safe with all the support so more is better...

 

[StageLeft]

They probably won't even mobilize much reserves. They don't need them. Their camels are no match for out tanks and planes. It will be just like the Gulf War.

Wrong, it will be more like Vietnam. Iraq was a walk over because of terrain. Afghanistan has an exceptionally good terrain for their defense. Forests/jungles, mountains. Don't for a second think this will be a walk over - espeically if its really NATO's intention to overthrow Taliban; that means a more thourough operation than Gulf War.

 

[HowardStern]

<< They probably won't even mobilize much reserves. They don't need them. Their camels are no match for out tanks and planes. It will be just like the Gulf War.

Wrong, it will be more like Vietnam. Iraq was a walk over because of terrain. Afghanistan has an exceptionally good terrain for their defense. Forests/jungles, mountains. Don't for a second think this will be a walk over - espeically if its really NATO's intention to overthrow Taliban; that means a more thourough operation than Gulf War. >>



I disagree. The Afghan population doesn't hate us, it's only the Taliban's (whom the population doesn't really like). So exactly why do you think it will be like Vietnam?

 

[Looney]

I disagree. The Afghan population doesn't hate us, it's only the Taliban's (whom the population doesn't really like). So exactly why do you think it will be like Vietnam?

Well, i think the fact that Congress allowed Bush to call up the reservists for 2 yrs, and also gave Bush 40 billion, that that might be an indication that even Congress expects this to be a long war.

 

[HowardStern]

<< I disagree. The Afghan population doesn't hate us, it's only the Taliban's (whom the population doesn't really like). So exactly why do you think it will be like Vietnam?

Well, i think the fact that Congress allowed Bush to call up the reservists for 2 yrs, and also gave Bush 40 billion, that that might be an indication that even Congress expects this to be a long war. >>



That's because we have to take out SEVERAL countries are there are more than one that support terrorists. Plus also take into consideration what they thought about the Gulf War vs the reality. Most thought it was going to much harder than it really was. I give Afgnanistan maybe 1 week max if attacked (and then only because of the terrain).

 

[StageLeft]

I give Afgnanistan maybe 1 week max if attacked (and then only because of the terrain).


You want me to quote you on that in 3 months? Historically people always underestimate how long a war is going to take. Even bush is saying that this is going to be a long, drawn out and risky conflict. You can bet the farm that will will not be over in one week. When was a war ever over in one week? Wasn't the gulf war supposed to take a few months or something? Either it was WW I or WW II and those in power said "We'll have our boys home by Xmas". They just failed to mention it was Xmas 6 years from then.

 

[HowardStern]

<< I give Afgnanistan maybe 1 week max if attacked (and then only because of the terrain).


You want me to quote you on that in 3 months? Historically people always underestimate how long a war is going to take. Even bush is saying that this is going to be a long, drawn out and risky conflict. You can bet the farm that will will not be over in one week. When was a war ever over in one week? Wasn't the gulf war supposed to take a few months or something? Either it was WW I or WW II and those in power said "We'll have our boys home by Xmas". They just failed to mention it was Xmas 6 years from then. >>



The Gulf War lasted much shorter than people expected. Also lookup info on the Arab-Israeli wars. They typically lasted only a few days each.

 

[HowardStern]

<< I give Afgnanistan maybe 1 week max if attacked (and then only because of the terrain).


Wasn't the gulf war supposed to take a few months or something? Either it was WW I or WW II and those in power said "We'll have our boys home by Xmas". They just failed to mention it was Xmas 6 years from then. >>



And the Gulf War itself only took like 2 days. WW1 & 2 were different because Germans can actually fight. Arabs are morons who can not even destroy 1 US tank in the Gulf War.

 

[StageLeft]

And the Gulf War itself only took like 2 days.

Huh?

 

[mastertech01]

No matter what happens you shouldnt be broadcasting it on the net.. even if you do get called up the General would likely not tell you well in advance, due to peeps not being able to keep it quiet. When you go you will likely not have time to do much more than pack and kiss your loved ones good bye.

 

[StormRider]

I would be scared. My prayers are with you (and I'm not even really religious).



<< The Gulf War lasted much shorter than people expected. Also lookup info on the Arab-Israeli wars. They typically lasted only a few days each. >>



I think it's dangerous to underestimate the enemy. That's when we always get into trouble (Vietnam). Don't forget Afgan was Russia's Vietnam. I think it's better to fear and respect the enemy and expect heavy casualties. If we have that mindset, we usually come out fighting our best. We should also try to make sure our forces greatly outnumber and overwhelm the enemy. Try to knock them out with the first blow.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

technically, the ground war only lasted 100 hours in the Gulf War


A little bit more than two days, but point well made

 

[mastertech01]

The Air War lasted much longer than the ground war... we bombed them for more than a month before the ground troops moved in. Also some ground Artillery units were firing on enemy targets much earlier than the actual ground war started.

 

[StageLeft]

Of course Iraq never fell and hussein is still in power... That won't be the goal with afghanistan, and given the differences in terrain afghanistan will be significantly crappier to attack.

 

[mastertech01]

The objective of the war in SW Asia was not to bring down Iraq, but to liberate Kuwait