The incentives for joining are pretty much the same. The incentives for re-upping are generally dependent on what job you have. Ground pounders don't have much incentive to stay in unless you're E-6 or above. The big incentives to stay are in, are in EOD, pilots, and medical area's. Oh, intel is also huge. One of the problems with intel though, is just...the complete lack of recruits that want to do it, the complete lack of people that want to do it that can even join in the first place, and the low number of recruits that actually make it through their training.
I for one, don't think that huge enlistment bonuses, re-up bonus', and whatnot are altogether healthy in some regards. On the other, you need to make the jobs comparable to the market. There's no reason why GI's shouldn't have access to the VA, get money for college when they get out, and recieve a comporable wage while serving. There needs to be a fine balance between giving servicemen and women a competitive wage and benefits, but also ensuring that it's not so fat as to recruit those that don't really wanna be in it.
I can understand that before 9-11, that the military, particularly the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as all branches of the reserves, were completely polluted with people in it for the benefits. But now, I don't think there's a whole lot of recruits, particularly in the Army and the Marine Corps, that are joining with those motives.
In large, I agree with our stance on the Sudan. But like Somalia, I can tell you first hand, that Sudan...as a global geo-political entity, is not one dimensional. There's a lot of moving parts there, and knowing what I know about it, I think it's unfair that America is sharing the forefront of the blaim for nothing taking place there.
So far as global perception, it's just that. I would sooner continue what is ideologically sound, and morally upstanding, and at the same time do a better job at convincing the world that what's being done is right. But...Bush is just absolutely abysmal at this. He needs to go. He really does. Because as genuine as his desires for a free Iraq may have been, it's all clouded black because of the lack of stockpiles of WMD's in Iraq. We need new people in charge, fighting the ignorance, informing the rest of the world, and showing progress that's taking place.
The media hasn't helped us in any regard either. As you pointed out, the media didn't criticize anything in regards to the run up to the war. They were beating the drum...why? War sells advertisements. Through years of stagnation fighting an insurgency and staving off civil war, the media has been focusing on a single perspective of this conflict, dead GI's and dead Iraqi's. Why? Death and violence sells advertisements. I think we'd get a long way in the world and regaining the trust if we shifted gears and started showing some of the GOOD that's come out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and tons of other area's where our fight on terrorism has largely been rooted in humanitarianism. Until that happens, the violence will completely overshadow all of it. Muslims in Indonesia, and the world will never remember the incredible effort put forth by the armed services of the US and Mr. Bush during the time of the Tsunami when all there is on the TV screen is the scenes of car bombs in Iraq.
I honestly feel that this entire fight is nothing more than a battle against ignorance. It's all ignorance and a lack of truth. The whole world says the war was illegal, but knows nothing about the extent of the oil for aid scandal, which completely clouds the vote on the war, the legality of this war, the perception of this war, and invariably, the progression of this war.
This is really humorous considering another huge proponent of the war (Mobboss) believes in the war for freedom of iraqis but then also believes in the patriot act. etc etc. It's reflected on both sides really...
