Some Troops Not Back in Iraq After R&R

[arcos]

Some Troops Not Back in Iraq After R&R

More than a dozen American troops haven't return to duty after getting a vacation from Iraq (news - web sites), the Pentagon (news - web sites) said Tuesday, dismissing suggestions there is any significant AWOL problem.


Sixteen of some 3,000 troops failed to show up at airports in Baltimore and Germany for return flights to the Persian Gulf region, said Army spokesman Joe Burlas. None has been declared "absent without leave" as officials try to sort out the cases.


To give troops some relief from the long and difficult deployments in Iraq and neighboring countries, the Pentagon late last month started giving two-week leaves in the largest R&R program since the Vietnam War. Some flew to Germany and others to Baltimore free of charge, and they were responsible for flights the rest of the way to their destination.

<snip>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20031021/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_r_r

[HEyHEY]

1. Just taking after Bush's shining example

What's the problem :shrug:

[kainah]

2. Rumsfeld assured us all this morning

that it was just "a mistake." Some of them missed their flights or forgot the date they were due back. Nothing to be concerned about. Rummy's sure they'll all be back soon because they are all thrilled to be liberating these poor people.

Yeah, right....................

I guess he didn't read the article from the GI Center that said their calls about going AWOL had gone up dramatically in the last few months.

[HEyHEY]

3. I'd be pretty concerend if the military

Folks didn't know the DAY they were supposed to be back...I've never been threatened with death if I missed a flight yet I've never missed one.

[arcane1]

4. hey, these veteran, heroic troops don't support the, er, troops...

<freepers heads explode>

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. It's not just here... Read an article that many (including high ranking)

Israeli pilots are refusing to fly missions against the Palestinians.

Peace out, Y'all!

[lovedems]

6. You never know

Some of them might have gone to work on a political campaign! I hope there are some good reporters out there who start questioning Rummy about the AWOL connection. I can't wait to hear what the spin is! Really, this administration is like watching a soap opera or a really bad scary movie.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Probably just missed their bus...or something? n/t

[demgurl]

8. Here is the latest info they have found.

Members of the Bush administration have not been able to track down any of the missing miliatry, however, they did manage to confiscate the same letter from three of the missing member's households. Here is a copy of that letter:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things sure are great over here. All of the Iraqi people love us. All of them thank us and understand the good we have done. We have helped them get rid of a terrible leader who would have reigned in terror over his people.

Great news, I am coming home for a 2 week break. Have you added on the secret room in the basement yet? Be prepared for my arrival on the first of October and I look forward to seeing you.

Your Son,

Sign name here

P.S. Please forward the first part of this letter to the local newspaper. Thanks!

[Devils Advocate NZ]

9. They are in damage control mode!

Check out this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=176820

The article quoted in it says that it is 30 troops out of 1300, meaning 2.6% of the troops had failed to show. Now the numbers being quoted are 16 out of 3000 making the percentage 0.5% So what was 5 AWOLS out of 200 is now 1 AWOL out of 200.

But even if we assume the number missing is correct at 16 (maybe the rest of the 30 did report in, but were late for some reason) if the number of troops on leave in the first article is correct at 1300 then the percentage would still be 1.2% or 2 out of every 200.

Are they messing with the percentages to make it not seem so bad?

If 5 soldiers (or 2) out of every company went AWOL, how would that affect morale? I think things are looking pretty bad for the US military right now.