Why was there no stop loss during Vietnam?

[wuushew]

It is commonly believed that widespread use of the draft during the Vietnam war was a main catalyst of domestic unrest and opposition to foreign policy. Since the United States had used a continual draft since WWII the widespread implementation of the draft not its concept seems to be the dominant argument leveled against it.

Richard Nixon viewed the peace movement with contempt, a movement that included and was supported by veterans who had served their tour of duties in Vietnam.

From an amoral goal seeking perspective why didn't the military simply keep kids who were in theater as long as possible as cannon fodder? They were to young to vote and both political parties supported the war. Such a tactic would have kept middle class discontent minimized and allowed the for an easier continuation of the quagmire. Fewer training costs, transportation costs and processing expenses could all be viewed as positives just as they are with Iraq today.

[leveymg]

1. Self-delete

[Spinzonner]

2. Well, for one

There was already a lot of fragging. Think how much more could have resulted if soldiers had no hope of getting out of Vietnam.

Then there was drug abuse, etc.

[rzemanfl]

3. I think probably for the same reason that bomber crews in WWII

got sent home after 25 missions. Bad for morale not to have some troops come home alive and whole. Cuckoo banana's solution is to hide the bodies and bring the wounded back at night.

[SoCalDem]

4. We had a conveyor belt of 19 yr olds

and didn't need to extend the stays..and the powers that be knew it was all a charade anyway..

[micrometer_50]

5. I'm guessing beacuse of the Draft. nt

[wuushew]

6. Stop Loss and a Draft are both forms of slavery

If McNamara and his successors were so smart they should have optimized a system that allowed them to kill the most Vietnamese with the least political resistance. I would argue that the draft as practiced after deferments were eliminated failed in this respect.

[Ernesto]

7. THE DRAFT meant 12mos. & 20 days in country... that's all.

In the 2 years of (draftee) duty there was time for only one tour.
I processed many a pissed off USMC lifer that was on his way back to Nam. (Hell, I didn't tell them to re-enlist. What did they expect?)
The rules @ that time allowed returning troops a min of 3 years in the states, away from combat, then they became vulnerable for redeployment to that "quagmire".