Military Recruitment Of Blacks Plunges

(AP)  The number of blacks joining the military has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began, as other job prospects soar and relatives of potential recruits increasingly discourage them from signing up.

According to data obtained by The Associated Press, the decline covers all four military services for active duty recruits, and the drop is even more dramatic when National Guard and Reserve recruiting is included.

The findings reflect the growing unpopularity of the wars, particularly among family members and other adults who exert influence over high school and college students considering the military as a place to serve their country, further their education or build a career.

Walking past the Army recruiting station in downtown Washington, D.C., this past week, Sean Glover said he has done all he can to talk black relatives out of joining the military.

"I don't think it's a good time. I don't support the government's efforts here and abroad," said Glover, 36.

The message comes as no surprise to the Pentagon, where efforts are under way to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps.

Marine Commandant Gen. James T. Conway agreed that the bloodshed in Iraq — where more than 3,550 U.S. troops have died — is the biggest deterrent for prospective recruits.

According to Pentagon data, there were nearly 51,500 new black recruits for active duty and reserves in 2001. That number fell to less than 32,000 in 2006, a 38 percent decline.

When only active duty troops are counted, the number of black recruits went from more than 31,000 in 2002 to about 23,600 in 2006, almost one-quarter fewer. The decline is particularly stark for the Army.

[tbweb]

Blacks cannot seem to win when it comes to military service for the United States! The title of this article is also misleading because there were always too many Blacks in the military in proportion to the Black population in the first place and at one time that high number was a major complaint from racist whites that a dominant Black military was a threat, when in truth Blacks in many cases are more loyal, conservative and patriotic that many whites who take their skin color and American citizenship for granted. The number of Black recruits is actually where its suppose to be in proportion to the Black population. The overly high number of Black recruits in the past was due to economic realities. This is a another emotional roller coaster issue and if balance and fairness is the goal, bring back the draft and watch the illegal immigration of American whites into Canada like the Vietnam era!

[feelfree1]

Louis Farrakhan makes some very relevant points on this topic:



%u201CWhat are you going 9,000 miles away to fight for? Who are you fighting? What have those people done to you?%u201D he asked rhetorically, referring to those who are called Iraqi %u201Cinsurgents.%u201D

"Whatever their military classification may be, those %u201Cinsurgents%u201D are fighting against intruders in their homeland, said Min. Farrakhan."

###

That is a fact.

[feelfree1]

Re: "According to Pentagon data, there were nearly 51,500 new black recruits for active duty and reserves in 2001. That number fell to less than 32,000 in 2006, a 38 percent decline."

This is very good news. The criminal and dubious Bush regime crusade agianst brown people, is most definitely not in the interests of the minorities of the U.S.- or of anyone else with a net worth of less than 9 figures, for that matter.

[rudy654-2009]

"Received masters degree from major eastern university and work for major telecom company making well into the six figures.(Where are you in the salary game ?)- Since the 1960`s when "civil" rights legislation was passed our public school system went from the unquestioned best to a joke...Coincidence ? "

Here it is folks, proof that a college education cannot save you from the grave results of the mental illness called racism.

jlmcscanner wrote:

"All I`m saying here is that these laws that were passed opened up a pandora`s box filled with all the trouble of a third world country brought to our cities in full measure.We brought(wrongly)a undevolped and uneducated people over here and now they are thrown into a modern and almost alien world.Failure was certain without many generations of help (Self help).If anyone wants a better life it`s not that complicated.Get a high level education, carry yourself in a respectable way, be involed in your children`s life and teach respect for each other."

Sounds to me like you're an ignorant racist through and through.

Your earlier comments, as well as the comments in the post I'm replying to highlight your ignorant and racist views.

Where are the facts to back up your views?

And then, in this post, you stated:

"...and teach respect for each other"

Except, you apparently don't want to teach respect for black people - instead, you'd rather just be an ignorant and racist SOB.

You may not be a member of the KKK, but you sure act like one.

Burnt any crosses recently?

[themartyred]

and racists say that black people have no brains... boy if this doesn't put a fork in their pork!

maybe we need to roundup and send over some more good ol boys that wave around the American flag and brag about kickin' Arab arse from the sidelines while real people on both sides are dying, needlessly.

[iceman_1960]

In the last PBS Frontline, "Endgame", there was an interesting Bush quote from about two years ago:

"The people of the Middle East can look at Iraq and see what life in a free country is like."

[jlmcscanner]

mcdazz
Wow... that was real ignorance on your part, you need a real education to help you out.
1-Not a redneck
2-Received masters degree from major eastern university and work for major telecom company making well into the six figures.(Where are you in the salary game ?)
3-Never was nor ever will be part of any KKK.I would never want to cause harm to anyone regardless of who they are.
4-Wrong again, don`t have a sister.You are such a loser.. instead of making these remarks come back with real facts but I`m sure you won`t or can`t.
5-Facts are stubborn things,if you don`t like it then that is just too *** bad for you.
6-Since the 1960`s when "civil" rights legislation was passed our public school system went from the unquestioned best to a joke...Coincidence ? NO !
7-Since the 1960`s passing of civil rights, crime and drugs in major cities have been out of control with no sense of respect for life at all.Coincidence ? NO !
All I`m saying here is that these laws that were passed opened up a pandora`s box filled with all the trouble of a third world country brought to our cities in full measure.We brought(wrongly)a undevolped and uneducated people over here and now they are thrown into a modern and almost alien world.Failure was certain without many generations of help (Self help).If anyone wants a better life it`s not that complicated.Get a high level education, carry yourself in a respectable way, be involed in your children`s life and teach respect for each other.

Iceman_1960 wrote:

"Here's a story to file under "Don't show up at a gunfight without ammunition":

(AP) The U.S. commander of a new offensive north of Baghdad, reclaiming insurgent territory day by day, said Sunday his Iraqi partners may be too weak to hold onto the gains. The Iraqi military does not even have enough ammunition, said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek: "They're not quite up to the job yet.""

This reminds me of an article on the BBC website a few months back.

Some reporters were stopped at a roadblock manned by Iraqi troops.

The Iraqis asked the reporters if they had any ammunition because they (the Iraqi troops) had none.

How can we expect the Iraqis to stand up for themselves when they are inadequately armed or don't have enough ammunition for their own weapons?

I've also read numerous claims (from US troops) that the Iraqis generally turn up to a gunfight after most of the shooting has been done and victory is assured, and they are given the credit for doing the fighting.

Who is Bush trying to convince?

Himself or the American people?

brianbwb wrote:

"to mcdazz,
Jihad, as is understood by mainstream Islam, is a spiritual battle to cleanse the soul of impurities and weaknesses that impede the journey to Heaven.
To more militant Islam, Jihad is a real war to rid themselves of their oppressors, justified resistance to antithetical notions.

Both of these motivations make the preachers of Jihad more honorable than the "white supremacist", who are simply sublimating repressed sexual inclinations, and trying to justify their useless, fear-filled lives.

Don't fall for their agitprop, Jihad does have a purpose, it is for self protection from the "white supremacists", something American "minorities" may have to think about in the near future..."

You are correct. :-)