Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

There is an interesting (but not very well-written) article about the domestic consequences of the Iraq War on Asia Times Online. The writer wanders from unit cohesion in combat units (interesting in itself) to discussing national cohesion by talking about the divide between rural and urban America. As an amateur editor, I think he should have made two separate articles...

However, each part is interesting.

Did you know that the US military has gone from being 25% black to only 13% black?

The author does make one mistake that I know of. He asserts it was difficult to get into college during Vietnam. I could not disagree more. Recruiters were going practically door-to-door begging people to come to their school. At the bank, all you had to do to get money was be able to sign your name on a blank. Once you got in to a school and got half-way decent grades, the government threw free grants at you that you never had to repay.

But that aside, the article is worth reading if you are interested in one man's opinion of the effect of the war on the towns that are supplying the troops.

Military cohesion, social discord By Julian Delasantellis

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JA17Ak05.html

[agentX]

We're already seeing the social discord part.
121 vets of this war have been involved or committed murders since returning stateside, 1/3 of those murders were domestic in origin.
http://alternet.org/blogs/peek/73860/

I heard this on Ed Schultz's show a year ago, so it's a little dated. But police departments have stated that vets involved in murders and gang activity have been using their military training to execute those crimes.

The issue also came up in a TV movie on Spike. Forgot the title but a group of Iraq War vets rob a bank. Starring John Leguzamo or something like that.

[regicide]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2008


HALLIBURTON INTRODUCES NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HELP CUSTOMERS EXTEND THE LIFE OF THEIR ASSETS

Innovative portable modular rig designed to increase production

ABERDEEN, Scotland- Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) has been awarded a one-year contract (with four one-year extension options) by Shell U.K. Limited for the provision of a portable modular workover unit. The initial work contract period is for one workover and three sidetracks on the Shell Gannet platform - operations which have the potential to increase the field�s oil production. The project is due to commence in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The design of the rack-and-pinion workover unit allows it to be installed quickly on platforms that have limited crane-lift and personnel-on-board capacities. It can also be used on installations with non-serviceable, or non-existing drilling derrick sets.

The award represents a step change in the sustainable development of Shell�s mature fields. The Gannet field, for example, has significant untapped oil volumes in its thin oil rim.

Said Mike Bowyer, Halliburton�s United Kingdom country vice president: �This award underscores our belief in the continued long-term viability of the North Sea industry. Halliburton is committed to helping its customers extend the life of their assets, and the introduction of new technology, such as the modular rig, will be a key contributor in achieving this objective.�

Founded in 1919, Halliburton is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With nearly 50,000 employees in approximately 70 countries, the company serves the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the life cycle of the reservoir-from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production through the life of the field. Visit the company's web site at www.halliburton.com.

[igotthisguitar]

ECONOMIC IMPLOSION

[mithridates]

[thepeel]

bill oreilly is going nutso about this. Liberal media, hate America first, don't support the troops, etc etc.

[igotthisguitar]

[igotthisguitar]

U.S. War Costs In Iraq Up: Report
By Richard Cowan
Wed Jan 23, 3:23 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraq war may not dominate U.S. news reports as the carnage drops, but a new report underscores the financial burden of persistent combat that is helping run up the government's credit card.

"Funding for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other activities in the war on terrorism expanded significantly in 2007," the Congressional Budget Office said in a report released on Wednesday.

War funding, which averaged about $93 billion a year from 2003 through 2005, rose to $120 billion in 2006 and $171 billion in 2007 and President George W. Bush has asked for $193 billion in 2008, the nonpartisan office wrote.

"It keeps going up, up and away," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said of the money spent in Iraq since U.S. troops invaded in 2003.

"We're seeing the war costs continue to spiral upward. It is the additional troops plus additional costs per troop plus the over-reliance on private contractors, which also explodes the costs," said Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat who opposed the war.

Since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, Congress has written checks for $691 billion to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and such related activities as Iraq reconstruction, the CBO said.

There are around 158,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 27,000 in Afghanistan.

$11 BILLION A MONTH

CONT'D ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/iraq_usa_spending_dc;_ylt=AmXuDXH1qXhh2UwrcK9Cn3thr7sF

The U.S. Financial Crisis (In Iraq)
By DANIEL PEPPER/BAGHDAD
Wed Jan 23, 11:55 AM ET

The U.S. military in Iraq has been extolling the achievements of its cooperation with civilians in the fight against extremists and insurgents. The mechanism of that cooperation, however, is greased by cash - and the budgetary spigot for it has been tightening in recent months.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080123/wl_time/theusfinancialcrisisiniraq
;_ylt=AhUVEHl9FCQv8L7Q3y2jeKkDW7oF

[igotthisguitar]

Iraq Conflict Has Killed A Million Iraqis: Survey
Wed Jan 30, 1:55 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - More than one million Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to research conducted by one of Britain's leading polling groups.

MORE ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080130/wl_nm/iraq_deaths_survey_dc
;_ylt=AgZN2bMbAHBGWwoCvdCXP7EDW7oF