Study shows 41% drop in number of black Army recruits since 2000

Those damn "influencers". However will this administration force feed democracy to the Middle East without enough troops, since there will be no draft? :shrug:


"The Army’s wartime recruiting challenge is aggravated by a sharp drop in black enlistments over the last four years, which internal Army and Defense Department polls trace to an unpopular war in Iraq and concerns among blacks with Bush administration policies.

The Army is straining to meet recruiting goals in part because the number of black volunteers has fallen 41 percent — from 23.5 percent of recruits in fiscal 2000 down steadily to 13.9 percent in the first four months of fiscal 2005.

<snip>

No single factor explains the drop, Rochelle said, but clearly the propensity of black youth to enlist is impacted by the war and increasingly by views of parents, teachers, coaches, clergy and other “influencers.”

<snip>

Rep. Charles B. Rangel, a Democrat whose New York City district includes Harlem, said he isn’t too surprised by the Army recruiting data. “I have not found a black person in support of this war in my district,” he said. “The fact that every member of the Congressional Black Caucus emotionally, politically and vigorously opposes this war is an indication of what black folks think throughout this country.”

more...
http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27532

I see this war as the major reason blacks will remain staunchly Democrat as many are in such bad social and economic conditions the military is the only option other than the street. This is just another injustice these people have had to endure...especially when Repugnicans are in charge.

Now where is critical max? When will the drop in enlistments, the low number of "re-ups" and the need to maintain or increase forces in Iraq force this regime's hand. There's a draft on the way, and again, it's gonna be the poor, the minorities and the un-connected who will pay the ultimate prices.

The black community have already had to endure funerals of loved one or are trying a cope with the returning phyically and mentally wounded by this incursion.

Bless the Congressional Black Caucus. True patriots and voices in the wilderness. Cheers to Charlie Rangel, Sheila Jackson Lee, Bernice Jones-Tubbs, John Conyers and many more who won't stay silent.

If they won't volunteer, it's less likely they'll agree to be compelled to become cannon fodder for a country that has de facto segregation, only a substandard education program for their community, and only offers them minimum wage service jobs, if at all. I predict new, improved draft riots.