Seems like they're having trouble recruiting people to serve as America launches headlong into GWOT 2.0 with no plan. It makes sense that people aren't signing up: it's a very unpopular war that was started by assassinating leaders during peace talks and bombing an elementary school, and it's not one they're winning.

And it's also a war with no clear benefit to Americans, which Marco Rubio admitted they were dragged into by Israel.

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polotics 33 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Yes, and still note, about using the word "winning". Jeannette Rankin: "You can no more win a war, than you can win an earthquake"

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c8ares 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

They've had the best recruiting performance in 10+ years.

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3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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franczesko 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

+ a war for another country

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dinkumthinkum 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

But I think this might be a cope that is not well researched. How would one explain that all of this is quite literally not true and military recruitment is significantly higher under this administration? The actual reality is this policy just aligns with other branches and divisions of the military such as the Air Force. Not everything is explained by IDS. With all due respect, this seems like a reflexive anti-American position because it is so laughably wrong. Young men are much more likely to join under the current administration and I think it is pretty obvious. Also, the idea that there was no plan is just divorced from reality. People might not agree with the plan but this idea they didn't know what they were getting into is a sophomoric read, to be honest.

https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-06-03/army-recrui...

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llmthrow0827 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Those numbers are before starting GWOT 2.0.

Was abandoning all regional bases and most advanced radar in the area as soon as the war started part of the plan? Sending the USS Gerald Ford in even though it was already on extended deployment? Not having any minesweepers anywhere near the area? How about loading F35s with barbell weights to balance the aircraft, because they don't have radar systems? Pulling THAAD systems from South Korea within a week of starting the war?

That, and many more examples, point to an ill-thought-out decapitation strike, on someone else's timeline, with no contingency plan in the case that didn't severely cripple the Iranian government and state.

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toast0 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> How would one explain that all of this is quite literally not true and military recruitment is significantly higher under this administration?

Bad economy -> high army recruitment. (Also bad economy -> lower immigration, legal and not)

	▲	bostik an hour ago \| parent [-]
		While reductionist, I think yours is a legitimate "in a nutshell" take. It would be interesting to see the relevant statistics over time, ideally broken down by geographical regions, their median incomes and the respective employment / military recruitment success rates. I admit that I am partial to your view of the world. A mate in university, about a quarter of a century ago, made a rather striking observation: "In the US, military is a national jobs program for a nation that is psychologically hostile to jobs programs."

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UltraSane 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I think smart people do NOT want to enlist while Trump is Commander in Chief and Hegseth is in charge of the Military. The way the crew of the USS Ford have been treated is despicable.

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thoi234293847 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[flagged]

	▲	UltraSane 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		2003? Really?

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deepsun 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> during peace talks

Well, I'm old enough to remember many "peace talks" go to eternity wit absolutely zero results. In many countries around the world. Just to create the argument.

	▲	colordrops 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Are you suggesting that it's a valid tactic to using peace talks to get your opponent to let their guard is down so you can attack them?
	▲	tunesmith 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		What's your therefore??