Pentagon: AP Story 'Perpetuates Subtle Myth' Minorities Suffer Higher Casualty Rate

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Saying that it "perpetuates a subtle myth," a senior Pentagon official has responded to an AP story that appeared earlier this week regarding the drop in military enlistment by African-Americans. In comments to this NewsBuster, Bill Carr, the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, said that "the AP left readers with an impression that something sinister was emerging, but one must by unusually cynical to miss the real story."

The AP story reported that the number of blacks joining the military "has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began. Other job prospects are soaring and relatives of potential recruits increasingly are discouraging them from joining the armed services."

The story describes a Sean Glover in Washington, D.C., who "said he has done all he can to talk black relatives out of joining the military," quoting Glover to this effect:

"I don't think it's a good time. I don't support the government's efforts here and abroad. There's other ways you can pay for college. There's other ways you can get your life together. Joining the Army, the military, comes at a very high price."

Said Carr: "this perpetuates a subtle myth that minorities suffer death or injury disproportionately. The opposite is true as a function of voluntary career selections -- choices that we celebrate. In fact, African-Americans continue to advantage their futures through valuable job training in fields such as medical or dental technician."

Continued Carr: "While the propensity of adults to recommend military service to young people has fallen, African-American influencers remain the least inclined to support military service, owing to factors like Mr. Glover's misimpressions that joining "comes at a very high price." Sacrifice is a hallmark of military service, but the ultimate sacrifice is not borne disproportionately by minorities. Blacks are about 18 percent of the active duty force (officer and enlisted), but represent 10 percent of those killed and roughly 8 percent of the wounded. Whites comprise 70 percent of the active duty force but about three-quarters of those killed or wounded.

"The disparity is attributable to an understandable interest of minority youth in acquiring valuable job skills. Blacks comprise 19 percent of the enlisted force, but 12 percent of the combat arms and twice that proportion -- 24 percent -- in health care fields (blacks are one third of the Admin and Support specialties). Minorities appear to favor high-value job training in preparing for life, rather than the promise of education benefits that are more typical incentives for placement in the combat arms. We celebrate these choices by young people in deciding what best suits their preferences and career plans. In a volunteer military, the volunteers choose their skills."

Concluded Carr: "African-American . . . representation among recruits increasingly is falling in line with the demographics of society -- this is not an unhealthy development in America, as its military continuously seeks to reflect the society it protects. Today's volunteer military increasingly is representative of national demographics, by way of training in skills that support longer-term career plans. All of this is consistent with the objectives established by the nation when it ended conscription and substituted personal choice in forming the most powerful military on earth."

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Pentagon-debunks-AP-story ping to Today show list.

[Leisler]

Sean Glover, like is a typical, um, black? Here are some thoughts by Glover on other subjects.

This is the html version of the file http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/nepa/Mgmt_NEPA_S-JGlover_081604.pdf.
G o o g l e automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
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1From:Wesc360@aol.comSent:Monday, August 16, 2004 10:17 AMTo:ADMIN-S&ESubject:NEPA commentMother earth is not something that can be bought. The environment is a delicately balanced life system. It is obvious that it can not be owned or controlled. The people that value and depend on the environment to survive are suffering and dying from depletionand degradation. In the modern world natural resources are scarce and places where a balanced ecosystem can exist are increasingly diminishing. An undeveloped preserved system of life is a dire necessity or the human race will experience severe consequences and ultimately perish. The renewal and upkeep of the environment is everyone’s responsibility. Over-consuming and overindulging in rare resources could tip the delicate balance into a state of overcompensation. As in any regulated balance one system cannot do the job for another. For example, in the human body, the bones cannot supply blood to the brain and they cannot act as muscles that can move on their own. For centuries the Federal Government has been unreliable and corrupt. Many branches of the federal government engage in activity that is incompetent. Some federal groups stray far beyond the bounds of legality and human decency. For example COINTLPRO was set up to ward off communism. Yet, this program only succeeded in murdering indigenous Americans and silencing the American public.Under the National Environmental Policy Act all indigenous people’s rights, liberties,and freedoms will be under federal authority and judgment. The Federal Government, however, is responsible for the murder of a substantial amount of Native Americans. Thereare documented cases of rape and murder of innocent Native Americans by the Federal Bureauof Investigation, including the rape of Sarah Wounded Foot. The Federal Government as waged a secret war over the last lands of the Native American people. At Wounded Knee many different federal branches slaughtered many hungry women and children. Native Americans have suffered racism, beatings, and verbal abuse. The federal government will not even abide by their own governing constitution by denying fishing and community establishment rights. Many Native Americans sincerely feel the majority of their land wasstolen from beneath their feet.The federal government, mainly the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is responsible forthe false imprisonment and fraudulent extradition of a proud indigenous spokesperson named Leonard Peltier. On this very day he is still serving two consecutive life terms for a crime that has never revealed any evidence indicating that he was the one who committed it. In the process they killed one of his best friends, Joe Killsright Stuntz, with a sniper rifle.Leonard Peltier is the personification of the Federal Governments abuse. 60,000 document of federal misbehavior are being withheld from legal view. These documents contain crucial evidence of Peltier’s innocence and federal coercion both of which are have already been proven. Anne Mae Aquash was shot shot in the back of the head by the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. She was shot because she would not falsely testify against Peltier. An excuse was made that she had frozen to death and they cut off her hands for identification. Her family had to locate her body themselves to have a second autopsy. That autopsy revealed something the federal one missed, a bullet hole in the back of her head. Still, Leonard Peltier has been denied retrial after sufficient evidence for his freedom has been documented.The Federal Government allows genocide to continue toward Native Americans. For five hundred years the Native American race has been suffering from starvation and robbery. Leonard Peltier stated: “America always pushed us off our land and took the best part for themselves. Wherever they pushed us, we would again begin to thrive. Then, they wanted that. The lands we were pushed on became worse and worse. Yet, the creator still provided for us.” For the past five decades Native Americans have had the highest povertyrates, highest infant mortality, and highest unemployment.The federal government has also shown years of incompetence and failed procedures. These atrocities span from Wounded Knee to 9/11 and directly affect the public. The intelligence they seek with such lust does the opposite of succeeding. As a result of internal hostility between law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the World Trade

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2Center and the Pentagon were struck by hijacked plains. At the same time the sole governing force of America is using covert action to disrupt and discredit individuals anddomestic groups. There is a history of oppression and suppression.Homeland Security and the environment do not belong in the same sentence. NEPA presents a disguised intent. Taking the environment under complete control by the federal government will destabilize security. Fear, anger, and ignorance will increase, creating a perfect habitat for vulnerability. Public health will be endangered by pollution and unnecessary contamination. Funds that ideally could be used for progress will be exhausted by needless bureaucracy. The corruption, disgrace, and scandal committed by the federal government will increase. The nation is still effected by the consequences of a war that was created by a campaign of misinformation. The implementation of this policy will further hinder our diplomatic procedures and abilities.The United states is already viewed as a rogue nation because of our negative influence from U.N. based environmental policies. Global stability will steadily vanish. Any positive steps towards solving the world energy crisis will be abruptly blockaded. Economic prosperity is not equal to environmental stewardship. Under environmental constraint economic station will more likely consummate. The further we manipulate and deplete the environment the closer we are to an imminent doom. To exploit the environmentfor financial gain is insidious.It is certain that the main motive for this policy will further envelope the injustices already committed by the Federal Government. The publics right to know is being infringed upon. The bill ‘s entire outline and structure is unjust and misguided. The environment has nothing to do with security posture. The motive of this bill is to blindfold the public from all unnecessary technological advances. The public is at the mercy of ignorance and bureaucracy. Their is no outline for how this directive will be positive or helpful. Officials are trained to inhibit the flow of information. Numerous government agencies are exempt from original environmental regulations. The guidelines will allow ineptitude. Justice will not be achieved when every case must be examined one by one. Time is a major issue for the environment. Anyone planning to have custody of itmust be prepared to respond immediately and not have a chronological line for judicial procedures. The essence of this bill will result in information restriction. Classification of ‘sensitive’ Information can be designated by officials of any authority.The public is denied access to any information no matter how relevant it is to them and their health and safety. Information generally designated “For Official Use Only” will have to be authorized on a need to know basis Hypothetically if Tribes wanted information on their safety or depletion of their natural resources they would be denied. In order for a tribe to obtain critical survival information a high ranking tribal member would need to request an authority meeting. Their need to know right would be under the discretion insensitive and uninformed individuals. It is the classification of this information that that may make it unavailable to the tribe to the tribe. Relevant third parties may be excluded from knowledge.The National Environmental Policy Act is a counterfeit solution. The reason it has developed is to rid corporate businesses of their huge environmental burdens. The ecosystem is in a state of shock. The Federal Government does not need to come to the aid of corporate America. Natural resources are becoming non-existent. The stability of our nation is significantly weakened by this act.The credibility of the American Government is disintegrating. The public needs protectionnot suffocation.Sincerely,Sean GloverJohn Glover

[Bahbah]

its military continuously seeks to reflect the society it protects.

I hope he doesn't mean this.

[Blake#1]

What the Pentagon should have said is: most military deaths come from Red States, white boys. Do you really think that the major cities of the USofA provide our military manpower?

[gondramB]

>>The AP story reported that the number of blacks joining the military “has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began. Other job prospects are soaring and relatives of potential recruits increasingly are discouraging them from joining the armed services.”<<

It is certainly true that less blacks are joining. DC has the lowest enlistment of all. But blacks generally oppose the war in Iraq so its not surprising.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Very nice work — thanks for posting.

[sgtbono2002]

IMO the man principally responsible for the lack of black participation in the military is Charles Rangel.

This man was made by the military.
He was nothing before he went in the military and they made a man of him. He came out and used his military experience to go to college and get a degree. That he should now be the major cause of blacks not being in the military is disgraceful.

[Williams]

Excuse me, but the article's not so subtle myth was that blacks don't want to serve in time of war. I hope that's not true, but it's nothing for blacks to be proud of if it is. Anybody can figure out war is "not a good time" to join up.

But when everything is viewed through the msm.s leftist prism, we lose sight of the obvious. During WWII there would be condemnation for any group that avoided service while others are dying.

Of course this would not apply to all the blacks who are serving.

[misharu]

I was discussing something like this the other day. I have noticed that when they show the soldiers on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan I see very few, if any, blacks. I commented that it looks like the whites are taking the brunt of the sacrifice of serving in our military.

My comments are in no way to be construed as diminishing the service of ANY American of any color, creed et al in the military. I just thought it interesting to read from the above article that facts back up what I had seen.

[liberty_lvr]

Good comments, but I find it disturbing that you felt compelled to add a disclaimer, ostensibly in order to protect yourself from those here who would label you a racist in classically PC knee-jerk fashion.

My comments are in no way to be construed as diminishing the service of ANY American of any color, creed et al in the military.

As a God-fearing Christian and patriotic American, I personally would never have ascribed any malice to your initial comments whatsoever. The fact that you feared such on what is supposed to be the premier conservative website clearly shows how deeply the PC nonsense has seeped into our culture.

Do what you like, but in the future I hope you will be confident enough of your views and of yourself to drop such disclaimers from your observations.

[misharu]

Wow liberty, how you miscontrued my intentions. I have been flamed for less here and was not in the mood to be flamed again. And you just go to show, its always something.

Damned if ya do, and damned if ya don't.

[L98Fiero]

“It is certainly true that less blacks are joining. DC has the lowest enlistment of all. But blacks generally oppose the war in Iraq so its not surprising.”

This is just anecdotal but where I live is about 70+% black. Right after 9-11, when seemingly everyone had a US flag on their car, flying from their homes or business, I took notice that very few black people flew flags. VERY few. When Alcorn plays Jackson State, however, everyone seems to fly one of those teams flags.

Fast forward to now, I’m one of the only white people in my neighborhood and the only one with a flag flying from my house.

I’m actually amazed we have the number of black recruits that we do.

[68skylark]

I think Mr. Carr is being a little too sensitive. I read that AP article last week, and I didn't get the impression that the author was saying minorities have higher casualty rates.

This article wasn't so bad. There are lots of other news reports about military recruiting that are a lot worse and a lot more insulting to those who serve.

[gondramB]

>>This is just anecdotal but where I live is about 70+% black. Right after 9-11, when seemingly everyone had a US flag on their car, flying from their homes or business, I took notice that very few black people flew flags. VERY few. When Alcorn plays Jackson State, however, everyone seems to fly one of those teams flags.

Fast forward to now, I’m one of the only white people in my neighborhood and the only one with a flag flying from my house.

I’m actually amazed we have the number of black recruits that we do.<<

Interesting. I also lived in a mixed neighborhood on 9/11. Blacks and whites flew flags. But some of our non-American neighbors kept stealing the flags. My next door neighbor, a retired wounded veteran, who was black, lost his father’s flag to some scum bag who replaced it with a spray painted swastika. It made me sick to see that happen to him.

But it was different after Iraq. None of my black neighbors thought it was right and smart to invade.

[L98Fiero]

“But it was different after Iraq. None of my black neighbors thought it was right and smart to invade.”

Yeah, same here. None of my coworkers or neighbors ever had anything bad to say about Afghanistan but that was not the case for Iraq.

I should caveat my earlier post because at the time of 9-11 I worked for the Corps of Engineers and many of my black coworkers did have flags and eagles decorating their cubes. Out in town, I didn’t see that many, though.

[art_rocks]

BB King wears a flag pin.

“It is certainly true that less blacks are joining. DC has the lowest enlistment of all. “

DC also has the worst school system. I wonder how many young people from DC have tried to join but scored too low to join. Need a HS diploma or GED and you can get in with a lower ASVAB score. If you don’t have the diploma, you would need a higher ASVAB score.

Let’s not forget criminal transgressions. Gang bangers are out.

What would the media say if the military came out with the records of those who couldn’t join due to low test scores.

[L98Fiero]

“BB King wears a flag pin.”

And Don King wears a a multitude of flag-inspired garb. “Only in America” he rightfully acknowledges.

Good points there about DC.

Interesting anecdote concerning B.B.: He was in town at some even when a kid brought a guitar for him to sign. It was a Fender. He jokingly said something to the effect of, “I’ll sign it but me signing a Fender is like cheating on my woman.” ;)

[SauronOfMordor]

Translation: in a time when an enlistee has a high probability of serving in a combat zone, the Army has become less attractive to people who only wanted to join for the jobs training

[17th Miss Regt]

I don't support the government's efforts here and abroad.

This is really the money quote...