http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Politics/story?id=4513250&page=1
(snip)
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney was asked what effect the grim milestone of at least 4,000 U.S. deaths in the five-year Iraq war might have on the nation.
Noting the burden placed on military families, the vice president said the biggest burden is carried by President George W. Bush, who made the decision to commit US troops to war, and reminded the public that U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan volunteered for duty.
"The president carries the biggest burden, obviously," Cheney said. "He's the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans, but we are fortunate to have a group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way for the rest of us."
Raddatz noted that some soldiers, Air Force members, and Marines have been on multiple deployments and have been sent back to Iraq because of the stop-loss policy — an involuntary extension of a service member's enlistment contract. The Army alone says 58,000 US soldiers have been redeployed to war because of the stop-loss policy.
"When you talk about an all-volunteer force, some of these soldiers, airmen, Marines have been on two, three, four, some of them more than that, deployments," Raddatz said. "Do you think when they volunteered they had any idea that there would be so many deployments or stop-loss? Some of those who want to get out can't because of stop-loss?"
When asked about the toll multiple deployments have taken on U.S. military members, Cheney fired back with a question.
"Of course it is, Martha," Cheney said. "So what would be the solution to that? I mean how would you deal with that?"
There are currently more U.S. military members in Iraq than when the United States led the invasion of the country in March 2003.
Last week Cheney made headlines when asked about recent polls that show about two-thirds of Americans say the fight in Iraq is not worth it.
"So?" Cheney replied during that interview. "You don't care what the American people think?" Raddatz asked the vice president at the time.
"You can't be blown off course by polls," Cheney said during that interview.
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Yep, our esteemed Vice-President really has a way with words.
-nab
