Stop-loss not created by Bush

submitted by Jason R. Hart

April 7, 2008 —

In the review of the movie Stop-Loss in the March 31 edition, Matthew C. Easterwood describes a stop-loss as a "back-door draft President Bush created." Regardless of your opinion of the movie, the war, or the president it is important to get the facts straight when reporting. Stop-losses were created in the 1970s, well before either Bush served as president.

A stop-loss is a power granted to the president to extend any and all military members in a time of war as granted by United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle E, Part II, Chapter 1209, Section 12305. This code was enacted after the abolishment of the draft. It hasn't even been amended since Oct. 19, 1984, when the section was renumbered. It also should be mentioned that all military members are told of the possibility of a stop-loss when they enlist. The stop-loss policy is described on the enlistment contract that every military member has read to them and is required to sign (DD Form 4/1 Jan. 2001).

Unfortunately, the point Easterwood is trying to make in his review that the message and substance of the movie was sacrificed for its political undertones is the same thing we see happening in journalism today. The unpopularity of this war, somewhat perpetuated by the media, leads journalists to cut corners and assert things that are just untrue. In five minutes I was able to research and show Easterwood's assertion to be incorrect. The question I am writing to ask is what has happened to journalist integrity and why can't today's journalists spare that five minutes themselves?

Jason R. Hart
M.B.A student