Stop-loss is the extension of a service members contract. Right now stop-loss is necessary because we have too small a force for the war were fighting.

A prominent military expert told me that the “Problem goes back to the Civil War in which the Union Army was cut by huge chunks at harvest times. We need it, but its ugly.”

John Kerry has been quoted saying this about the stop-loss policy:

“You have what is a backdoor draft that has been put into effect,” Kerry said. “People serving beyond the time of their voluntary service are no longer volunteers.”

The New York Times in 2004 wrote this article sighting the first soldier to challenge the legality of the policy’s application to deployment in Iraq.

“A member of the California Army National Guard filed suit in federal court here Tuesday challenging the Bush administration’s so-called stop-loss policy, asserting that his pending deployment to Iraq “bears no relation to the threat of terrorism against the United States.”

The Washington Post wrote in 2004 about the stop-loss policy as well :

Army officials said the move promotes cohesion by preventing Army divisions from being depleted shortly before they go into battle. But military experts and lawmakers said the decision indicates that the Army is being stretched thin by multiple operations, with some calling the program a draft in disguise.

“It’s a blanket imposition of extended service, and it has to raise questions about how adequately manned the Army is,” said Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

The “stop-loss” policy prevents the normal attrition of troops and ensures that divisions will not have to seek additional troops when they go to Iraq or Afghanistan, said Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck, the Army’s deputy chief of staff in charge of human resources and personnel. Congress authorized such measures after the Vietnam War, and they were first used during preparations for the Persian Gulf War in 1990. They have been used since to bolster divisions heading to Iraq and Afghanistan.

I myself dont have the military experience or knowledge to make a full evaluation of the stop-loss policy, but my opinion is that if you are in the military, and there is a war going on, shouldnt one expect to serve until the war is over?

On the other hand — if this policy is enacted or executed dishonestly by our government or president it will reflect negatively in the competence of our military — now and later.

Stop-loss has two faces, the face of the men like the one depicted in this film, decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Philippe). King is still deserving of thanks and respect.

But then there is the face of a warrior

Warriors like Cpl. Sean Stokes who returned to Iraq for his 3rd tour voluntarily because he couldnt bear the thought of his fellow Marines being someplace where he couldnt share the burden with them. Men who hide their wounds in order to avoid being medevaced.

Stop-loss has a slippery slope. This film wont be in theatres until late March but it is sure to draw some more attention to the already controversial policy. Nothing reaches out more to bleeding hearts than a poignant sound-track, graphics, and a romantic plot.

Paramount has set up a website where you can “Get Involved in a Front Line Dialogue With Real Soldiers.”