Stop-Loss: A Look at the U.S. Military Policy That Creates a 'Backdoor Draft' to Force Soldiers to Continue Service

Some have described the policy as a backdoor draft. Critics say stop loss hurts troop morale, burdens troops’ families, damages the credibility of military leaders and threatens recruiting.

On Thursday, Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Democratic Congresswoman Betty Sutton introduced the Stop-Loss Compensation Act—which would require the Pentagon to pay troops affected by stop-loss an additional $1,500 for each month their service is extended.

Hollywood has also taken on the issue. A new full length film titled “Stop Loss” has just been released on DVD. Casey Porter is an Army specialist who recently returned to Iraq after being stop lossed. He joins us on the telephone from just outside Baghdad.

We are also joined from Colby Buzzell and Kimberly Peirce in Washington. Colby Buzzell served as an Army infantryman in Iraq during 2003 and 2004. He was recently stop-lossed and faces another deployment to Iraq. He was one of the first soldiers to blog from Iraq and is the author of the book “My War: Killing Time in Iraq.” Kimberly Peirce is the director of the film “Stop Loss.” Her first film was “Boys Don’t Cry” for which star Hillary Swank won an Oscar for Best Actress. Kimberly’s brother served in Iraq.

Spc. Casey Porter, Army specialist stationed in Iraq on his second tour after being ‘stop-lossed.’ He is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Colby Buzzell, served as an Army infantryman in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. He is the author of the book “My War: Killing Time in Iraq.” Last year the book won the ‘Blooker prize’ for best book that began as a blog on the Internet.

Kimberly Peirce, director of the film “Stop Loss.” Her first film was “Boys Don’t Cry” for which star Hillary Swank won an Oscar for Best Actress. Her brother served in Iraq.

Related Links

• Casey Porter's YouTube Page
• Colby Buzzells Blog
• Stop Loss the Movie