By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer 38 minutes ago WASHINGTON - In an action branded a backdoor draft by some critics, the military over the past several years has held tens of thousand of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines on the job and in war zones beyond their retirement dates or enlistment length. It is a widely disliked practice that the Pentagon, under new Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is trying to figure out how to cut back on. ............ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070128/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/gates_troops__tours Contrary to what some war supporters say.