Kerry Says He Would Add 40,000 to Army

Washington Post ^ | June 4, 2004 | Dan Balz

[wynter]

In his most extensive remarks on the future of the American military, Sen. John F. Kerry said here Thursday that he would expand the active-duty Army by 40,000 soldiers, including a doubling of U.S. Special Forces; speed development of new technologies and equipment to meet threats posed by terrorist networks; and better integrate the National Guard into the nation's homeland security strategy.

[wynter]

College students are being told a lie that Bush will bring back the draft. Obviously college students have no idea what you have to do to bring the draft back. That Bush cannot do this without it being voted on in both houses, passed by a majority. But.. they do believe this lie. I want to ask these students this.. In most speeches, Kerry has said he will increase the army by 40,000. How will he will accomplish this? Bush has explained how he is switching military people out of countries that do not need them anymore thereby increasing the numbers in Iraq. He has told us how he is increasing the number of our volunteer forces. How will Kerry supply 40,000?? Educate a college student before it's too late!!! This is a non-polled group in the swing states that could put Kerry on the top just because they've been lied to and don't know all the facts. This bears repeating!!

[Aetius]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't a large percentage of Special Forces candidates fail to make it through training? Kerry makes it sound as though he can wave a magic wand and presto, there's tens of thousands more Delta Force and Green Berets.

[Perdogg]

Kerry will have a military draft if he's elected. He will draft not only 18 yo men, but women too.

[PilloryHillary]

How does Kerry expect to add 40K to the armed forces without a draft? Offer a 100K sign up bonus? The "Kerry Youth"? Or how about a DRAFT? If this turd gets elected, our country has turned the corner into complete stupidity.

[IndianPrincessOK]

Oh Gee....I thought this was the wrong war, wrong time....B.S.....I guess he just thinks we are so dumb we forgot that......duh...this guy is scary...he truly will say ANYTHING to get elected...Can now see just how deep the anger flows from the Swifties!!!

[tbeatty]

He forgets that he will have to replace all those volunteers that won't serve for Kerry.

Plus, how is he going to do all this since he will probably propose a cut in military spending.

[jpf]

Over on Slate I KEPT asking Kerry supporters whether he was going to plant a troop tree in the Rose Garden or have a draft to add 2 division to the army. You know what THEY kept saying...well he was going to get "other" countries involved, that's where the troops were going to come from...I swear to God. I guess they think we're going to have an American foreign legion or something, but what they're really doing is NOT THINKING AT ALL!

[Kozak]

That won't go far in replacing the LOSES from the military when they head for the exits rather then serve under a Commander in Chief who is Unfit for Command.

[Dutch Boy]

No, he will lower the standards for the SF and create a military of sub standard soldiers. If a democrat is ever left to make massive changes to the military it will be a failure. Just look at public schools as the model for their success.

[Two-Bits]

He will do it. It is called the "draft".

[Lexington Green]

60% of spec-op soldiers are retirement eligible -- TODAY. If Kerry wins, they will resign in mass rather than salute a wartime traitor.

[Springman]

He would do what Rats do, lower the standers.

[Cosmo]

sure, he'll add 40,000....to offset the attrition of some 200,000.

[BlindGuardian]

Kerry says he'll do abunch of crap. Gosh, I'm so tired of looking at and hearing about Kerry. My head is going to explode if I have to see Kerry after Nov. 2nd.

[Sola Veritas]

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't a large percentage of Special Forces candidates fail to make it through training? Kerry makes it sound as though he can wave a magic wand and presto, there's tens of thousands more Delta Force and Green Berets."

You are absolutely correct. Both Ranger School and the Special Forces School have high failure rates.

Kerry is just saying what he thinks will get him elected. There is no way he will increase the Army by two divisions. And he certainly will not be able to increase "special" units, unless the standards are seriously lowered. Plus, it is already clear that a Kerry win will kill enlistments and reenlistments. Therefore, a volunteer army will no longer be viable. Thus, a draft, or worse, no action at all.

[jriemer]

How does Kerry expect to add 40K to the armed forces without a draft?

What the left doesn't say about the most recent and defeated draft legislation is: those who are "drafted" and don't want to serve in the military - don't have to. The legislation requires that draftees complete two years in military or governmental service. With a loophole as big as that, how does Kerry et. al. begin to call this "compulsary military service"?

H.R.163 - To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

[marmar]

I have a friend who was a Ranger, out of 82 guys 8 made it. They are extreme adrenaline junkies, their final test was to swim back and forth in a pool till they blacked out.....kinda like drowning yourself, I know I couldn't do it.

[mak5]

Kerry, to the extent that you can believe anything he says, has already said that the "only fair way" to mobilize an Army is to have a draft. It's that simple. Bush=no draft. Kerry=draft for military, draft of students for national service. Of course, I wonder what his union supporters will say about having all of these students, who will have to do national service "volunteering" to do their work.

[Bombardier]

Everything Kerry wants to do will reduce the fighting effectiveness of our armed forces. It has taken THIRTY YEARS to develop the most professional, disciplined and AGGRESSIVE military this country has ever seen!

"Doubling the Special Forces" will entail reducing standards, thereby negating the elite qualities which make SF so effective. "Increasing the size of the Army by 40,000" will require either

A)Increasing pay, benefits and enlistment bonuses

or

B) Conscription.

No matter how you slice it, a Kerry presidency would destroy the US armed forces....but then, that's what the Dems have wanted for twenty or more years.

[Not A Snowbird]

And where is he going to get 40,000 volunteers? Not to mention replacing the current active duty soldiers who are going to bail out rather than serve under him?

Gee... could it be a DRAFT?!