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McChrystal: Time to bring back the draft
Foreign Policy ^ | July 3, 2012 | Josh Rogin

Posted on 07/05/2012 11:51:33 AM PDT by Timber Rattler

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former top commander of international forces in Afghanistan, said this week that the United States should bring back the draft if it ever goes to war again.

"I think we ought to have a draft. I think if a nation goes to war, it shouldn't be solely be represented by a professional force, because it gets to be unrepresentative of the population," McChrystal said at a late-night event June 29 at the 2012 Aspen Ideas Festival. "I think if a nation goes to war, every town, every city needs to be at risk. You make that decision and everybody has skin in the game."

He argued that the burdens of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan haven't been properly shared across the U.S. population, and emphasized that the U.S. military could train draftees so that there wouldn't be a loss of effectiveness in the war effort.

"I've enjoyed the benefits of a professional service, but I think we'd be better if we actually went to a draft these days," he said. "There would some loss of professionalism, but for the nation it would be a better course."

(Excerpt) Read more at thecable.foreignpolicy.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2012; conscription; draft; iran; mcchrystal; military; politicalmotives
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I strongly disagree with McChrystal. In 1991, we had plenty of high-quality volunteers in the million-strong U.S. military, but then Bush 41 and Clinton did their New World Order/Peace Dividend downsizing and gutted it. The BRACs of the time then slashed our military infrastructure, leaving it a shadow of its former self.

And I guess McChrystal has forgotten how dysfunctional the draft system was during the Vietnam War, which led to the volunteer military in the first place.

So I suggest that the problem is not a volunteer military, but the lack of will of our political leaders to WIN, and the crippling rules of engagement that they impose on our service people, thereby extending the GWOT and stressing the force.

1 posted on 07/05/2012 11:51:44 AM PDT by Timber Rattler
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To: Timber Rattler
"I think if a nation goes to war, it shouldn't be solely be represented by a professional force, because it gets to be unrepresentative of the population"

What an asinine statement!

2 posted on 07/05/2012 11:53:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: Timber Rattler

Undependable draftees get good soldiers killed.


3 posted on 07/05/2012 11:53:53 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: Timber Rattler

Translation: Not enough rich, white boys dying in battle.


4 posted on 07/05/2012 11:54:18 AM PDT by nhoward14
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To: BenLurkin

I think he’s complaining about the over representation of blacks and Hispanics in the armed forces. He’s not explicitly wrong.


5 posted on 07/05/2012 11:54:49 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Timber Rattler
McChrystal and Charley Rangel, one and the same. oonly Rangle wants to bring back the draft and blame it on republicans. Democrats can do that since they follow no rules of logic or intelligence.
6 posted on 07/05/2012 11:55:52 AM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: rarestia

Why would it be right to complain about blacks and Hispanics in the armed forces?


7 posted on 07/05/2012 11:56:28 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: Timber Rattler
Pure voluntary enlistment has, despite incredible malfeasance and misfeasance at the highest levels, produced the most devastating military establishment in the history of mankind.

Let's do everything we can to screw it up.

Diversity uber alles!!!

8 posted on 07/05/2012 11:56:48 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Timber Rattler

Next time you are in line at Walmart, think about that McChrystal as you survey the young guys with the tatooed arms and legs, nose rings, Mohawk haircuts, eyebrow jewelry and tongue pins.

They might fit in pretty well with an army of Huns or Goths based on appearance, but when the chips are down, they Huns or Goths would kick their sorry butts out of the camp or cut their heads off.


9 posted on 07/05/2012 11:56:48 AM PDT by ZULU (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=D9vQt6IXXaM&hd)
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To: Timber Rattler

I believe you are absolutely correct. Don’t need a draft.


10 posted on 07/05/2012 11:57:07 AM PDT by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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To: Timber Rattler

Will women be included in such a draft, I wonder? If they are not the feminist lobby would go berserk.


11 posted on 07/05/2012 11:57:41 AM PDT by Conservaliberty (25 and conservative. I guess I have no heart, Oh, well, makes shooting the bad guys easier.)
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To: Timber Rattler

“I think we ought to have a draft. I think if a nation goes to war, it shouldn’t be solely be represented by a professional force, because it gets to be unrepresentative of the population,”

This clown was in charge of anything more than a fry vat?


12 posted on 07/05/2012 11:58:36 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Future generations will curse what we've done to them.)
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To: Timber Rattler
I am going to be a war protester next time around.

We no longer enter wars to win.

We enter wars to apologize and waste lives and treasure.

13 posted on 07/05/2012 11:59:20 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
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To: Timber Rattler

I think when you graduate from high school everyone should enter the military and spend at least two years. I also thing that all officers should have to serve time as and enlisted person


14 posted on 07/05/2012 12:01:26 PM PDT by jrd (DO AWAY WITH THE EPA)
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To: rarestia

Blacks/Hispanics around 33%. Too many? Too few? Whitey still around 67%. Since it all volunteer, he is wrong. Draftees suck, not universally but enough to lower efficiency. Two year enlistments are a recipe for disaster.


15 posted on 07/05/2012 12:03:08 PM PDT by xone
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To: BenLurkin
Why would it be right to complain about blacks and Hispanics in the armed forces?

Would you be a little nervous if someone like Obama or Holder were elected president and the military was all black?

16 posted on 07/05/2012 12:05:11 PM PDT by oldbrowser (Your character is your fate.....fortune cookie)
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To: jrd
Two years, everyone? It isn't a jobs program.

I also thing that all officers should have to serve time as and enlisted person

Why?

17 posted on 07/05/2012 12:05:47 PM PDT by xone
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To: nhoward14

Alternate translation: We were hamstrung by a lack of infantry.

In Iraq they were using artillery battalions to do foot patrols.


18 posted on 07/05/2012 12:06:13 PM PDT by Tallguy (It's all 'Fun and Games' until somebody loses an eye!)
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To: Timber Rattler

And of course, men should be forced to bunk with open homosexuals... < /sarc >

How about if Barack Hussein Obama were to go through basic training at least ONCE in his life since he HAS ZERO MILITARY EXPERIENCE and became Commander in Chief.


19 posted on 07/05/2012 12:06:13 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Fools.Damn fools.Welcome to the USSA. Socialism is slavery to the State and the Supreme Court did it)
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To: rarestia
I think he’s complaining about the over representation of blacks and Hispanics in the armed forces. He’s not explicitly wrong.

You are incorrect.

A heritage Foundation study, via DoD data, shows Whites are slightly over represented in the US Military, as are Negroes.

Whites are much more over represented in the combat arms jobs while Negroes and others are under represented.

So-called "Hispanic" people are under represented in all categories of the military.

The demographic study also points out that lower income people are under represented in the military, thus shooting down the fallacy poor people join to get the benefits.

20 posted on 07/05/2012 12:06:52 PM PDT by OldMissileer
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