Posted on 09/17/2004 10:19:07 AM PDT by tickles
I just recieved this through a yahoo group that I belong to. (I won't comment on the senders polital leanings) a question posted was
"Is there any more backgroup information that says one way or another what the true status of these bills is other than "in committee"? ""
It is probably old news here, but any concrete info to counter the draft scare (true facts you know) might help.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sorry for sending this type of info to the list but I feel this affects each and everyone of us. If you are a supporter of the draft then just hit delete and I'm sorry to have bothered you.
Mandatory Draft PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION! Mandatory draft for boys and girls (ages 18-26) starting June 15, 2005, is something that everyone should know about. This literally affects every American since we all have or know children that will have to go if this bill passes. There is pending legislation in the house and senate (twinbills: S89 and HR 163) which will time the program's initiation so the draft can begin as early as spring, 2005, just after the 2004 presidential election. The administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public's attention is on the elections, so our action on this is needed immediately. Details and links follow below. This plan, among other things, eliminates higher education as a shelter and includes women in the draft. Also, crossing into Canada h
as already been made very difficult. Actions: Please send this on to all the parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, godparents & teachers you know. And let your children know - - it's their future, and they can be a powerful voice for change!
This legislation is called HR 163 and can be found in detail at this website: http://thomas.loc.gov/ Just enter in "HR 163" and click search and will bring up the bill for you to read. It is less than two pages long. If this bill passes, it will include ALL MEN and ALL WOMEN from ages 18 - 26 in a draft for military action. In addition, college will no longer be an option for avoiding the draft and they will be signing an agreement with the Canadian Government which will no longer permit anyone attempting to dodge the draft to stay within it's borders. This bill also includes the extension of military service for all those that are currently active. If you go to the select service web site and read their 2004 FYI Goals you will see that the reasoning for this is to increase the size of the military in case of terrorism. This is a critical piece of legislation, this will effect our undergraduates, our children and our grandchildren. Please take the time to write your congressman and let them know how you feel about this legislation.
http://www.house.gov http://www.senate.gov Please also write to your representatives and ask them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills and write to newspapers and other media outlets to ask them why they're not covering this important story. The draft $28 million has been added to the 2004 selective service system budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. Selective service must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. Please see http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the Selective Service System annual performance plan, fiscal year 2004. The pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan (and permanent state of war on terrorism) proves accurate, the U.S. may have no choice but to draft. http://www.hslda.org/legislation/national/2003/s89/default.asp
The Universal National service Act of 2003, "to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons (aged 18-26) 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." These active bills currently sit in the committee on armed services. Dodging the draft will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era. College and Canada will not be options. In December, 2001, Canada and the U.S. signed a "smart border declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign affairs, John Manley, and U.S. Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30 point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year.
You may recall that not long ago, some young fool had himself shot and wounded, to escape this hallucinatory hazard.
The bills are not being pushed. It's quite true that the two bills mentioned would require both men and women aged 18 through 25 to perform a two-year period of "national service," which incidentally could be either military or non-military service. But the bills are sponsored only by Democrats, and there's not the slightest evidence that the Bush administration is pushing for them, quietly or otherwise.
One bill is HR 163 , whose principle sponsor is Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York. It has 14 co-sponsors, all of them Democrats in a Congress controlled by Republicans. The bill was dead on arrival: it sits in a House subcommittee with no hearings or votes scheduled and no action expected.
In fact, Rangel told FactCheck.org through his spokesman Emile Milne that even he isn't pushing for passage, let alone Bush (emphasis added):
Rep. Rangel: I'm not pushing this bill . It's up to the President to come to me when he needs it.
The identical Senate bill, S. 89 , introduced by Democratic Sen. Ernest Hollings, and also was DOA. Not one other senator has co-sponsored it. It also sits in committee with no action scheduled or expected.
Both bills in question were drawn up before the Iraq war started, mostly to make a political point. Rangel said he acted to highlight Democratic objections to use of military force against Saddam Hussein. He wrote , "I truly believe that decision-makers who support war would more readily feel the pain of conflict and appreciate the sacrifice of those on the front lines if their children were there, too."
See #22...even Rangel admits it is a political stunt.
The only people pushing for the draft are people that voted against the war, and all dems. Rumsfield has said if they need a draft it will be because he screwed up. Ain't gonna be no draft while he's around, which could be part of the reason the Dems are pushing for him to resign.
you hang around here long enough you get flammed for stuff, I know I have. lots of good resources here too. I have gotten good a reserching just to defend my position
Ok I answered this 'letter' with a list of the bills sponsers and the article listed here. I have put my flame proof suit on, wonder if i'll be banned from that list. oh well. funny thing is 'polotics' are supposed to be banned from the list, except for occasional disscussions on disabilty issues.
the sender of this message is one of the 'list' owners who occasionally lets us uninformed ones know about the dastardly republicans who want to take evenything away from we the people...so he gets by with posting political stuff and alot of the replies are from people who think like him. sigh. will let you know what happens. I'm sure i'll get a very sarcastic message. hehe.
sorry about the spelling errors in the previous message. sigh.
This is the lady who appeared in the phony CBS story about the draft:
Beverly Cocco
babby61754@comcast.net
This is her email address.. we should all send her a piece of our mind....
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