(Wesley) Clark Calling for Civilian Reserve Corps

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 10/14/03 | By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

[So Cal Rocket]

WASHINGTON - Democrat Wesley Clark says if elected president, he would create a corps of civilians who could be called up for service in national emergencies much like the National Guard.

Every American age 18 or older could register for Clark's civilian reserve, listing skills that could aid the country in a disaster. Registration is voluntary and would involve a commitment to serve any time for five years.

In times of national emergency, such as floods, forest fires or terrorist attacks, the president would have the power to call to duty up to 5,000 civilian reservists. Tours would last as long as six months. Congress could authorize more to be mobilized.

Civilian reservists also could be sent overseas for jobs like reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Those who are called to duty would receive health care, a stipend, and the right to return to their jobs when their service is completed. Clark spokeswoman Kym Spell said the program would cost about $100 million a year and would be part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In a speech prepared for delivery Tuesday at New York's Hunter College, Clark said the reserves "will reinvigorate America's ethic of service, tap the vast reservoir of skill, generosity, and energy that is the American people, and call millions more Americans to duty."

Clark, a retired four-star Army general, also called for an expansion of the AmeriCorps national service program created by President Clinton.

Clark's speech is the first of four that he will give over a month outlining his campaign agenda. Others will focus on health care, the economy and national security.

[So Cal Rocket]

How is this different than the National Guard? Why create a new bureaucracy? Won't this cause even more difficulty in coordinating rapid responses?

Weasley Clark: Go back home to Arkansas.

[boomop1]

A new Rat hole, the job corps brown shirt brigade.

[Support Free Republic]

Let's keep the Dem's on the run!
Click the Pic!

[meowmeow]

seeds of the SS

[Howie]

"national emergency, such as floods, forest fires or terrorist attacks"

This is what he has in mind!

[steplock]

1999: GORE Invents the Internet!
2003: CLARK Invents the National Guard!

[Frank_Discussion]

< shudder > And I thought I was just being so very tinfoilish when I thought the same thing. Clark must not be allowed into the Presidency. He is truly scary.

[Brilliant]

Yeah, sure.... My 300 pound neighbor would make good cannon fodder. I can see him now trying to pull off a "Charge of the Light Brigade", bayonnet flashing...

[El Laton Caliente]

Hey, I have an idea! What about the citizens arming and organizing themselves without the federal government involved and helping out with crime control, defense and disasters? We could call it....The Militia!

Oh, that might be dangerous to demigods seeking to take over the federal government. Never mind.

[Pest]

Was it a good idea when President Bush proposed it? Personally, I think it would be good if it focused on domestic defense only. Kinda like the Civil Defense Corps during WWII.

Bush Calls for Civil Defense Corps

http://www.publicagenda.org/headlines/110901headline.htm

President Bush has proposed creating a volunteer civil defense corps to support police and rescue services during terrorist attacks and national disasters. The proposal came during a speech on homeland defense against terrorism Thursday night. Bush said the goal is to have 20,000 volunteers nationwide, and he would start by asking AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members to particpate. Friday the president was expected to ask governors to call up additional National Guard troops to beef up airport security for the holiday season. Attorney General John Ashcroft also announced a "wartime reorganization and mobilization" of the Justice Department to focus on anti-terrorism measures, including new regulations allowing federal agents to eavesdrop on attorney-client conversations involving terrorism suspects. Civil liberties groups and criminal defense lawyers condemned the eavesdropping rule, saying it eroded the constitutional right to counsel. Additional context can be found in our issue guides on America's Global Role and Crime, as well as our special edition on Terrorism.

[B-Chan]

In my opinion, a federal national civilian service is an excellent idea. One of my uncles was a member of the CCC (the Civilian Conservation Corps, created by FDR on 31 March 1933) and I’ve never heard him say anything negative about the experience. The program was good for the people (it helped feed the family!) good for the country (many of the lakes, parks, roads, and campsites built and/or improved by the CCC are still in use today) and good for the world (many CCC veterans fought in World War II).

I’m too old (at 38!) for any form military service (believe me, I’ve tried). A Civilian Reserve Corps would allow those of us over military service age to do something for our country in this time of war.

I’m not a supporter of General Clark — but I think this idea is worthy of support, and I look forward to hearing more about it.

[Frank_Discussion]

I do think the validity of the suggestion is dependent on the source to some degree. Clark can't seem to keep his opinions (or facts) straight from one day until the next. He is receiving direction from elsewhere, it seems clear to me.

Sure, he's proposing it for defense NOW. What happens when he actually impliments it? I say we NEVER let him get the chance to try.

The nightmare in my head is that somehow, someway, this insane S.O.B. does get elected. Truth being stranger than fiction and all...

[oyez]

Beat you to it, Wes. Since Arkansas dosen't have a state guard, Gen Clark could organize one, rather than waste his time with that presidentual fantasy.

[oyez]

If your intrested you can check this out. http://home.att.net/~dcannon.tenn/TNSG.html

I'm sure Texas has a similar organization.

[finnman69]

Why have just one bureaucratic expense when you can have two!

[Pest]

I do think the validity of the suggestion is dependent on the source to some degree.

My point exactly. Why is it that people can't seperate the idea from the person? Instead whenever any dem or liberal comes up with an idea, even if it's good, they get slammed. The same is true on the dem side. Partisanship at its best.

Don't get me wrong, I don't support Clark, especially since he's just a shill for the Clintons, whom I despise.

[Frank_Discussion]

"Partisanship at its best."

You're missing my point. I don't care what party he's from. Heck, for that matter, he is seemingly picking sides with the Democrats as a contrivance. If he thought being in the Communist Part or Libertarian would give him an opportunistic edge he'd buddy up with them. He has no loyalty, and it selfish WAAY beyond a fault.

What does Clark, the Man, really envision with his little civvie corps? Does he even have a real idea, or is it just another half-baked illusory opinion like a number of others, served up as a placeholder for real thoughts?

Or did someone pull the string in his back to make him talk?

It's not a party issue.

[Pest]

I got your point. I'm sorry if it seemed like my comment was directed at you. I was directing it at the other Freepers who have the kneejerk reaction of "Stupid Idea".

I really think that Clark is trying to be everything to everybody. It's pretty transparent. However, I think he will pull in some votes from the moderates. It may be a good bet to get the nomination.

I don't think he can beat President Bush on defense though. He would be better off with more domestic issues, but that's not his baliwick.

[Frank_Discussion]

No need to apologize. I'm just getting a daily and growning creepy feeling about Herr Mr. Clark, so when he proposes something like this my alarm bells go off.

And, seemingly, my skin gets a little thinner. ;-)

[Destro]

My thoughts exactly--sort of the like the Kosovo Protection Force Clark created in Kosovo.