WE MAY NEED DRAFT FOR IRAQ: GOPER

New York Post ^ | 4/21/04 | Niles Lathem

[kattracks]

April 21, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - A senator said yesterday that the United States might have to reinstate the military draft to cope with the shortage of soldiers in strife-torn Iraq.

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) told a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the burden of military service is being borne by the middle and lower-middle classes. "Why shouldn't we ask all our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?" Hagel asked.

[MNJohnnie]

Senator Hagel is a stooge of the DNC "News media" He gets lots of face time by spewing forth the DNC line so the press can show "discord" in the Republican Leadership. With Recruitment and retention at RECORD levels there is NO desire, nor need, in the Military for a draft. Hagel is a moron and his constituents should be bombarding him with calls today to sit down and shut up or resign his seat.

For the facts, check this link

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_numbers_041404,00.html

[Iris7]

"Why shouldn't we ask all our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?"

Actually, I rather like that. Make a draft where a twenty year old male citizen is equally likely to be called up as a 58 year old Viet Nam war veteran, like myself, and women likewise, and most importantly, Senators and Congressmen, rich and poor, powerful and influential, and those who are neither. Mons, Dads, the young (well, I would not draft younger than 15 years old, personally), the old, Granddads and Grandmas. Draft all citizens equally, no discrimination based on age, sex, or social position.

[Russian Sage]

Why don't we just draft Iraqis?

[Ichneumon]

"Why shouldn't we ask all our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?" Hagel asked.

We do ask all our citizens. And many answer the call. That's what the all-volunteer military is all about.

[churchillbuff]

"Why shouldn't we ask all our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?" Hagel asked.

A draft is fine by me,, as long as the young men in the Bush family - - George P., the young lawyer son of Jeb, and Billy, the ET correspondent son of Marvin - - aren't exempted from the draft. Maybe Bush's daughters, too. Why should Jessica Lynch go and risk her life, but not the two party girls?

Supposedly this Iraq war is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for our security. I don't believe that, but Bush says it's so - - if it's really that important, why are the Bush young-uns sitting it out?

[BigSkyFreeper]

He's probably the Republican Charlie Rangel mentioned shortly after the Iraq war started in a presser that the draft was needed. To put a timeframe of this press conference, this presser occurred coincidentally the afternoon of the day he was scheduled to make an appearance on H&C where he stated that U.S. soldiers were assassins.

[churchillbuff]

Doesn't it make you proud to be an American that not a single son of a member of Congress or the Bush cabinet is serving in uniform? (Actually, there may be one son of a congressman or senator - ironically, I think the dad's a Democrat from one of the Dakotas!) But the war is ESSENTIAL for American security, don't you know - - - that's why all the kids of our leaders aren't fighting in it ! ? ! (A far cry from World War II, when sons of FDR were in uniform, or WW I, when Teddy Roosevelt lost a son to hostile fire)

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Senator Hagel is a stooge of the DNC "News media" He gets lots of face time by spewing forth the DNC line so the press can show "discord" in the Republican Leadership. With Recruitment and retention at RECORD levels there is NO desire, nor need, in the Military for a draft. Hagel is a moron and his constituents should be bombarding him with calls today to sit down and shut up or resign his seat.

Bingo! You just nailed it. Hagel not only supported McCain in 2000, he's a McCinsane wannabe. He lives for the spotlight that his idol has, and will say anything he has to to get it.

[dwilli]

We don't have the rested forces to do a scheduled rotation
of duty in country Iraq.

Any other suggestions where we might find the manpower?

[namvetmc68]

its gonna be a cold day in hell before they make my son go over there, and ill do what ever it takes legally to stop any scalawag pollution that wants to mention that draft word. people are gonna just roll over like always and go with the herd is what am afraid of, mabey they should take away your crispy creams, then see what happens

[namvetmc68]

where is your iris, because i know you cant see anything past the the back of the person your following in the herd.

[ZULU]

One of Nixon's worst decisions was to eliminate the draft.

Military service service be mandated for all citizens in a free Republic. War is the normal state of international politics - alwyas was and always will be.

The U.S. should have enough troops on the ground in Iraq to totally overwhelm any resistance there. The involvement by Iran and Syria in what is going on there is apparent to all but the most blind observers and military action against those two states is ineveitable if Iraq ever succeeds in establishing a free government. Such a polity in the Middle East will be a standing threat to the dictatorial regimes which abound there and should military support in overwhelming numbers not be forthcoming from the U.S., as soon as we leave, Iran, Syria, and even Saudi Arabia and Egypt will collude in destroying any progress we may have made in drawing the Middle East into the 21st century.

Such an activity will require troops, lots of them.

We are at war with an international confederation of Islamic fanatics whose goal is to overturn western democracy everwhere and establish the kind of oppressive regimes we currently see almost everywhere an Islamic nation exists.

[JonH]

Possible options would include reduction of our troop strength in Europe including Bosnia (let the EU do it!) and Germany as well as the Far East.

While some training would probably be necessary, we have a lot of personnel sprinkled around the globe.

[expatguy]

Why don't we just draft Iraqis?

Because they won't fight.

[Dave Elias]

Trouble is that we train them and they swap sides.

[mtntop3]

Those who have served in the Iraq war may well form the nexus from which many future leaders will come, including those in high political posts such as Congress and future Administrations. My wife and I have met a significiant number of those currently serving in the volunteer force; you could not find a better group of dedicated, professional, patriotic, outstanding men and women. Most come from middle-class America. This is a more educated, better trained, specialized, armed force. Assertions a la Rangel that that they are primarily from the lower strata of society are factually wrong; they are primarily from the middle class - and the strata of America that believes in America.

[stljoe71]

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

I don't see alot of wiggle room there but I am sure the scotus could come up with some compelling government interest argument explaining why the constitution doesn't apply

[A. Pole]

A draft is fine by me,, as long as the young men in the Bush family - - George P., the young lawyer son of Jeb, and Billy, the ET correspondent son of Marvin - - aren't exempted from the draft. Maybe Bush's daughters, too. Why should Jessica Lynch go and risk her life, but not the two party girls? Supposedly this Iraq war is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for our security. I don't believe that, but Bush says it's so - - if it's really that important, why are the Bush young-uns sitting it out?

And do not forget Paul Wolfowitz. He is a great patriot and I am sure he cannot wait to send his son and two daughters to fight for the country!

[Capt_Hank]

You hit the nail on the head. Remember all of the young guys riding around Saigon, while the Army was full steam ahead with the draft here. Also, by law, even "illegal aliens" of draft age are required to register with the Selective Service. I'm sure they are complying with the rule. In boot camp, there was a cadence call, "Jody, has your girl and gone". Now it will be, "Jose has your girl and gone."

I can see a true revolution on the horizon.