Posted on 08/08/2004 5:48:24 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
There is no serious effort afoot to restore the draft, contrary to rumors circulating on the Internet. One Web site, bushdraft.com, claims to have "absolute proof that (President) Bush is making plans to reinstate the draft by the middle of 2005."
Like most rumors, these contain enough kernels of fact to sustain, if not a feeding frenzy, then a platter of tantalizing hors d'oeuvres for conspiracy enthusiasts:
Draft boards are indeed being maintained, but they have been routinely funded by Congress all along. The just-approved appropriation increases the previous year's spending on Selective Service by less than 1 percent.
Upon reaching their 18th birthday, American males are required to register with Selective Service.
Pending in subcommittee is a measure sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., that would reinstate mandatory service. It includes women. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C.
But virtually no one in Washington, including the bills' sponsors, gives them even a remote chance of becoming law.
Neither Bush nor Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry supports restoring the draft. Most members of the Senate and House have announced their opposition.
A pending defense authorization bill includes a proposal to increase the size of the Army by 30,000 and the Marine Corps by 9,000. Even if that provision is approved, there will be no need to reimpose the draft to fill the new slots.
The Pentagon also has voiced opposition to the draft. In a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Department of Defense General Counsel William J. Haynes Jr. wrote that the all-volunteer force has proven to be "more combat-effective and cost-efficient than a conscripted force."
"In general,volunteers are more motivated than draftees, resulting in greater personnel retention and unit stability," Haynes wrote. "Volunteers yield a more experienced and productive military force."
Perhaps the highest hurdle to resuming the draft is the certain knowledge that such a move would be lousy politics. Last fall, a Gallup poll conducted for CNN and USA Today concluded that 81 percent of Americans oppose a return to conscription, and 17 percent support the idea.
Nonetheless, a persistent minority continues to push for resumption of the draft in some form. Rangel and other supporters contend that the current system is inherently unfair, relying upon volunteers of lower socioeconomic standing while members of the privileged classes avoid being placed in harm's way.
Opponents of the draft argue that it was never fairly applied, that it always ensnared young men of modest means in disproportionate numbers while their wealthier contemporaries [including former President Bill Clinton] were able to work the system for deferments or exemptions. A draft "lottery" begun during the Vietnam War did little to correct the inequities.
Draft advocates also argue that existing forces have been stretched too thin by the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some critics say extended tours of duty in combat zones and frequent call-ups of Reserve and National Guard troops have hurt morale.
"That's why we have a Guard and Reserve - for times of need," said Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford, an opponent of resuming the draft. "Reserves should know they are subject to the call when the nation needs them."
More important to recruitment and retention, Boehlert said, is providing adequate pay and benefits for men and women in uniform.
I'm active duty, and not as many people would leave due to Kerry as would leave under Hillary. When her husband came in, a lot of officers handed in their comissions. My OIC told me that if Hillary ever became president, he would hand in his resignation and leave the country. He was serious! He also said the only good thing about a Kerry presidency is that Hillary would probably never be president.
Regarding a draft, it'll newver happen. Draftees will destroy the preformance of the volunteer corps, among other things.
"Bush, Rove and Ashcroft stopped the Border Patrol from doing interior sweeps for illegal aliens.
Think they'd also prevent the Selective Service from running illegal alien, 'draft dodgers' to ground?
A 'draft' might be just what the doctor ordered to motivate a large portion of the illegal aliens to deport themselves.
Yes or no?"
-- Only after we find out that the next terror attack perpetrator came through Nogales, AZ...
"Your friend is a partisan idiot (politically)! Sorry for the harshness (I speak only of his political comprehension), but his thoughts are so uninformed.
The REAL UNWASHED TRUTH AS TO WHY THE DRAFT WILL NEVER BE REINSTAED IS... The Military does not want to have to try to train, and then promptly fail, mass numbers of draftees. Their budgets are stretched thin already. This would become very EXPENSIVE.
Today's volunteers KNOW what they want, are HIGHLY motivated, technologically savvy, and quickly trained into an effective combat force. THEY WANT TO BE IN THE MILITARY. THEY GET IT!!! Reference the Army's re-enlistment numbers beating expectations, in figures released last Thursday.
If a draft were reinstated, 50% of the dregs of society would fail, after an attempt at training. Lawsuits would be filed to lower the entrance requirements, when a huge number of worthless, spineless, liberal, moore-loving, Bush hating slime devils failed... after blaming the "current rules" for their own shortcomings. This is the "primordial soup" that is the building block of the dim party.
Of course, the Military says the same thing in a much more PC way of wording. The bottom line remains the same.
LLS"
--- Exactly. In fact, I'm in the Air Force, and we're going to start turning people AWAY in 2005! What people don't realize is that the number of people wqho get out due to the high ops tempo of war is replaced by the surge in patriotism due to the war.
We have absolutely NO national interest in Kosovo, Korea, Germany or other "peacekeeping" efforts. Bring them back or re-deploy them elsewhere.
"We have absolutely NO national interest in Kosovo, Korea, Germany or other "peacekeeping" efforts. Bring them back or re-deploy them elsewhere".
I agree with you on the first three. Hmmmmm, Rummy announced we are going to pull some of our troops from both Korea and Germany, and deploy to Iraq, and other "more strategic" locations.
We have a lot of troops killing Haji's, in a lot of places around the world. If the deployment is part of the WOT, or to kill Haji, I am all for it!
LLS
more info:
(some excerpts from the Selective Service System website http://www.sss.gov:
-What is Selective Service registration?
Registration is a way our government keeps a list of names of men from which to draw in case of a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of our Armed Forces. By registering all young men, the Selective Service ensures that a future draft will be fair and equitable.
-Where can I get a Selective Service registration form?
Forms are available at any U.S. post office. You can now register on-line.
-How can I register?
Men 18 through 25 years old can register by completing a form at the post office. Some high schools have a faculty or staff member who serves as a Selective Service Registrar. Most men turning 18 can also register by mail, if they receive a Selective Service form in the mail.
-Why do we need Selective Service if there may never be a draft?
As President Clinton informed Congress in 1994, "Maintaining the Selective Service System and draft registration provides a hedge against unforeseen threats and a relatively low cost 'insurance policy' against our underestimating the maximum level of threat we expect our Armed Forces to face."
-What is the penalty for not registering?
If you do not register, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $250,000 and/or be put in jail for up to five years. Registration is also a requirement to qualify for Federal student aid, job training benefits, and most Federal employment.
-Are illegal alien males required to register?
Yes. All immigrant alien males, other than those admitted on nonimmigrant visas, must register, whether or not they have a green card.
-When was registration reinstated?
President Jimmy Carter reinstated the Selective Service registration requirement in the summer of 1980.
(my note: if you do a search for Carter's 1980 State of the Union Address, you'll see that he WAS talking about a military draft! The draft didn't happen because Reagan did a massive buildup of special weapons; but the 1980 election may have been one of the only times 90% of the college kiddies and their parents voted against their liberal-cause professors)
So, a draft scare can really have a swing effect on an election.....so make certain the word gets out just who is rumoring the draft! Jesse Jackson, by the way, was on Hannity just last month explaining why a draft is needed! I posted the info to one college forum that I ran across and hope to find more places to post the info where those affected will take note.
Aside from the obvious facts that a draft is unneccessary and unwanted (The Navy currently has an early-out program for up to one year), even if it were to happen sometime in the future the military would have to dismantle their zero-tolerance drug policy.
All a draftee would have to do would be to light up a joint. Much easier than going to Canada was in the sixties.
You may want to amend your comment.
Congressmen introduce new military draft bill - Nation -
Nick Smith and Kurt Weldon - Brief Article
National Catholic Reporter, Feb 1, 2002 by Gill Donovan
Two members of Congress have introduced a bill into the House of Representatives that requires men between the ages of 18 and 22 to serve up to one year of military service.
The introduction of the bill comes despite President Bush's assurance in late September that no military draft is being considered (NCR, Oct 19, 2001).
The "Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001" was introduced by Nick Smith, R-Mich., and Kurt Weldon, R-Pa. It has been referred to the Armed Services Committee and may be brought before the current session of Congress.
Should the bill pass, it would require "the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered under the Military Selective Service Act," and authorize "young women to volunteer, to receive basic military training and education for a period of up to one year."
The basic military training would include instruction in military tactics, history classes and international relations.
Those who claim conscientious objector status "because of religious training and belief" may be judged exempt from the "combatant training component" of service, but would still have to take part in other required education training.
Briefs, gathered from news services, correspondents and staff, are compiled and edited by Gill Donovan.
COPYRIGHT 2002 National Catholic Reporter COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
Nick Smith is retiring, and will likely be replaced by RINO John Schwarz, for whom mclame campaigned - bigtime.
In the Senate everybody is a lone wolf, and Hegel gets his face time on front of the cameras. In point of fact, everyone knows its the left wing Democraps who are pushing a draft in order to eliminate War (ironic, but there you have it)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.