Posted on 09/21/2004 3:40:42 PM PDT by tomnbeverly
From YubaNet.com
Columns Howard Dean | Hidden Agenda: A National Draft in the Future? Author: Howard Dean Published on Sep 20, 2004, 07:08
A key issue for young Americans and their families to consider as they prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming presidential election is the real likelihood of a military draft being reinstated if President Bush is re-elected. President Bush should tell us now whether he supports a military draft.
Here is the evidence that makes a draft likely:
The U.S. Army has acknowledged that they are stretched thin and that finding new recruits is challenging. They recently placed 300 new recruiters in the field. Bonuses for new recruits to the Army have risen by 67 percent to a maximum of $10,000 and $15,000 for hard-to-fill specialties.
The extended tours of duty have made service less attractive for both the regular armed forces, and particularly for the National Guard and Reserves. To meet this year's quota for enlistees, the Army has sped up the induction of "delayed entry" recruits, meaning they are already borrowing from next year's quotas in order to meet this year's numbers.
Reservists are now being called away for longer periods. In 2003, President Bush dramatically extended the length of time for the Guard and Reserves deployment in Iraq. Extended tours of up to a year have become common.
In a further sign of a lack of adequate staffing, the armed forces are now in the process of calling up members of the Individual Ready Reserves. These are often older reservists usually waiting retirement. They are typically in their mid-to-late forties, and have not been on active duty and have not trained for some time. Traditionally, they are only supposed to be called up during a time of national emergency. In 2001, President Bush authorized their call up but never rescinded this order even after he declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq in May of 2003.
The Armed Forces are already chronically understaffed. In 2003, General Eric Shinseki testified before Congress that an additional 50,000 troops would be needed beyond what the Bush administration said would be necessary to stabilize Iraq after the invasion. The President ignored him. We do not have enough troops in Afghanistan to be able to stabilize the country, as shown by the continual putting off of elections well past their announced date. In an effort to free up yet more troops in the coming years, we are moving troops away from the Demilitarized Zone in Korea and reducing the number of troops on the Korean Peninsula at a time when North Korea poses more of a danger to the U.S. - not less. Because of the President's military adventurism, our Armed Forces are under enormous pressure. The only place to go for more troops is a draft.
Selective service boards have already been notified that 20-year-olds and medical personnel will be called up first.
President Bush will be forced to decide whether we can continue the current course in Iraq, which will clearly require the reinstatement of the draft. The Pentagon has objected to a draft but, the President has ignored other Pentagon recommendations in the past.
American families and young people are owed an explanation about the President's plans. Will the President withdraw from some of our military commitments or will he reinstate the draft? We need to know that before we vote, not afterwards.
Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, is the founder of Democracy for America, a grassroots organization that supports socially progressive and fiscally responsible political candidates. Email Howard Dean at howarddean@democracyforamerica.com
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One of the reasons I - a conservative Republican - have concerns that a draft could be coming is that neocons like yourself demean people who are opposed to a draft, as "cowardly." That tells me you support a draft - because you suggest that to oppose it is wrong and reprehensible and "cowardly." Draft - good. opposition to draft - cowardly. That's the implication of your statement. Do you consider Cheney a "coward" for not accepting a draft during Vietnam? I'm not dumping on Cheney - I'm dumping on you. And I'm expressing a real worry that - especially if we're considering further invasions in the Middle East (Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia) - it's hard to see how it can happen without a draft.
What were his words? I know he's said a draft "isn't needed" -- but that's not the same thing as opposing it on principle. to people who hear neocons talking about further invasions in the Middle East, an assurance that the draft "isn't needed", can mean, "isn't needed - yet."
Good to hear from you again, friend.
I think we've had this discussion before, haven't we?
I don't think everyone who opposes a draft is cowardly -- sorry if I gave you that impression. Heck, I oppose the draft and almost everyone else I know in the military is opposed, so it wouldn't make sense for me to think that everyone is a coward who opposes the draft. Can we agree that this isn't my opinion?
On the other hand, I think you and I can agree that there are those who oppose a draft because the put their personal fears ahead of the public good. Those are the people I was referring to. And I'm sure there are those who oppose a draft for other reasons also. Maybe that's the category you fall into. The draft is such a bad idea there are plenty of reasons to oppose it.
As for calling me a "neocon," I'm not real sure what that is so I guess I'll take it as a compliment!
Bush opposes draft
Both Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have repeatedly said they oppose a draft.
"We don't need the draft," Bush told a campaign audience in Florida last month. "I'll tell you one way you make (the all-volunteer Army) work. I just signed a defense appropriations bill, which is the fourth year in a row in which we've raised the pay of those who wear our uniform, and the pay's getting better. And the housing is getting better."
“This country does not need a draft,” Rumsfeld told an Army sergeant who’d just returned from Iraq and asked about the draft at a town hall meeting in Fort Bliss, Texas on Aug. 23.
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