First Order of Business for Democrats: The Draft

The American Thinker ^ | November 10th, 2006 | Ray Robison

[neverdem]

On January 8th of 2003, Congressman Charles Rangel [D-NY] began an extensive campaign to bring back the military draft. He repeatedly submitted legislative bills to begin a military draft and compel all American men and women up to the age of forty-two to serve two years of military service. Under the Republican-controlled Congress, such bills went down to defeat.

One of the few notable supporters of the draft was Congressman John Murtha [D-PA]. Congressman Murtha reportedly is preparing to campaign to take over the highly influential position of House Majority Leader. Congressman Rangel is set to take over the House Ways and Means Committee. Two proponents of a military draft will most likely take over two key leadership positions in the new Democrat-contolled House. Surely they were not lying to America when they proposed a draft? They would not make such a serious proposal for a mere political cheap shot, would they?

As recently as last February of 2006, Rangel once again introduced draft legislation. In a press release he stated,

“Every day that the military option is on the table, as declared by the President in his State of the Union address, in Iran, North Korea, and Syria, reinstatement of the military draft is an option that must also be considered, whether we like it or not,” Congressman Rangel said. “If the military is already having trouble getting the recruits they need, what can we do to fill the ranks if the war spreads from Iraq to other countries? We may have no other choice but a draft.”

Congressman Rangel says that the requirements of continued war in Iraq would necessitate a draft. Thus it is important to determine whether the new democrat controlled congress will continue the fighting or change course and withdraw US forces from Iraq.

Now that the Democrats are in control of the House and the Senate, a review of their previous policy decisions on the Iraq war will be an important indicator of  where the new Democrat Congressional leadership will take the direction of the war. Despite many promises among Democratic incumbents and Democrats to disengage in Iraq, in June of 2006 Senate Democrats overwhelmingly rejected a bill to lay a time table for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The bill was written by Senator Kerry with only six Democrats voting for the withdrawal. It should also be noted that nearly half of the Congressional Democrats voted for the war in 2002. In late 2005, many Democrats in the House voted against proposals for both an immediate withdrawal and a time table. Considering recent history, the Democrats are unlikely to take a position of disengagement.

As such, it is possible that Congressman Rangel’s latest draft proposal will come up for consideration in the House. With Murtha riding heard over the Democrats, he may well push them to approve Rangel’s draft legislation submitted earlier this year. Rangel and Murtha both served in the military at time of war in Korea and Vietnam respectively. The draft was in effect at the time each man was in the military. Both have called for it publicly or submitted legislation. How long can it be until they get what they asked for now that they are in charge of the House?

According to a press release from the new Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) we can expect an escalation in fighting in Afghanistan. Congresswoman Pelosi said in a press release just a few weeks ago,

 “President Bush’s failure to finish the job against terrorism in Afghanistan before launching his ill-advised invasion of Iraq has made the lives of the Afghan people more difficult and the American people less safe.  The war against terrorism is in Afghanistan, and unless the President makes winning that war an immediate priority, the risks to the security of the United States will continue to grow.”

Clearly the new Speaker intends to increase troop strength in Afghanistan. She should find support in senior Senator John Kerry (D-MA) who stated in September of 2006,

“When did denying al-Qaida a terrorist stronghold in Afghanistan stop being an urgent American priority?” Kerry said. “How is it possible that we keep sending thousands of additional U.S. troops into the middle of a civil war in Iraq but we can’t find any more troops to send to Afghanistan?”

Since no Republican voted for the draft when it was submitted previously it is likely President Bush will veto the measure the next time it comes up for a vote. It does not seem likely that the Democrats will be able to overcome a veto despite the calls to expand the war in Afghanistan and refusals to approve withdrawal from Iraq.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Democrats will bring to the table now what they called for under a Republican Congress.

Ray Robison is the proprietor of Ray Robison: Pointing Out the Obvious to the Oblivious, and an occasional contributor to American Thinker.

Ray Robison

[ghostkatz]

Hard to believe "they" (Dems) are supporting a draft. But think about it...re-institute the draft, call up our able-bodied soldier material, send them into harms way, withdraw support, condemn them to cetain defeat (King David manuever)then there will not be anyone or any national will to stand against us becoming part of the UNs global village, relenqusihing our sovereignty. Fait Accompli!!!
People have very limited memories and history training...the Dems got us into Viet Nam, LBJ escalated the body bag count, then horrible evil Tricky Dicky Nixon, a vile Republican got us out of Viet Nam. With all this we now have Jimmy Carter hugging Panamanian dictators, Columbia requesting Michael Moore, Oliver Stone, & Denzel Washington to come down there and brokerage hostage releases and "peace" Humans have truly gone insane. (PS- UN listed USA at about #8 on list of places good to live..Norway and Iceland were at top...UN hates us)I am rambling...Lord, help me...I am on my way to becoming Soylent Green.

[unixfox]

Well, the Dems reinstating the draft will certainly get them a lot of votes in 08.

Especially from the young bucks that voted em in. Good luck with all that fellas.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Why the HELL does Anybody "want" the draft?

I know Rangel is a racist, liberal, socialist who HATES America and despises the military, but WHY does he want to bring back the draft?

Does he really think the military "wants" it? Or does he want everybody else to despise the military by forcing people to be threatened with the draft?

[Brian Allen]

<< I don't believe in the draft, but I would suppport some type of national service for all young adults. >>

That's intelligent.

The draft (a form of slavery and thus the appropriate and logical imposition of a "Democrat" controlled Congress) IS some type of national service for all young adults.

[yellowdoghunter]

One suggestion I might make is that any service obligation (not military of course) be part of the requirements for graduation from high school (as it was at the high school my kids graduated from). In that case you are not delaying someone's dreams and aspirations.

Now that is a great idea and could also apply to college. Instead of taking Art appreciation and other classes that I found to be a waste of my time and money, I could volunteer in places that needed my help and still receive credit for it. (Please know that I realize not everyone considers art appreciation to be a waste of time, that is just my opinion.)

[Prov3456]

Switzerland has (or at least, used to have) a 2-year mandatory military service requirement for all males. They haven't been in too many wars that I recall, but the military service helps discipline, train, raise young men into better adults.

Food for thought: some sort of national service might be OK here as well, if it results in responsible adults who know how to behave like adults.

[HitmanLV]

Everything you say is true, but hasn't much to do with what I said.

I have felt for a while, and said so on FR, that things would almost have to get better before they got worse. That's been clear since much of the nation lost it's confidence in the run-up to the campaign in Iraq in 2003. It was clear then that too many Americans just can't stomach it.

They will, when they have no choice left.

I suggest you relax and have some confidence. There are 200+ GOP House members, 49 GOP Senators, and a president who will make the case for a while.

Civilization will not end in the next 24 months. It may get bruised. It may get battered. It may take a severe hit (or two, or more). But it won't end.

[Hendrix]

We needed the draft in WWI and WWII. We don't need one now unless we get in a major war again.

Another reason the left says we need a draft is because they say only poor people volunteer and the rich get off scott free. However, the same thing happened when we had a draft (the rich had ways to avoid it). Plus, only the so called poor (or at least not the rich) work in a lot dangerous jobs (firefighter, police, iron workers, etc.), but does that mean we should make the so called rich volunteer for those jobs too? It is more crazy left ideas.

[bill1952]

Its a Robert Heinlein quote.

[TET1968]

A Veterans Day Dedication to John Kerry and the Democratic Party

Bagpipes Crying-Rushlow Harris


Tumbled across an old green box in my granddaddy's house
Inside was a cross, some old dog tags, and a picture of when he was shipping out.
So I showed it to him, said "tell me about those days"
When he looked inside, he closed his eyes all he could say was:

"I hear bagpipes cryin' Amazing Grace, Omaha Beach and her crashing waves.
Old Glory draped like Heaven's mercy over the fallen sons.
I see all the heroes who were willing to fight in the name of freedom layin' down their lives.
And prayin' God's grace would keep us safe from harm, until they brought us boys back home."

Those words to a boy that became a man now I'm ankle deep in this Persian sand.
And every day I'm giving all I can because I'm damn proud to be American
Yeah, I made some friends, and I've lost some too
When I think about what they gave for me and you

I hear bagpipes cryin' Amazing Grace, tears rolling down a mother's face.
Old Glory draped like Heaven's mercy over the fallen sons.
I see all the heroes who are willing to fight in the name of freedom layin' down their lives.
And prayin' God's grace would keep us safe from harm, until they bring us boys back home

I hear bagpipes cryin' Amazing Grace, tears rolling down a mother's face.
Old Glory draped like Heaven's mercy over the fallen sons.
I see all the heroes who are willing to fight in the name of freedom layin' down their lives.
And prayin' God's grace would keep you safe from harm, until they bring you boys back home
'till they bring you boys back home, till they bring you boys back home.

[Cementjungle]

It was a ploy.

Exactly. The Dems are going to reduce our military, not expand it.

[Night Hides Not]

Loser had to buy the beer.

How sooooooo politically incorrect of you! LOL!

Thanks for your service...enjoy your day tomorrow.

I'll never forget my Towed Vulcan platoon (ADA) back in '78. 3 of my 4 squad leaders were acting-jacks, and I'll swear the average age of my platoon was 19, if you exclude my 35 YO Plt Sgt. Seemed like I got more than my share of the "problem children", too.

They were green, but they busted their tails off for me, and we whipped the other platoons during tac evals and ARTEPs.

[chilepepper]

if the draft is reinstated under Bush's watch, the GOP will be blamed.

the draft is poison, but if we are about to mix it up with Iran/Korea/etc, perhaps not that bad an idea.

[straps]

dont believe it 99 percent of the usmc are reenlisting 100 percent of the usaf is also army also.

Understand its not the military that has cold feet its the lets play nice folks who are crying this drivelllllll

[meyer]

Please know that I agree. I am against a draft or anything like that. I just do think that some sort of two-year service would be a good thing for young people. Not necessarily in a war-zone, but doing something to give back to the country.

I am firmly against any mandatory government servitude. I serve my country every 2 weeks when they extract several hundred dollars out of my paycheck. Besides, I won't (and I don't expect others to) serve for liberals.

The only time I might accept a draft is in a time of extreme military need. But then, if the country were in such a conflict as World War II, I suspect that there'd be many volunteers.

[Hendrix]

"Increasing the size of the Army would have been nice too!"

Yes, that is a great idea. We take lots of people out of productive jobs that add to our GNP and put them in the army to work for the government, which does not produce anything. We will really have a strong economy with that idea.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

The problem is that, as long as Democrats are allowed to run around loose, America cannot win a war. In the end, they will always seek to sabotage the war effort. Until they are permanently excised from the American body politic, we will always lose.

[Cheburashka]

I don't believe in the draft, but I would suppport some type of national service for all young adults.
---
Really? So you want the government to impose another tax? That's all that "national service" is, a tax measured as imposed servitude to the government for young people.

Of course that's just the start. The lefties will be hard at work thinking up additional imposed servitudes for "free" people.

And gee, I'm just sure that the labor from this imposed servitude will be used to promote conservative causes, aren't you?

[Lil'freeper]

Or does he want everybody else to despise the military by forcing people to be threatened with the draft?

yes.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

dont believe it 99 percent of the usmc are reenlisting 100 percent of the usaf is also army also.

Those figures are from before the election.

All that I described started happening AFTER the election.