Posted on 11/19/2006 10:30:36 AM PST by Brilliant
A senior House Democrat said Sunday he will introduce legislation to reinstate the military draft, asserting that current troop levels are insufficient to sustain possible challenges against Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rep. Charles Rangel (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y.
Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose the measure early next year.
At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), a South Carolina Republican who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Standby Reserve, said he agreed that the U.S. does not have enough people in the military.
"I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. And if we can't, then we'll look for some other option," said Graham, who is assigned as a reserve judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
Rangel, incoming chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he worried the military was being strained by its overseas commitments.
"If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft," Rangel said.
He said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve. Instead, "young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it's our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals," with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.
Graham said he believes the all-voluntary military "represents the country pretty well in terms of ethnic makeup, economic background."
Repeated polls have shown that about seven in 10 Americans oppose reinstatement of the draft and officials say they do not expect to restart conscription.
Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Congress in June 2005 that "there isn't a chance in the world that the draft will be brought back."
Yet the prospect of the long global fight against terrorism and the continuing U.S. commitment to stabilizing Iraq have kept the idea in the public's mind.
The military drafted conscripts during the Civil War, both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. An agency independent of the Defense Department, the Selective Service System trains, keeps an updated registry of men age 18-25 — now about 16 million — from which to supply untrained draftees that would supplement the professional all-volunteer armed forces.
Rangel and Graham appeared on "Face the Nation" on CBS.
You mean it's not Scrappleface?
All I can say is the draft has been held constitutional.
It should be rightfully spun back at the DEM's that they want the draft because nobody will volunteer to serve while Democrats hold any power.
Wonder if they also defer payment on those student loans that most kids are saddled with after completing their degree? If an engineering student who's run up thousands of dollars of debt in student loans, and plans on a decent wage in order to pay off the student loans get's drafted, I don't think his military pay will cover his payback.
I am saying that if we have our youth spilling blood, that we better be trying to win the damn thing.
That's the quickest way to ensuring that the sex ratios at college go to women 100%, men 0%.
Pot --- meet kettle.
What a novel way to sidestep the real issue: is freedom "free"? Given a choice, would the weak of mind and spirit sidestep any obligation in that regard?
Let me think...
That will certainly endear the Liberals to the American people. Liberals will get dumped like a hot potato in 08. How to win friends and influence "no one." IMO, the next two years will give the American people a good look at Liberals and their philosophy of destroying the United States in one quick easy lesson. Jimmy Carter is a good example of Liberals destroying the economy and the military and basically sending us into the toilet bowl. These brainless, anti-American, anti-military, corrupt Liberal wackjobs can't hide what they are for long.
All that may happen now that it's five years too late. The draft should have been reinstated (including women) while Americans were still flying American flags on their cars.
Women, imo, would be used (drafted) for the same jobs, and in the same proportions, they are now performing in.
All this would be mute if we continue to get enough volunteers. But, I don't think that is going to last.
"HE IS OBSESSED.'
he has a certain objective that he must carry out to comply with what his handlers want of him.
his fellow democrats also have objectives with which they must comply, all the while saying that they are patriotic americans who love their country.
yes, he is obsessed. he is obsessed with what the party wants him to do....and it is not the democrat party. imho.
...which of course will be heavily taxed to pay for the war itself.
OK.
Here's the plan.
When I nod my head,...you hit it.
Got that?
I have a better idea: How about awarding voting rights and citizenship ONLY to those who have served their country? Heinlein had it right.
True.
Didn't he vote against his bill the last time?
"Didn't he vote against his bill the last time?"
Yes, and so did the rest of the House.
Yes, Charlie wanted it as a stick to beat the republicans with before the elections. The Republicans called his bluff and had a vote on it. That is when Charlie asked all the dems to vote against it because there was only limited debate about it.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rep. Charles Rangel (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y.
Note to Charlie ("I am an arrogant NYer - which is why I do not live in Mississippi") Rangel: You are so right. Because they would not have the professionalism and dedication of today's voluntary force. When you go to war, you want to go with the best - which is exactly what we have today.
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