The draft as a deterrent: David Hackworth believes most Americans too disconnected from war

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | Col. David Hackworth

[Robert DeLong]

David Hackworth is rapidly losing credibility. I agreed with him totally concerning Kosovo, but he is way of base on Iraq.

[Robert DeLong]

David Hackworth is rapidly losing credibility. I agreed with him totally concerning Kosovo, but he is way off base on Iraq.

[BlueLancer]

Poor Hack ... dead, but won't lay down.

His military thinking has never progressed beyond his knowledge of Vietnam. In his mind, we're always in the depths of the jungle, unwilling soldiers led by unqualified officers for an ungrateful country. I never want to go back trying to herd unwilling draftees around, attempting to find a way to motivate someone who doesn't want to be there and is making it as hard as he can on his sergeants and officers to get the mission accomplished.

I would rather trust Napoleon's Maxims of Combat or the readings of Tacitus before I'd listen to Hackworth and his opinions of military science. He's beginning to sound like the lunatic senile aunt you keep locked in the attic because she doesn't understand and can't survive in the real, modern world.

[CatoRenasci]

Hackworth was a very brave soldier, and as a voice of the grunts during the Clinton era of disrespect and neglect, he was very important for the country.

He fails to understand, however, that the draft is only important when you need a levee en masse, a huge army to fight a war of nations against an adversary who is similarly organized. The classic examples are the Napoleonic wars, the Franco-Prussian War, the first and second World Wars.

For wars on the periphery of civilization -- which surely the Middle East and Southwest Asia are -- you need professional troops, as we have today.

I think Hackworth is right, that there is not enough of a social and economic cross section of the country in the military today, but I would solve that by making voting or other privileges available only to veterans, rather than coercing everyone to serve when they are not needed.

[steve-b]

a disproportionate number from the poor and from minority groups

This claim has been shot down so often and so thoroughly that anyone who still repeats it now should be dismissed as a liar.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

AWARDS & DECORATIONS
COLONEL DAVID H. HACKWORTH
(U.S. ARMY, RETIRED)

Individual Decorations & Service Medals:

Distinguished Service Cross (with one Oak Leaf Cluster)
Silver Star (with nine Oak Leaf Clusters)
Legion of Merit (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal (with "V" Device & seven Oak Leaf Clusters)(Seven of the awards for heroism)
Purple Heart (with seven Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with "V" Device & Numeral 34)(One for heroism and 33 for aerial achievement)
Army Commendation Medal (w/ "V" Device & 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany and Japan Clasps)
National Defense Service Medal (with one Bronze Service Star)
Korean Service Medal (with Service Stars for eight campaigns)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (2 Silver Service Stars = 10 campaigns)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Unit Awards:

Presidential Unit Citation (with one Oak Leaf Cluster)
Valorous Unit Award (with one Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Badges & Tabs:

Combat Infantryman Badge (w/ one Star; representing 2 awards)
Master Parachutist Badge
Army General Staff Identification Badge
Foreign Awards:

United Nations Service Medal (Korea)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with two Gold Stars)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with two Silver Stars)
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (1st Class)
Vietnam Staff Service Medal (1st Class)
Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, 2d Class
Vietnam Parachutist Badge (Master Level)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (with three Palm oak leaf clusters)
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation (with one Palm oak leaf cluster)
World War II Merchant Marine Awards:

Pacific War Zone Bar
Victory Medal

Until you can measure up to Hack, I suggest you pipe down.

J

[TominPA]

Hack use to speak with his heart and mind, now he speaks with his a$$. The draft is NOT the answer. Going into combat I want the guy next to me to be as motivated to fight, survive, and win as I am. I want their skills at least as good as mine if not better. We, as a unit, have to belive in what we are doing and WANT to be there. Give me professional soldiers who are doing what they want to do and belive in, guys who will watch each others back, in whom you know you can count on when things get hairy. Let "draftees" load the ships or whatever but keep them out of my unit.

Just my opinion, but after 24 years in uniform perhaps I have a slight understanding of the issue.

[DLfromthedesert]

My son did not have to join the Arm 10 years ago. But he did because he counsciously chose to.

He's a better person today because of that choice. Those who serve are there because they choose to serve, regardless of their circumstances.

We do NOT need a draft; our military is doing very well without one, thankyouverymuch.

[BlueLancer]

VARMINT CONG ALERT!!!
Democraticium Surrender-Monkeyus subspecies

[BlueLancer]

" Draftees are trained the same way as volunteers. While they for the most part don't remain as career soldiers and don't get additional advanced training in their field, the grunts up front in harms way ALL have the SAME training."

Piffle ... even if they have the same training, it's a matter of desire, interest, and will. Trying to get unwilling draftees to learn anything is like herding cats from one end of the barn to the other. You spend most of your time in fruitless exercises of cajoling, threatening, and use of judicial and non-judicial punishment to get them to do what they're supposed to do, be where they're supposed to be, and learn what they need to learn. They don't want to be there, and they're darn eager and willing to ensure that everyone knows it.

Obviously, your "veteran" status didn't include having anything to do with draftees or being able to tell the difference between a willing recruit and a surly, obstinate, unwilling draftee.

[429CJ]

Well Prester, I served, in Viet Nam and I have a son who is 18 years old and is considering joining the Navy. So does that give me the right to comment?

If it does then I say God bless Bush, Chaney, and Ashcroft.

By the way, someone having not served in the military does not take away their right to express their opinion on this war any more than someone not ever being a drug addict being unable to condemm drug usage.

[Mad Dawgg]

You all can participate in Hack's cult of personality if you wish but ny respect for him has been dwindling at a steady rate for a couple of years now.

The last straws were his signing of the anti-war petition and his revelation that the chem/bio suits had flaws. I am glad he is working for the common soldier but his revelation and constant harping on the case smacks more of self promotion and as a consequence has given our enemies valuable info on a weakness in our bio gear.

Bad move to go public with such when we are in a war preparation footing! No, you may all worship at the altar of Hack but count me out!

[Mad Dawgg]

"What did you think about the premise of the story? Did you serve your country too?

I think his premise is screwed up at best! Myself I like the heinlein model of military service. Nope, I did not serve in the military.

[steve-b]

Draftees are trained the same way as volunteers. While they for the most part don't remain as career soldiers and don't get additional advanced training in their field

It's traditional to insert some padding between mutually exclusive assertions.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

Nope, I did not serve in the military.

Ah, the voice of inexperience. Another internet nobody steps up to dis a highly decorated vet. Very Clintonian!

*plonk*

J

[Mad Dawgg]

"Another internet nobody steps up to dis a highly decorated vet."

Sorry not intimidated by your comments in the least I call'em as I see em and "Hack" has left the reservation and he did so many moons ago.

[el_texicano]

"I agreed with him totally concerning Kosovo"

He may be right concerning Kosovo, but one should remember that even a stopped clock is right twice in a day. This Hackworth is just that a Hack. In my opinion, he is a pathetic individual who is good at debating, but his concepts are completely, as you say, "off base". The man is not worthy of the attention that he gets.

And he gets that attention solely because of his leftist viewpoints. He comes across to me as a pathetic loser, a disgusting opportunist.

Let the cat bury him.