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

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

[JohnHuang2]

If today's U.S. armed forces could count draftee airmen, sailors, soldiers and Marines among those who will soon be doing the dying during our second go at Saddam Hussein, you can bet good money that more American parents and grandparents would have been asking hard questions of their Washington pols long before the drumbeat of war became headline news. Important questions such as:

• Is this war really necessary?

• What national security threat does Iraq pose to the United States?

• Why can't we – with a united world behind us – disarm Iraq without war?

• Why the unilateral intervention?

• What are the projected costs and casualties, and is there an exit plan?

But at long last the realities of war have been brought home by massive global peace marches, gas prices spiraling into the stratosphere, the economy tanking alongside the Titanic and tens of thousands of reserve soldiers from every city in this great land – neighbors, friends and workmates of the formerly disconnected – being called to arms. Finally, millions of Americans are listening more carefully to a chorus of world leaders and a few gutsy national politicians righteously concerned about the consequences of the shootout in the desert.

Except that with 230,000 of our warriors already staring down Saddam's cannons, this new consciousness might have come too late.

I believe it's been far too easy for the vast majority of Americans to pay little or no attention to George W. Bush's march to war, because most folks' pride and joy aren't prime candidates for body bags. And few average citizens have ongoing personal contact with a uniformed defender from the 1 million-plus regular warriors who make up our All-Volunteer Force. To them, our warriors are just uniforms they occasionally see floating around at airports or as background color in TV war dispatches.

Most recruits in the AVF come from non-vocal, working-class families – a disproportionate number from the poor and from minority groups – while more privileged Americans are conspicuous by their absence. For example, the Congress that voted overwhelmingly for the military solution against Iraq includes only one member with a son who's an enlisted grunt. The rest, like the majority of Americans since the draft went south, no longer share directly in the sacrifice that comes with sending our youth to face the dragon.

The poor join up because the job prospects on the outside are marginal. By going into the military, they learn a skill, gain the benefits of the GI Bill and get a better shot at the American dream.

Meanwhile, teens from families with political punch – read: cash and /or clout – are safely bunkered down at universities out of harm's way. And when asked: "Should we 'do' Iraq?" their answer is often a roaring "Yes!" But ask those same young aristo-hawks: "Will you go and fight?" and rarely does a Tommy Hilfiger-clad arm shoot up. When it comes to blood sports, they don't need to be taught that the spectators have it cushier than the gladiators.

Just as if all Americans knew their kids would likely serve dead-center on the killing fields, there'd be far sharper focus on how our politicians are voting and a lot more calls for caution and careful consideration before we got out there in the sand and slapped leather. For sure, the draft would give us 20/20 vigilance.

As the father of a reservist now in Kuwait recently said: "I suspect once folks start thinking about their kids standing in the line of fire, they'll make a whole bunch of noise. When that happens, hopefully this insanity will stop."

History has taught us that draftees serve this country well. Not only are they natural-born whistle-blowers who keep both the war-makers and the brass honest, but because their service keeps all our citizens more closely involved and invested, they are our bottom-line deterrent to war.

Service in our country's ranks used to be widely accepted as the price of citizenship. So why not bring back the draft? Since so many of our leaders seem to be currently suffering from empiritis, we'd all probably be better protected from this country-destroying disease if every American family shared the burden for defending our way of life.

[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.