The Draft

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 09:39

Hidden Agenda: A National Draft in the Future?
by Howard Dean

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 In 2001, President Bush authorized their call up but never rescinded this order even after he declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq in May of 2003.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.

We had a draft topic before the summer cleaning, this restores any discussion on the draft.

sandman420 · Post by **sandman420** » 21 Sep 2004 11:45

I guess i'll be kicking with you canada boys if the draft comes about.

carl winslow · Post by **carl winslow** » 21 Sep 2004 13:29

Canada wont take you this time everyone goes.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 13:31

Canada has no choice.

I can't be the only one more prepared to fight the Canadiens at their border to preserve my life than I am prepared to fight the Iraqies to preserve a lie.

carl winslow · Post by **carl winslow** » 21 Sep 2004 13:36

this draft wont be the same as the Vietnam draft is what i mean, most of the people who died in Nam were poor and had to go fight cause they couldnt go to college.
the one good thing about a draft is that if it happens it would get ALOT of more people to oppose the war.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 13:41

Oh, indeed.

Women, College students, kids two weeks away from finishing a PhD program, highschool seniors, young mothers . . . all on the GO list this time.

Lots more people to protest this time.

wolfpac444 · Post by **wolfpac444** » 21 Sep 2004 15:19

Why does everyone think that they either have to run away or fight in war?

sandman420 · Post by **sandman420** » 21 Sep 2004 15:22

wolfpac444 wrote:Why does everyone think that they either have to run away or fight in war?

cause thats what a draft means for a 22 year old white male not in college. I guess I could just stay here and fight but thats really just futile i'd rather hang out in cold ass canada with them fine looking french women know what I mean.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 15:42

There are three options during the draft

You can go to prison
you can go to war
you can flee the country.

Seath · Post by **Seath** » 21 Sep 2004 15:48

Might I suggest Ottawa as a retreat spot? We have warm summers and lots of dumb politicians.. similar to america.

wolfpac444 · Post by **wolfpac444** » 21 Sep 2004 15:51

If you are against (the) war, then fleeing the country is the easy way out. I have no respect for choosing "self-preservation" over staying and attempting to change things.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 16:18

When was the last time people in an American prison were given a voice ?

The media did not cover the protests of the RNC , and they won't cover anti-war draft resisters either. The media most certainly won't be visiting the detention centers of the anti-patriots.

The voice of the anti war populace has already been silenced, and a draft certainly won't bring more attention to the anti war message.

Assuming you don't want to make a difference from prision, what are you suggesting Fighting the battle in the streets of America ? How effective will that be ?

I have no qualms about fleeing this country, and I don't need your respect to take actions necessary to preserve myself.

sandman420 · Post by **sandman420** » 21 Sep 2004 16:36

Taking the fight to the street = civil war. Thats what it would actually be. Civil wars are terrible terrible things. I would not wish to harm any american or anyone at all for that matter just for doing their "jobs".

The thing to do would be to leave the country and either never return or come back when political madness ceases (as in never return) Cause I know there is no flying fucking way that I will aim a rifle at another human being because the government told me to. No fucking way. Thats the part of "Humans are very inteligent, but not smart enough to see they are being dumb" thing. We are at the peak of knowledge and the height of stupidy.

sandman420 · Post by **sandman420** » 21 Sep 2004 16:42

sorry theres also no fucking way that I will ever set foot in a prison if I am still able to run, or fight. Handcuffs, leg cuffs, I dont give a shit I would give such a fight they would have to kill me.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 16:46

Hence my prefered option to flee the country, should I ever need to avoid a draft.

lightningbolt · Post by **lightningbolt** » 21 Sep 2004 17:18

Thank god I am a girl then...

But I will also move to canada sinc all the hot guys will be in Iraq

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 18:09

1 The U.S. came close to drafting women during World War II, when there was a shortage of military nurses. However, there was a surge of volunteerism and a draft of women nurses was not needed.

2 The Selective Service System, if given the mission and additional funding, is capable of registering and drafting women with its existing infrastructure.

lightningbolt · Post by **lightningbolt** » 21 Sep 2004 18:14

Are you serious?????

FUCK!

Shit, now you got me worried. But we are WOMEN! Big strong men need to shelid us from war.

I guess I be joining all you guys in canada. Because not fucking way am I going to war. NO FUCKING WAY!

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 21 Sep 2004 18:21

lightingbolt wrote: I guess I be joining all you guys in canada.

Why don't you join us at the voting booth in november first

--Tsiangkun

There are four boxes to protect freedom,
Ballot
Soap
Jury
Bullet
Use in that order.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 21 Sep 2004 18:37

I agree with Mike I guess. If the draft was introduced into Australia I would refuse to fight but I'd make no effort to hide or "dodge" it - I would never want to be forced to kill other people and if enough people agreed with me, they wouldn't be able to lock us all up.