Draft?

[SexyRedXterra]

I'm sure this topic was probably brought up in a past post, but I missed it if it was. Anyway, I keep hearing about the increasing possibility of reinstating the draft come 2005 no matter who the new President is. What have you guys heard? How much of this is true? How much of this is overexaggerated rumor?

[Oxford]

That's a good question SRX...but our elected president will have a lot to do with what happens with the draft.

It's easy to understand why recruiters have a more difficult time filling their quota during these times.

And...the military personnel who are in Iraq are being delayed in their return to the U.S. As long as our forces are in foreign lands, the president is responsible, as commander in chief, to act in the best interest of our country and existing soldiers.

If that means returning to the draft, which undoubtedly would be very unpopular, there would be much public debate on the proposal, as well as within congress, before the President made such a move.

Personally, currently I am not in favor of re-instituting the draft. However, my stand could change as more facts come to light about our military needs relating to personnel.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

I've heard the same thing. I AM in favor of the draft. We need more bodies, plain and simple. Denying and avoiding this fact will not make it go away. And, if we are to continue on this course of aggresion, and it seems Bush is going to do just that, we need more troops so we can stop hearing the whineing from the reservists who want to go home to mommy. I know that most are real men and women, not sniveling cowards and momma's boys, like some. It's sad the media seeks out the lowest common denominator for the camera but, ooops! There it is. But, the facts are plain, we need more bodies.

[Chris]

There won't be another draft like Vietnam was.

We are too political correct now. The ladies would have to follow us guys to the battle line. Remember how females wanted equal rights?
No one wants to think of their daughter over there in the deserts with the Iraq's.

I don't want my sister over there just as te next brother. This will be one of the most argued reasons next to selection of who goes.

[colt45]

i am in favor of the draft even though my son will be draft age next year. but i don't see it comeing. i'm betting its just being tossed out there to be used as a bargaining tool for something down the road and as something for the liberals to fight agiast to keep them occupied while the country is being run.

[PAPA G]

it is all talk.........in an attempt to get the younger voters to vote Democrat. the younger voter doesn't want a draft, but see Bush as someone who would go for it. they think askewed.

[Shaun]

Chris is right on this one and I doubt it will ever happen -- remember everytime we get a Klinton like president we end up with a max exodus of our troops because they do not want to serve under cowards and people who have no respect for what the military does.

[whirlwind]

i also have a son that will be of drafting age next year. and a month or so he asked me what he should do if their was a draft. my answer to him was "go enlist before ya open the letter" i told him that way he could say they never forced him he kinda wants to join the navy anyway...guess he's heard enough from me about eating way more mud than i cared to in the army lol

[Shaun]

WW suggest the Corp that way his shooting skills are built upon even further.

[savparts]

What is so WRONG with having the DRAFT? Many countries have it. Why should 18 yr olds slam the USA and then expect the GOVERMENT give them eveything just cuase they are AMERICANS? I was in Viet Nam in 68, did not get drafted, I volunteered to serve in the USMC for my country. I youngest son did 6 years in the USAF and is now doing more time in the USAF Resv. Everyone talks about being a AMERICAN but how many are true AMERICANS willing to serve thier country? MAN OR WOMAN who serves thier country wheather in peace time or war, have my respect, they are the one who allow US to !!!!! about the USA and yet know we will be safe to do what we want, knowing someones elses SON or DAUGHTER is out there. BUT if one of our children go WOW everyone is up in arms about our goverment. WHY is it no one cares about the others who sever in the military until it happens to them, then they are against it?
For many 18 yr olds the draft would be a good way for them to GROW UP with Honor, Respect, and conmitment.

[jerry]

It would seem more reasonable that if more man/woman power was needed, the 8 yr IRR card would be played first. Anyone under a 2, 4, 6, year enlistment is hooked untill the 8th year, even when they seperate. Officers, pretty much forever.

The guard and reserves also have people under the retired reserves status.

A young person has enjoyed alot of freedom prior to the potential to be drafted. If it ever did happen, it should be considered an installment payment on continued freedom.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

I know it is an unpopular subject. Maybe just politics, as suggested. But, I was in the service, it did'nt hurt me...much...and I learned a great deal that I otherwise may have missed. Of course, the bennies were better and the pay sucked but, hey, I had a good time on many occasions. Some bad times too.

[Rave]

We think that if the present policies of "the war on terror",policing and installing democracy over the face of the Earth,and injecting our will on other countries that the draft is inevitable,no question about it.
when we invade North Korea,and it will happen under the present policies,how many troops do you think that will require?
Iraq is like a kindergarten compared to Korea,and then there is always China/Russia.
Yup,we see the draft on the horizon.

[BattleRifleG3]

I don't see it as likely, but I believe that it is the unforseeable events that will decide that more than the forseeable ones. If N Korea nukes someone, then they'll certainly get it full force and a draft is likely. If the US pre-empts it, probably not. If radical Arab nations band together and begin a much feared Islamic world war, I'd almost bet on it.

On the subject of a draft, I'm 22 years old, where would I stand in the scheme of things? I have a variety of semi-serious but awkward medical... wouldn't say "conditions", more of a history with future implications. A great uncle of mine was kept home in WWII while his brothers went away. Though he was a very capable young man, he had some odd bone condition that disqualified him from service. Two brothers and a brother in law went away. One served on a destroyer at D-Day, one served under Patton, and one didn't return.

All of you bleeding heart conservatives are missing the biggest reason why a draft is not a good idea for our country: it costs a lot of money and is not a good use of said money.
Every business knows its better to have a highly motivated work force than not.

Clinton was following the policy of Bush Sr. of cutting the bloated military budgets. All this hot air about being a coward is just that: hot air. George W made sure he didn't get into a combat unit during his joke of a military career. I don't call him a coward for it. I call him smart.

Our military is the most inefficient federal program yet. If it was a private business, it would have been bankrupt. Why not increase benefits and pay? Instead of spending more money on creating an unmotivated workforce, why not spend the same amount of money on improving the forces we have right now? It makes sense.

All that sentimental nonsense about how good it was to serve in the military and the price of freedom is short sighted emotionalism.
If your kid wants to join the military, let them. If they don't, they are no less American or patriotic. An all volunteer military is better than a conscripted one. I don't want anyone in the military that does not want to be there. It is far too important of a job.
Of course, with outsourcing a lot of the military work, private security firms do the same jobs and make a ton more money than those in the army.

I thought you goons were for smaller govt yet you fall all over your flags to increase spending like some drunk gambler.

[whirlwind]

lets all just hold hands and sing kumbaya and all the problems in this evil world will go away on the wings of a dove.

What a nice idea.
What do these three things have in common:
Yesterdays dinner, your best friend's wristwatch from high school, and three D cell batteries?
You can see all of them from where your head is crammed.

[Oxford]

K...you need to be taken behind the school building and taught a lesson in how to show respect for other people. You wrote,..."I thought you goons were for smaller govt yet you fall all over your flags to increase spending like some drunk gambler."

I'm sure there's plenty of veterans on G&G who would like to be first in line administering a little corporal punishment to you...or even something even more severe which might change your attitude..while you run off at the mouth with your disrespectful blasting of veterans.

[SexyRedXterra]

Originally Posted by PAPA G

it is all talk.........in an attempt to get the younger voters to vote Democrat. the younger voter doesn't want a draft, but see Bush as someone who would go for it. they think askewed.

I'm not so sure because I heard that Nader is one of the people discussing the draft. He says that no matter who is elected President, even if it is he, that the draft is inevitable.

I'm not disrespecting veterans, I'm disrepecting the idea of having a draft. I'm also pointing out your glaring double standard. You'll buy anything wrapped in a flag or draped in fear.
If you all hate liberal spending programs, why support one of the largest spending programs on earth. That's crazy.

Just because you get wistful over the halcyon days in khaki, doesn't mean that the draft is good for everyone. The reason they got rid of the draft was because it wasn't working for America. It caused the military budget to ballon due to gross mismanagement. Also, morale was in the basement.

I bet you would like to go behind the schoolhouse and spank me. That's a little creepy.