Let's See How Yee-Hah Iraq War They All Are When Their Kids Are Up For The Draft
From CNN.com, President Bush's new war adviser says our all-volunteer military is stressed by frequent tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, making it worth considering a return to the draft:
"I think it makes sense to certainly consider it," Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered.""And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another," said Lute, who is sometimes referred to as the "Iraq war czar." It was his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.
President Nixon abolished the draft in 1973. Restoring it, Lute said, would be a "major policy shift" and Bush has made it clear that he doesn't think it's necessary.
"The president's position is that the all-volunteer military meets the needs of the country and there is no discussion of a draft. Gen. Lute made that point as well," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
In the interview, Lute also said that "Today, the current means of the all-volunteer force is serving us exceptionally well."
Tell that to the sergeant in Tikrit who just wrote me. He served for 12 months, and just had his tour extended, and now his wife of a year is lonely and "attracted" to somebody else.
Anyone who considers a return to the draft is an imbecile.
Let's take a volunteer force of people who actually want to be soldiers, and put a bunch of people who were seized by force from their lives and tossed into combat. Now the volunteers not only have to watch out for their own lives, they have to drag a bunch of inductees along behind them and hope that only a few die on their watch. Brilliant!
Oh, by the way, the Dear John letter is as old as war itself.
brian at August 11, 2007 5:23 AM
I am not for a draft, but we've had them before, and I don't believe it played out like you say above.
Amy Alkon at August 11, 2007 6:56 AM
World War II was a different animal. Prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, there was general apathy. After that, the draft was accepted because we needed to defend the US from a vicious and powerful enemy. And when Germany declared war on us, that added to the "fire in the belly" so to speak.
From Korea forward, however, the idea of the draft lost its appeal. I believe that a large percentage of the population didn't feel that communism (in the form of the USSR) was a threat that warranted the loss of life. There was also a general apathy about pretty much everything outside our borders.
A friend who was a draftee during Viet Nam (I believe he made it as far as Korea) said that the bulk of the draftees (himself included) were of the "what the hell am I doing here?" variety.
The (very typically American) attitude of "leave me alone and I'll leave you alone" is very strong in our society. It's what kept us out of WWII for so long.
And the vast majority of Americans don't see any reason to feel threatened by Islam. So, bombing the shit out of Afghanistan was ok, since they sheltered bin Laden. Anything else, you can forget about. Which would explain the cries of "Iraq didn't have anything to do with 9/11!"
So a draft now would be about as useful to the war effort as it was in Viet Nam. In other words, the only people who benefit are the peace-at-any-price crowd.
brian at August 11, 2007 7:10 AM
It is unlikely that a draft would change the hee-yaw factor. The children of the elite can traditionally sidestep the draft or get a nice cushy spot in the Texas Air National Guard or something. The kids who actually get drafted are the the children of people with no influence, or are willing to serve anyhow. There are countries like Switzerland and Israel that have completely fair and even drafts (or at least I think they do) but we have never done that here, it's simply not our custom.
kenmce at August 11, 2007 7:24 AM
As someone who was in the military at the time that it was composed of mostly draftees and a corp of career people (lifers), Brian's comment has no basis in the reality of military life.
Today's military is composed of those subject to an economic draft that is more hidden than a direct draft, but just as real. Some of the "volunteers" would have been lifers in the days of the draft, but most of them simply have less economic opportunity as we export our wealth base to other countries.
I was a volunteer but not a lifer; there was no less expected of the draftees than of the volunteers. They rose to the expectations demanded.
There are many pros and cons to be debated regarding returning to the draft, but that debate is not served by absolutist comments such as Brian's.
Machida at August 11, 2007 7:42 AM
I say go for the draft.i was drafted for the Korean war .instead of army for 2 years.i took the 4 years and joined the Air Force.it is a good way to get the trouble makers off the streets. drugs,killings. you learn respect and get educated. they cannot run to Canada like they did years ago. they should empty the prisons also .
would save the government alot of money.most of the prisoners were killers any way . this is my opinion .wake up America .start the Draft
Emil Tomko at August 11, 2007 7:44 AM
Emil, your comments make Brian's seem thoughtful and considered. I'm signing off this thread.
Machida at August 11, 2007 7:57 AM
Machida - You are full of excrement. There is no basis in fact for stating that there is a "hidden economic draft". That line keeps getting trotted out by the race-baiters, and it keeps getting proven false.
Barring a direct invasion on our land, I can see no positive side effect from instituting a draft.
kenmce - What Switzerland and Israel have is not a draft. It is compulsory service. Switzerland requires that every able-bodied man serve, and keep arms at home. Israel requires pretty much everyone, regardless of gender, to serve.
And given that the politicians promoting the draft have distinctly anti-war reasons for doing so, I don't think they'd go for mandatory service for all Americans. Having that large an army to command would probably lead to USING said army. Given the lack of intellectual capacity in the ruling class, I don't want them having that kind of power to abuse.
brian at August 11, 2007 8:48 AM
TO: Amy Alkon
RE: Actually....
"Let's See How Yee-Hah Iraq War They All Are When Their Kids Are Up For The Draft" -- Amy Alkon
....I'm more along the thinking of Starship Trooper.
I actually argued it in high school debate, as a counter-plan to the national topic; Resolve: That the United States should adopt a system of universal military service.
My team-mate and I suggested the Starship Trooper approach, which was some form of governmental service, just out of high school; one-way-or-another, i.e., graduate or drop-out. But instead of voluntary, it was mandatory. But you got to choose your form of service; Peace Corps, VISTA, GSA, Forest Service, Border Patrol, Airborne-Ranger-Infantry, what have you.
At the end of the service, your college was pretty much paid for. Like the GI Bill of WWII and Nam. [Note: I got a bachelor's and a master's out of mine.]
If you did not get an Honorable or General discharge, there was no college benefit.
We won darn near EVERY round, where we could trot out the counter-plan.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Every man thinks meanly of himself for never having been a soldier, or a sailor with hard duty at sea.]
Chuck Pelto at August 11, 2007 2:13 PM
TO: Amy Alkon
RE: Sh------t!
"Tell that to the sergeant in Tikrit who just wrote me. He served for 12 months, and just had his tour extended, and now his wife of a year is lonely and "attracted" to somebody else." -- Amy Alkon, reporting of a missive she received
His wife would probably have been attracted to someone else anyway.
Divorce rate in my batt in the 82d was somewhere around 90%.
I wasn't serving in a combat zone when my wife was 'attracted' to her boss, a senior partner in a successful CPA firm, where she worked. I came home from a two-week mission to Germany to find the house, for all intents and purpsoses, 'burglarized'. And HE paid for the moving van.
I, being a service-member, was, for all intents and purposes, 'raped' in court.
He divoreced his wife of 20 some years to marry mine.
She had a child by him and then proceeded to 'rape' him in court as well.
This soldier should have known 'the job was dangerous (in more ways than one) when he took it'.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Cosi fan tutti. -- Mozart]
Chuck Pelto at August 11, 2007 2:19 PM
TO: Amy Alkon
RE: Tikrit???!?!
Hey!
If he's part of 1st Battalion (Mech) 22d Infantry, ask him to look at the regimental silver service and see if can find my name on any of the 'punch' cups.
I think I totally zoned out at that Dining In. The last think I remember was, as a company commander i was obliged to offer a toast, "Totosing a Prost"....which earned me another 'trip' to the 'Punch' Bowl. Then I found they were putting dessert before me.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
P.S. The regimental 'punch' was made up of various items, based on the wars the regiment had fought in. The regiment dates back to the War of 1812; there are a LOT of interesting components to the 'punch'. I think the component for the Indian Wars is Everclear.....
P.P.S. I hear that members in First Class on the Space Shuttle are reputtedly getting 'anesthetized' before launch. Considering that we've lost 2 out of the 4, i.e., 50% of the fleet is lost, I'd probably get sloshed too, if I weren't the flight commander or the primary or secondary pilot, or engineer.
[Eat, drink and make Mary, for today we die!]
Chuck Pelto at August 11, 2007 3:43 PM
TO: All
RE: Addendum to Prior P.P.S.
Sooooo....
...the Endeavor has a 'gouge' in it's protective tiles. Another 'blessing' of the PC environmentalists.
Hooooowwww niiiiiicceeee....[i.e., f--- you]
Chuck Pelto at August 13, 2007 11:06 AM
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