The Draft

[Topher]

Here an article my friend sent me

------------------------------

Pending Draft Legislation Targeted for Spring 2005
The Draft will Start in June 2005

There is pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills: S 89 and HR 163) which will time the program's initiation so the draft can begin at early as Spring 2005 -- just after the 2004 presidential election. The administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public's attention is on the elections, so our action on this is needed immediately.

$28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. Selective Service must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. Please see website: www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the sss annual performance plan - fiscal year 2004.

The pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide.. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan [and a permanent state of war on "terrorism"] proves accurate, the U.S. may have no choice but to draft.

Congress brought twin bills, S. 89 and HR 163 forward this year, http://www.hslda.org/legislation/na...s89/default.asp entitled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, "to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons [age 18--26] in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes." These active bills currently sit in the committee on armed services.

Dodging the draft will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era.

College and Canada will not be options. In December 2001, Canada and the U.S. signed a "smart border declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign affairs, John Manley, and U.S. Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year.

Even those voters who currently support US actions abroad may still object to this move, knowing their own children or grandchildren will not have a say about whether to fight. Not that it should make a difference, but this plan, among other things, eliminates higher education as a shelter and includes women in the draft.

----------------------------------------------------

Personally I hate the idea of a draft, espically since i have no protection being in college. Just wanted to get every body elses opinion on this.

[Jarconis]

there wont be a draft, it would be political suicide to anyone who backed this, and plus , as history has shown , a conscript army is worth about 2 shits on a battlefield...

[Luftdude]

Personally I don't like the sound of that draft.

LD

[Turbo3000]

Fuck that. I respect every soldier that is over there risking their lives for us. I have talked to the Marine's a couple of times in the past year and decided that it is best for me to get through with my school and then if I am still interested I will go. I do not want to be told when to go.

[Primal Instinct]

I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you. The legislative bills were presented to their respective bodies as a wakeup call to all members of the Congress, as well as the American public. The sponsors were fundamentally opposed to the war in Iraq and claimed (with some validity) that the wealthy people in this nation enjoy the priviledge of having other people's children serve military duty in the armed forces while not making a similar sacrifice on their own part. The is evidenced by many in the armed forces are there- yes, to support the nation in time of need but also- because they may not have the means to attend college at all, if not for the GI Bill. Having lots of money would preclude the wealthy offspring from having to join the military to receive the benefit of a college education. It is argued that everyone should be making the same sacrifices, regardless of financial standing.

Neither bill will pass in the House or the Senate anyhow because the republicans hold the majority in both levels of Congress and they won't alienate their constituents, many of whom are in the upper middle class or better in financial standing. Although they (primarily) support the war efforts in Iraq they certainly wouldn't bite the hand that feeds them. This type of aristocracy has been a part of American policy since the framers hashed out our US Constitution.

In short, don't lose any sleep over it.

[rvgfrth4g]

3 Words

It Won't Happen.

[JUICE]

i hope that shit dont happens. I say if that happens theres going to be problems here, alot of protest and riots, stuff like that. Not another Vietnam.:(

[Bouncer]

Well its not going to happen but If I were in the Military I wouldnt want it to happen anyway. Damn if I want some moron that dosent want to be there watching my back.

[shortz]

Originally posted by Primal Instinct
I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you. The legislative bills were presented to their respective bodies as a wakeup call to all members of the Congress, as well as the American public. The sponsors were fundamentally opposed to the war in Iraq and claimed (with some validity) that the wealthy people in this nation enjoy the priviledge of having other people's children serve military duty in the armed forces while not making a similar sacrifice on their own part. The is evidenced by many in the armed forces are there- yes, to support the nation in time of need but also- because they may not have the means to attend college at all, if not for the GI Bill. Having lots of money would preclude the wealthy offspring from having to join the military to receive the benefit of a college education. It is argued that everyone should be making the same sacrifices, regardless of financial standing.

Neither bill will pass in the House or the Senate anyhow because the republicans hold the majority in both levels of Congress and they won't alienate their constituents, many of whom are in the upper middle class or better in financial standing. Although they (primarily) support the war efforts in Iraq they certainly wouldn't bite the hand that feeds them. This type of aristocracy has been a part of American policy since the framers hashed out our US Constitution.

In short, don't lose any sleep over it.

EXCELLENT POINTS!! I too have not lost any sleep and will not unless congress actually has the balls to pass it.

[ECKARDT]

I am a Marine currently on recruiting duty and I can tell you that we do not want a draft nor is one coming. This is all rhetoric to try and discourage people from the military and is promulgated by the democrats in an effort to further subvert the President and build anti sentiment towards the situation in Iraq. Now understand that PLANS for a draft are constantly reviewed each year (ie. selective service) and is normal. This is to understand total end strength in the event of a national emergency.