Posted on 09/15/2004 4:27:18 PM PDT by 68skylark
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) -- Vice presidential candidate John Edwards promised a West Virginia mother on Wednesday that if the Democratic ticket is elected in November the military draft would not be revived.
During a question-and-answer session, the mother of a 23-year-old who recently graduated from West Virginia University asked Edwards whether the draft would be reinstated.
``There will be no draft when John Kerry is president,'' Edwards said, a statement that drew a standing ovation.
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The current force is all-volunteer, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said he opposes reinstating the draft. But the Pentagon has taken several steps that have drawn criticism.
In June, the Pentagon recalled to active duty 5,674 members of the Individual Ready Reserve, soldiers who have served specified tours of duty but have years remaining in their enlistment contracts.
Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, has complained about the extent of the Bush administration's use of Reserves and National Guardsmen and a device called ``stop loss,'' which prevents soldiers from leaving when typical obligations end. ``They have effectively used a stop-loss policy as a backdoor draft,'' Kerry said.
During the session with Edwards, a woman whose son is serving in Iraq asked why the vehicles in his convoys are not armored. She said one vehicle was attacked last week and three soldiers were killed.
``We will never send American men and women into battle without first having a plan to win the peace and without the training and the equipment they need, including armored vehicles and including body armor,'' Edwards said. ``We have one candidate for president who has fought in a war. The truth of the matter is John Kerry takes this very, very personally.''
Bill Ambrose, a land surveyor from Volcano, told Edwards, ``I don't know why we can't hammer George Bush. The concern is we are not supporting the troops. I think that's a separate issue. We all support the troops. This administration has made the most monumental foreign policy mistakes since Vietnam.''
Edwards said that when he and Kerry say they support and admire U.S. troops serving in Iraq, ``it's not just words, it's what we really believe.''
``Iraq is a mess. It is a mess because of George Bush and Dick Cheney. It's that simple,'' Edwards said. ``The facts are overwhelming. This president's father did the work, the hard work, of bringing others with us before the Gulf War.''
Edwards said the Gulf War cost American taxpayers $5 billion.
``This president did not do that. The result is over $200 billion and counting'' and a thousand American deaths, Edwards said.
They think they can scare young people into voting left. But I think kids of today are no so easily scared.
You're not supposed to alter titles...why did you add "Draft" in there.
It seems to me that it's democrats that are calling for it to be reinstated. The likes of Charlie Rangel come to mind......
Edwards loves to use boogey man tactics. There is always some handwringer that will fall for it.
Did anyone ask Edwards if he supported the legislation introduced into Congress by Charlie Rangel and Senator Foghorn Leghorn (Fritz Hollings), both Democrats, which called for the reinstatement of the draft?
They are getting desparate. Race-baiting, draft-baiting, etc. Sign of a troubled campaign.
Did Bush request a draft that I didn't know about?
The Draft is not an issue that you can commit to... duh... Hey Edwards... When we are under attack by every muslim nation because of your partner weak knees and you have no choice but to institute a draft or raise the white flag... Well your right we know where you stand... Idiots...
Too bad nobody points out it is the Democrats who have introduced bills in Congress to reinstate the draft. (Even though in a smear campaign they have been trying to claim it is the Republicans who want the draft back.)
We won't need a draft after communist China nukes us.
You don't need a draft when you're busy surrendering.
By saying what he said ("no military draft if Dems win"), he can in effect say that if the Republicans win, a military draft will ensue.
It's a smart way of throwing mud without seeming to.
Also, the Giant Space Moths will *not* eat the entire planet if Kerry is elected.
This is a downright lie.
No self respecting military man will serve under a liar like Kerry.
The exodus of military personnel after fulfilling their contractual obligations will cause the Democrats to enforce a draft.
He'd better tell the 2 who proposed it, Hitlery and Charlie Rangel.
Wow, God forbid if our young people had to contribute to their own country. I may be part of the minority, but I truly believe that conscription is ultimately good for a country.
Well it's not really all that smart. I think most people can see through this kind of tactic. I think Kerry & Edwards already have the cowardly girlie-man vote sewed up, and very few others are going to be worried about this draft nonsense.
Yes, the real title should be "Edwards: No Military Draft if Dems Win." ???
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