Posted on 09/29/2004 4:50:24 PM PDT by backhoe
Most of the discussion on Free Republic is addressed to the proposition that the only legislative proposal on this issue is sponsered exclusively by liberal democrats.
But where this issue really counts is with the college and high school kids and their parents. And what this group is talking about, uniformly, is not pending legislation but rather Bush Administration action which makes sense only if the Bush Administration intends to propose legislation instituting a draft.
I agree. Any statement that these pending bills to revive the draft are proof of Bush's future intentions are false and should be pointed out as such. However, there are other important issues. As you said, there may be a number of young adults of draft age (and their parents) who believe that Bush has a greater tendency to resort to military action and that a draft is therefore more likely under his administration. Regardless of what Bush or Kerry say now, either one may resort to a draft if it becomes necessary. The question, then, is how likely is it to become necessary.
The special skills draft explanation does not fly. Further, this story came out after the effort to recruit people to restaff the draft boards as part of an effort to deflect the political heat from a bad political decision.
Regarding the "special skills draft", in one sense, we already have one. According to this story in the Washington Post , there are thousands of soldiers 'forbidden to leave military service under the Army's "stop-loss" orders, intended to stanch the seepage of troops, through retirement and discharge, from a military stretched thin by its burgeoning overseas missions.' There have also been allegations of coercion to reenlist though the Army has denied them.
In any case, I don't think that a "special skills draft" or the "backdoor draft" of stop-loss orders can continue for long. They are a little too reminiscent of "From Each According To His Abilities", the first half of Karl Marx's famous quote. At some point, either one would likely lead to a wider draft, out of a demand for fairness, if nothing else.
Finally, the big stir that the talk of a draft has created suggests that there are many people who support the Iraq war only so long as they do not have to share in the sacrifice of waging it. Before the war began, I wondered how may people would support going in unilaterally if they knew that they would each become responsible for an additional thousand dollars or so of federal debt.
Of course, the lives of our soldiers are much more precious. Still, both Kerry and Bush should make it clear that, if absolutely necessary, the option of a draft is open. Of course, that may be too much to hope for during a political campaign. In any case, we should be treating our "volunteer" soldiers as we would draftees. We should not send them into harm's way unless absolutely necessary.
Thanks very much!
You Bet...it's the RATS who are after a DRAFT!!!
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