Posted on 11/19/2006 10:30:36 AM PST by Brilliant
A senior House Democrat said Sunday he will introduce legislation to reinstate the military draft, asserting that current troop levels are insufficient to sustain possible challenges against Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rep. Charles Rangel (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y.
Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose the measure early next year.
At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), a South Carolina Republican who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Standby Reserve, said he agreed that the U.S. does not have enough people in the military.
"I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. And if we can't, then we'll look for some other option," said Graham, who is assigned as a reserve judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
Rangel, incoming chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he worried the military was being strained by its overseas commitments.
"If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft," Rangel said.
He said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve. Instead, "young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it's our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals," with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.
Graham said he believes the all-voluntary military "represents the country pretty well in terms of ethnic makeup, economic background."
Repeated polls have shown that about seven in 10 Americans oppose reinstatement of the draft and officials say they do not expect to restart conscription.
Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Congress in June 2005 that "there isn't a chance in the world that the draft will be brought back."
Yet the prospect of the long global fight against terrorism and the continuing U.S. commitment to stabilizing Iraq have kept the idea in the public's mind.
The military drafted conscripts during the Civil War, both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. An agency independent of the Defense Department, the Selective Service System trains, keeps an updated registry of men age 18-25 — now about 16 million — from which to supply untrained draftees that would supplement the professional all-volunteer armed forces.
Rangel and Graham appeared on "Face the Nation" on CBS.
Ask Kerry he could tell you all about it.
Well, I do seem to recall reading somewhere that actually, Charlie Rangle DID serve in the USMC.
I also seem to recall that the republican leadership gave Rangle a "put up or shut up" moment. I believe that the leadership brought up his bill for a vote, and it didn't get a single vote: Even Rangle voted against it.
Mark
There are no women registered. 15 million men are in the system however.
Some who volunteer now have to be placed in special training units.
Why did you democRATS vote for the invasion of Iraq then?
20 year olds are first, chosen by birthday lottery, then 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 18, 19
All true. How did FDR get away with it and LBJ didn't?
I submit that WWII was a necessary war and Vietnam wasn't.
Turn up speakers to LOUD: ARMY STRONG
In any given year.
lead, I won't argue that point with you, but you don't put your greatest treasure, (the youth of America) into a war that the government is not willing to win.
If the 'Rats reinstate the draft, the 'Rats can kiss the entire college vote good bye...now and in the future.
um, what the f? what are you frickin retarded?
I should shut up now so that the dems will continue to crash and burn but, what the f?
Well I'm sure many people remember it and had brothers, sons and cousins going off to fight a war they wanted no part of. Many went because it was their duty and never came home. Or they came home so messed up on agent orange that they later took their own lives. Yea I remember the draft all right and that war. I remember the crying mothers whose son's numbers came up and the ones who sighed with relief when their sons didn't. I also remember the funerals too. So next time you comment on me get the whole thing in would you? Don't leave out what I had to say and print part of it. It went like this.......
I think the draft is a bad idea because I remember it. All too well I remember the college riots and I was only like 9 or 10 yrs old. I think forcing the military on someone doesn't make for a good soldier but then I've never had to serve. I do remember parents ready to send their sons to Canada though.
How about drafting all those thugs who have killed, assaulted and robbed innocent civilians going about their business buying video games? Their violence can be put to good use on the battlefield against the enemy.
Are you saying it's ok to put volunteers into a war that the "government" (which is us) is not willing to win but not ok to use draftees in the same war?
Aren't these the same people who don't think welfare reciepients should have to do public service to offset some of their money?
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