This should be the lead of the story, not in the middle.
Posted on 12/22/2006 6:29:12 AM PST by mfnorman
(CBS/AP) The Selective Service System is making plans to test its draft machinery in case Congress and President Bush need it, even though the White House says it doesn't want to bring back the draft.
The agency is planning a comprehensive test — not run since 1998 — of its military draft systems, a Selective Service official said. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009.
At the direction of the White House, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson is making it clear he is not advocating the reinstatement of a military draft. He told a news conference that society would benefit from a return to the draft, but a few hours later, after the White House disavowed the remark, Nicholson issued a statement in line with administration policy. He said he strongly supports the all-volunteer military and does not support returning to a draft.
President Bush has repeatedly stated that the all-volunteer army would remain all-volunteer.
"We're kind of like a fire extinguisher. We sit on a shelf," Scott Campbell, the service's director for operations and chief information officer, said. "Unless the president and Congress get together and say, 'Turn the machine on' ... we're still on the shelf."
The administration has for years forcefully opposed bringing back the draft, and the White House said Thursday that policy has not changed and no proposal to reinstate the draft is being considered.
The "readiness exercise" would test the system that randomly chooses draftees by birth date and its network of appeal boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others who want to delay reporting for duty, Campbell said.
The Selective Service will start planning for the 2009 tests next June or July, although budget cuts could force the agency to cancel them, Campbell said.
President Bush said this week he is considering sending more troops to Iraq and has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to look into adding more troops to the nearly 1.4 million uniformed personnel on active duty.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, increasing the Army by 40,000 troops would cost as much as $2.6 billion the first year and $4 billion after that. Military officials have said the Army and Marine Corps want to add as many as 35,000 more troops.
Recruiting new forces and retaining current troops is more complicated because of the unpopular war in Iraq. In recent years, the Army has accepted recruits with lower aptitude test scores.
In remarks to reporters, Nicholson recalled his own experience as a company commander in an infantry unit that brought together soldiers of different backgrounds and education levels "in the common purpose of serving."
Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, plans to introduce a bill next year to reinstate the draft. House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi has said such a proposal would not be high on the Democratic-led Congress' priority list.
Hearst Newspapers first reported the planned test for a story sent to its subscribers for weekend use.
The military drafted people during the Civil War and both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. Reincorporated in 1980, the Selective Service System maintains a registry of 18-year-old men, but call-ups have not occurred since the Vietnam War.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, increasing the Army by 40,000 troops would cost as much as $2.6 billion (euro1.97 billion) the first year and $4 billion (euro3.04 billion) after that. Military officials have said the Army and Marine Corps want to add as many as 35,000 more troops.
Notice the reference to euros. What's that all about? When did the euro become the currency of reference?
My guess they are either twisting this story a tad .. or maybe the WH is preparing for what might happen afterwards if the Dems pull funding
It's good to see Congress considering increasing troop strength. Contrary to popular belief, the Army doesn't simply decide how many men it can recruit. Congress tells them how many they can recruit and have in their ranks and, right now, the Army's numerical strength isn't much different than what it was when Clinton was in office.
This should be the lead of the story, not in the middle.
This is all part of the Left plan to angle towards '08.
You don't have to seriously be considering a draft, merely talking about it will have effect on some voters and the Left clearly understands that.
The money part wasn't what I was thinking about
CIA exercise reveals consequences of defeat
THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | December 21, 2006 | Rowan Scarborough
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1757142/posts
"(CBS/AP) The Selective Service System is making plans to test its draft machinery in case Congress and President Bush need it, even though the White House says it doesn't want to bring back the draft."
Gee, Mr. Bush will only be president for two more years. I'm not so sure that this test is going to be of much assistance to him.
"The agency is planning a comprehensive test — not run since 1998 — of its military draft systems, a Selective Service official said. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009."
Gee, Mr. Bush won't even be president when this test is conducted.
I guess this test ISN'T "in case... President Bush need[s] it..."
Do I detect a bit of bias??
Nothing like demanding equality until it becomes inconvenient.
If they start up the draft then Mel Gobson's comments about sending troops to Iraq will ring true.
We would be forcing men to make a sacrifice they are not willing to make.
It is the left's method to get an anti-war mevement going.
Conservitives and if Bush were actually one should not allow any draft whatsoever.
"This is a test of the emergency Selective Service system. It is only a test.
"If this were an actual emergency, you would have no hair and be doing ten pushups right now....
***The "readiness exercise" would test the system that randomly chooses draftees by birth date and its network of appeal boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others who want to delay reporting for duty, Campbell said. ****
And why Not! All of us are by law a part of the "Unorganized Militia". Congress lawfully has the right to levy a draft against the militias any time it needs troops. the only persons exempt are those too young or too old, members of Congress,the President, river pilots, government workers and postal clerks.
Check the militia laws.
Now, if we could only get a return to the press gangs...
If something happened and Putin decided to start a war with, say, Germany, we'd need the draft up and running pretty quick.
That's why we have selective service, and we certainly should make sure it's operational if needed.
Nobody WANTS a draft, but that doesn't mean there might not be a need for it.
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