Posted on 08/12/2007 5:46:07 PM PDT by ConservativeofColor
Aug. 12, 2007 The so-called war czar who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has once again raised the issue of whether or not America might consider reinstituting a military draft.
"I think it certainly makes sense to consider it," Lt. Gen. Douglas Luke told NPR. "And I can tell you this has always been an option on the table. But, ultimately this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security one means or another."
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., is a long-time champion of the idea. The chair of the House Ways and Means Committee said he believes a draft would spur a change in the war.
"They'll get out of Iraq so fast if they thought that Middle America had to make any sacrifices," Rangel said today on "Good Morning America Weekend Edition." "But I do believe that any time our great country is at war, it shouldn't be sacrifices just by the low or middle-income people. Everyone should share the sacrifice."
He said it's more difficult to justify a war when the children fighting are your own.
"It's easy to talk about supporting a war if someone else is fighting that war," he said.
Rangel suggested the draft include no deferments for men or women, and include people from ages 18 to 26.
"You serve. You have to do something for your country," he said. "And believe me, when a Congress knows you're talking about their community and their families, you're reluctant to go to war in Iraq as speedily as we have."
According to Rangel, an involuntary draft exists already.
"We have an economic draft," he said. "We're holding hostage reservists, National Guard. We're enticing kids that come from the highest unemployment areas, with $15,000, $20,000, $30,000. But for the middle class and the kids of the Congress and the Pentagon and the White House, they're not involved so you find a situation where people support the war, but not my kids."
Rangel, who served during the Korean War, contrasted service in Iraq and Vietnam.
"Vietnam had a political draft," he said. "All you had to do is what Cheney did, what Bush did. All you had to do was know a politician and get deferments."
“Truth in Advertising:
“1. I am retired AF and understand history very well
“2. I have a draft age son”
Truth in Advertising:
1. I am an Air Force Veteran (Viet Nam war era), of 6-1/2 years.
2. I have draft-age sons and daughters.
We should be worried about a new draft if we believe that dumb s*** has any ability to foresee the future. I don't.
I want to see a draft because I think it's not a good idea to exhaust our best and most motivated fighters by sending them into a war zone for two, three or four consecutive tours. And because GD sniveling leftists should be made to share the burden of fighting for their country, whether they like it or not.
Just wondering aloud here, but if the surge is going so well why is one of President Bush’s generals suggesting the possibility of a draft?
Even being subject to a draft would make them think.
Friend, do you not see the contradiction of points 3 and 4?
That being said, Lyndon B. Johnson was a political genius, but a military idiot. I think (hope) politicians have learned from his mistakes. Rule #1 — leave the day-to-day conduct of the war to the professional officers.
And yes, I have daughters too—though they are younger. But it doesn’t matter, if I lost any of my kids, it would totally devastate my wife and I. But I’d rather lose a kid, than lose the future.
Wonderful, would your version of the draft include females, as well? If not, what would you do when the Supreme Court rules that unconstitutional? Would you continue to draft, knowing that our daughters have to go, or would you just scrap the whole thing, and go back to the volunteer army?
Their civilization seems to be locked into a cycle of hatred, illogical thought,revenge, and cowardice. They certainly do not bear much resemblannce to the Persians of ancient times. One would think them ready to fight against the mullahs for their own freedom, but the general populace would rather be beaten like dogs. I think that Iran has a culture which is largely masochistic in nature. I feel sorry for anyone who has to lve there.
They start a draft and I’ll start the second coming of the underground railroad.
And what does this worthless idiot think that the thousands of tax dollars confiscated from my income is? That IS giving something to my country.
I see nothing wrong with women being drafted, as long as they are in support jobs, not combat.
I’m not sure why the Supreme Court should rule the draft of women unconstituional, do you? Especially after decades of pushing for equal rights, women have painted themselves into a legal corner IMHO. And even if they did forbid it, so what? We’ve gone to war without women before.
Rangel’s a leftist. To him it’s not your money, never was. It was confiscated from you in your name, however. So for that reason alone it should be deemed your contribution.
Surely, there are quite a few Congresscritters who would be facing that question if a draft ever came up, as well. Do you think they'd subject their daughters to the same involuntary servitude they'd put their sons through? Or, would they just write exemptions into the law that any female could take advantage of, like becoming pregnant and raising a small child? I guess that would be one way to get the birth rate up in this country.
I'd like to see Rosie on the front lines.
The idea of a draft is NOT an option!!!
Drafted soldiers are NOT what we need.
We need the professional fighting men we have. America will NEVER return to a draft system. Period.
It’s a Democratic scare tactic.
1. Draft males 17 to 30. That seems reasonable.
2. Draft females 17 to 30.
3. Draft healthy males and females 31-50 for non-combat support to relieve more men for combat rolls.
Ridiculous? I don’t think that the possibilities should be ignored.
We are lied to about women not serving in combat, while they ARE indeed. And I predict that once they can get the public to agree to conscripting females, there will then be NO limits to whom may be conscripted for one reason or another.
Personally, I believe that the military should accept voluntary enlistment of older men who can still move around quite handily.
Hey, I’m in my late 40s, but still in good shape. If I could go in place of my son or daughter, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Better me than them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.