D of Democrat, D for Draft.

[Hollis]

"

Seeking to boost the movement to reinstitute a military draft, Rep. John Murtha is arguing that the U.S. should have a "citizen's army" in addition to a "volunteer, professional army." However, a critic of the Pennsylvania Democrat on Monday called his statement "ridiculous" and "without merit."


"I voted against the volunteer army because I felt if we ever had a war, we wouldn't be able to sustain [it]," Murtha said during the March 29 edition of CNN's "The Situation Room."

"This is one of the smallest armies we've had since before World War II, right before the Korean War," added the congressman. Murtha, a frequent critic of the war in Iraq, claimed that the president's handling of the war has depleted the country's strategic reserve.
"And I think also, everybody ought to be able to serve in this country," Murtha said. "I think we ought to not just have a select few who volunteer. I think everybody ought to be obligated to serve. "

[Abolith]

D for Dumbarse.

[Firetxmi]

S is for source?

[Lefty]

Yes, the dems seem to be murmuring of a draft, murmuring as they need to do it fast in order to not do it close enough to election time to spear themselves on their own sword, my guess is it is less to sustain combat and more to make the war more unpopular, thus causing a return of forces from Iraq, and likely a swift end to the draft.

All talk though, doubt it will go anywhere, current military spending is already bleeding the OBM dry, and extra soldiers won't help that.



oh...N is for NSS

[ElHombre]

S is for source?

A wise question considering that the last article HOLLiS posted to support Bush came from an op-ed three years old!!! :lol:

[Wodan]

I don't see the problem americans have with draft, look at russia, israel, germany, austria, finland etc.

why not?

[kosse]

I don't see the problem americans have with draft, look at russia, israel, germany, austria, finland etc.

why not?
If you can afford to have professional force big enough to defend yourselves if I were you I'd stick with that. Just try to force a conscript force abroad and you have a mutiny at your hands. In addition, skill level and devotion is hardly on the level of professional force. How would a big country have conscription anyway? Like Russia so that 90% of people manage to dodge it with various excuses? It sounds very unfair..In Finland all healthy men serve in one way or another. I believe it is same in Israel. It's easy for a small country. How are you going to train a few million men in US every year and what's the point? If you think you can just force a small portion of young men into service against their will in modern world think again.

A reservist of a conscript force.

[mi35d]

The "volunteer army"? O.k. Since our active military components are already a "voluntary" force and our Guard/Reserve forces are also VOLUNTARY...how many more military forces do these jackasses want to create?

(In addition, many states have "State" Guard that act as a reserve component for their own State NATIONAL Guard. NY for example...the NY Guard and the NY Naval Militia.)

[WarriorMonk]

Y is for Your source is right here:

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200704/POL20070403b.html

[annihilation]

I can see it now all draft divisions full of Brown university students and such, it can be called the 131st cannon fodder, "taking the bullet so some else doesn't"

[Freedom-Fries]

Why the Draft is Coming through the Back Door? (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/landon-jones/why-the-draft-is-coming-t_b_45804.html)

[budgie]

It's not. They're just raising the issue to put the thought in people's mind: ""What if my kid were sent into Iraq without a solid reason?". It's just another way of protesting the war.

[usmcprincipal]

Landon Jones' article offers nothing illuminating on the draft; however, I always find it interesting when one who never served offers criticism of someone else who didn't serve based solely on a partisan agenda. It's an ad hominem criticism that substitutes for legitimate scrutiny.

It's almost black comedy when a member of the never served elite offers commentary or provide their spin on things military, particularly after reading an autobiographical statement in which he suggests despite the lifestyle of his youth he wants to assure his readers he was exposed to the problems associated with the common man.

While Jones' book on Lewis & Clark is masterful, his commentary on the draft was singularly worthless.

As was stated in the previous post...politicians suggesting a return to the draft are simply offering a ploy aimed at fostering an anti-war agenda. It's nothing more than political subterfuge rather than real political dialogue. Their approach is tactically similar to what they sometimes rightfully criticize in the Bush administration, but in this case failed to apply to their own actions.

No one has offered a substantive method to actually impliment the draft, particularly from a fiscal perspective. It's hollow with little sustance and when offered by Congressman Murtha it rings particularly hollow, since his ideas on Iraq have never shown much merit when examined in the light of day. I've heard Dems complain about the money wasted in Iraq, which could have been better used in more noble domestic causes, and yet some would float the idea of enlarging the armed services and instituting a draft as though there would not be an incredible tax burden associated with such a plan.

When Democrats actually float a plan that includes the fiscal mechanics of implimenting a conscripted military I'll give it some passing thought. Until that time I'll consign it to the trash heap of of political style in lieu of substance.

Semper Fi

[martinexsquaddie]

I remember my OC talking to an American officer "must be really hard working with conscripts
back came the reply no sir all my men are professionals
response OC walkled off muttering oh dear oh dear :)"

[Dakota435]

A draft will never happen because nobody in the US military establishment wants one. This is just a Dem wet dream because they remember that the main driver of the anti-war movement in the 60s was the draft.

The problems with military resources are largely thanks to Clinton's 1/3 reduction in the Army in the 90s.

[tntkop]

Democrats will protect us... ( ? )

D -Democrats
E - Elect
M - Morons
O - Our
C - Country
R - Retreats
A - Against
T - Terrorism

[Firetxmi]

So where are you guys when Republicans introduce bills to instate a draft?

EX:
-Chuck Hagel (R) says that the draft should be reinstated in April of 2004

-H.R. 3598, The Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001 introduced by Smith (R-MI) Weldon (R-PA)


I don't think it is a party issue, but more of a candidate issue. But, as usual, it is convenient for some to see the world as Repubs. VS. Dems., Left VS. Right. Grouping people into categories always makes things easier, doesn't it? They are opposing wings on the same sick bird.

[PPSH41]

They are opposing wings on the same sick bird.

Nice one Firetxmi. Totally agree with you. I'm getting sick of the status quo in D.C. Time for a change and some new blood across the board. If people took the time to even glance at their congressmen's tax statements (public record) they would see that they ALL have their hands in so many pockets its ubsurd.

[Dakota435]

So where are you guys when Republicans introduce bills to instate a draft?

EX:
-Chuck Hagel (R) says that the draft should be reinstated in April of 2004

-H.R. 3598, The Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001 introduced by Smith (R-MI) Weldon (R-PA)


I don't think it is a party issue, but more of a candidate issue. But, as usual, it is convenient for some to see the world as Repubs. VS. Dems., Left VS. Right. Grouping people into categories always makes things easier, doesn't it? They are opposing wings on the same sick bird.

I don't think most Dems want a draft either. There are some people who think a draft is better from a sociological standpoint and some who just want to use it to scare young people into opposing the war.

Bottom line is the military does not want a draft in any way shape or form.

[Firetxmi]

I certainly don't want a draft! But, the blind support shown in this thread for one party or another is disgusting!

[tntkop]

Here's some similarities:

Republican Chuck Hagel wants to reinstate the draft (2004).

Democrat Charles Rangel want to reinstate the draft (2007).

I'm sure Charles Rangel disagreed with Chuck Hagel in 2004.
And...
I'm sure Chuck Hagel disagrees with Charles Rangel in 2007.

Their names and political positions can get very confusing. I don't think they know WHAT they want.