Appeal for draft board volunteers revives memories of Vietnam era

[Say_What]

Desperation setting in with the war mongers. The reinstatement of the draft can't be too far behind, but election year bullsh*t might keep it at bay.

<clips>

The Pentagon has begun recruiting for local draft boards, dredging up painful memories of Vietnam era conscription at a time of deepening misgiving about America's occupation of Iraq.

In a notice posted on the defence department's Defend America website, Americans over the age of 18 and with no criminal record are invited to "serve your community and the nation" by volunteering for the boards, which decide which recruits should be sent to war.

Thirty years have passed since the draft boards last exerted their hold on America, deciding which soldiers would be sent to Vietnam. After Congress ended the draft in 1973, they have become largely dormant.

However, recruitment for the boards suggests that in some parts of the Pentagon all options are being explored in response to concerns that the US military has been stretched too thin in its occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1077906,00.html

[Spazito]

1. It was interesting to see this covered on CTV Newsnet...

(sort of Canada's version of CNN Headline News). It certainly left the impression that the draft was only a matter of time, due to the lack of support and troops from other countries.

[saigon68]

2. ITS GOING TO GET DRAFTY

I got in a serious NASTY discussion about this here 3 days ago. One of the people was rude and said it would not happen. I called that person a disrupter. They called me an idiot in so many words.

Well kids guess what--get ready for a short haircut---Anthrax shots and learning the basics of a tune that starts "Jodie got your girl and gone--- Sound off 1,2,3,4, Break it on down 1,2,3,4,"

[Say_What]

4. or maybe, "Hell no we won't go!!"

which would be great.

[Say_What]

5. or maybe, "Hell no we won't go!!" F*ck Bush and his wars.

[Say_What]

6. Sorry for the repeats. System is VERY SLOW.

[GOPFighter]

3. It's time for National Service ...

...for EVERY 18 year olds - NO EXCEPTIONS. It's time the kids of wealthy families to contribute to the welfare of this country!

[bowens43]

8. Do YOU have any draft age sons?

Are you of draft age?

how is fighting in bushes war contributing to the welfare of the country?

If you think for one minute that the elite and the children of the elite will be put in harms way your very naive.

[GOPFighter]

11. Hey, if the children of the wealthy don't go...

...then screw the draft. Either everyone is part of ti or no one should be drafted. And, yes I have a draft age son.

[PapaClay]

15. ROTFLMAO !

National Service IS the loophole that the aristocracy is counting on to keep THEIR precious darlings safe and sound in some paper shuffling job at home, arranged by Daddy, while our kids become cannon fodder.

The only positive effect of the draft will be to piss off the average American when they realize that, once again, they've been had.

You don't really think that politicians and ceo's are going to let GWB send THEIR kids off to fight in some hell-hole, do you?

[Say_What]

7. US raises spectre of conscription

<clips>


Re-instatement would require action by the president and approval by Congress, but correspondents say the return of the draft would be disastrous for George W Bush during election year.

The SSS's notice, posted on the department's Defend America website, says that in the event of a military draft approximately 2,000 five-member local boards will be called upon to decide which young men are eligible for deferments, postponements or exemption from military service.

Board members are required to be:

* Living in the area where the board has jurisdiction
* Not convicted of any criminal offence
* Willing to spend enough time at the position
* Not a retired or active member of the armed forces or reserves

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3242923.stm

[atreides1]

9. I Sent For A Packet

Sent for a packet, #2 is incorrect. You cannot have been convicted or currently have charges for a felony against you.

I filled it out and sent it back in, I'll let you all know what happens.

[PassingFair]

16. Please...

keep us posted on this, Muah'dib! Keep us up on the House of Harko... I mean Bush!

[diamond14]

10. look how fast Congress gave shrub $87 Billion...the DRAFT is next

and bush* is desperate for more troops...the reserves are all in Iraq, Turkey is now refusing to send troops....there's nobody left...

in addition, few draft-age young men even voted yesterday...few walked in any anti-war protests...there is no resistance...

young men today are just walking around with BIG signs on their heads: PLEASE DRAFT ME......

(here in the metro-DC area, all the 'cheap labor conservatives' have been discussing the DRAFT as a cheap solution for the Iraqnam mess, the street crime committed by young men, and the need for training and disciplining our young men...they are VERY PRO-DRAFT, fully supported by the failure of the young men to vote yesterday...)...

[Journeyman]

13. A draft would reduce the unemployed rolls, too. . .

which some politicians are desperate to accomplish.

[Say_What]

12. Common Dreams: Will U.S. Bring Back the Draft?

<clips>

...If conscription becomes necessary, it says, 2,000 local and appeal boards would need volunteers. The boards would decide who would go to war and who could defer their service in the event of a national call-up to boost the currently all-volunteer military.

"This is significant," said Ned Lebow, a presidential scholar at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and former professor of strategy at the National War College in Washington.

"What the department of Defense is doing is creating the infrastructure to make the draft a viable option should the administration wish to go this route."

He said it is the first public call to reconstitute draft boards since the compulsory draft was abolished in 1973.

Pentagon officials did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1105-01.htm

[Peace_2_Everyone]

14. sadly kids this one back up

:kick:


old guy with 2 sons 20 & 22

[MattNC]

17. there is still no reason

to believe a draft is going to happen. despite what some on this board may believe, there's nothing at all to indicate another military option in the near future. it won't even be a discussion until after nov '04 at the earliest.

on a side note, as someone who is draft age, i do like the idea of an alternative national service. i'd like to work for the state department one day and something like that seems like a viable alternative that i could picture many people my age not having much of a problem of.