Concerns rise about draft, but officials dismiss idea

[bluestateguy]

http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/07/12in/A1-draft0712-10314.html

WASHINGTON — There are Web sites about the draft. College newspapers are writing about the draft. Worried people are e-mailing Congress about the draft. And Ralph Nader is making the draft an issue in the presidential campaign.

All that's missing is the draft itself.

Two bills in Congress proposing a draft, moves by the Selective Service System to fill vacancies on local draft boards and Pentagon efforts to bolster forces by calling back reservists appear to have raised public concerns that military conscription is near.

"It's hanging out there," said Dr. Barbara Stratton, a Louisville dentist whose son, Matthew, is 19, and daughter, Morgan, is 21. "If we got in an emergency situation, they could certainly enact it."

Comment: If Bush wins (or steals it) you watch: these denials will get softer, until finally they stop denying it all together. Bush will then announce a major increase of troops to be deployed to Iraq around Thanksgiving. Then by January, he will formally ask Congress for a draft, which this Congress will give him.

[Jacobin]

1. Kerry and * are both denying that they will re-instate

If * steals it again, it will certainly return.

If Kerry wins, I'm not so sure he won't re-instate it either, despite denials. He wants more troops. :-(

Very troubling.

[murielm99]

2. I don't see how Kerry can avoid reinstating it.

[bluestateguy]

4. The difference is...

Kerry may not pull us out of Iraq anytime soon, but Bush has more wars planned, and that will require a draft.

[Maine-i-acs]

3. "At this time"

Every administration denial includes this disclaimer.

"No plans/no need at this time for a draft"

Even my own Repub senator Collins is taking this road.