bush's new war czar says the D word
Draft. Surprised? It is inevitable if we're going to stay there. We have a poverty draft now, with the volunteer army and its seductive financial incentives directed toward those who can't afford college or can't find a job. I would actually love to see a draft. I think it would stop this disaster in its tracks. I may be naive, but I'll be pretty shocked if folks stand for a broad-based even-handed draft. I can think of five boys whose last names start with R and two young women whose last names start with B that ought to be first up.
Labels: disaster in the middle east, draft, iraq
posted by BigAssBelle at 11:06 PM
13 Comments:
Yes, it is long past time that a draft should have been imposed. Speaking as a veteran of the Viet Nam era, when we all had to register for the draft, and most of us either volunteered or were called, except for the draft dodgers like Dick Cheney, it is the only way that we, all of us get some skin in the game.
I was apalled today when I heard that Mitt Romney, none of whom's sons have volunteered for their country, equated his son driving around for Mitt's campaign as being akin to "national service". What a load of crap, coming from the mouth of some privileged titan of business, who likely would continue the Bushliburton policies of keeping the war going and continuing to line the pockets of the war profiteers, on the backs of in some respects a disenfranchised class of our citizens who volunteer their lives to their country.
It is time that all of the saber rattling neocons, or weak willed professional politicians from either party who will not do what ever is necessary to stop the United States' immoral conquest of Iraq either put their own kin's skin in the game, or step aside and let some rational, ethical people take back our govenment.
Everyone needs to get reacquainted with this document: http://indefatigable-indolence.org/blog1/?p=156
Sad to say, the children of the rich and powerful can always get out of it one way or another.. It may however piss the middle class off enough to make some serious waves.
Ain't gonna happen. Not as long as we can keep sending kids back to war zones 3 and 4 times. And certainly not as long as the military is the only choice for so many.
I think the respondents above are probably right. An administration that tried to prevent the distribution of photos of returning coffins, and which relies on an "all volunteer" military (read: invisible to the vast majority of people, who have been told to "go shopping"), and an administration that hides the financial cost of the war by not raising taxes to fund it, or by not issuing war bonds, but instead mortgages our country to China (the world's largest holder of U.S. Treasury bonds) is not going to bring the real costs of this war out in to the open.
What is really starting to disgust me, is the fact that virtually NO ONE in congress is standing up and doing what needs to be done to shut down this corrupt administration.
I've long been in favor of bringing back the draft. Honestly, when the nation is at war, we need soldiers to fight, and it's a citizen's duty to defend his country.
Of course, you and I both know that the War in Iraq has absolutely zero to do with defending the country and everything to do with controlling Iraqi oil -- but if there were a draft, people would be marching in the streets -- it'd be the sixties all over again.
The draft not only keeps the nation safe during just wars; it holds our leaders accountable during unjust wars. I'm ALL for it.
The Draft during the Vietnam war changed Vancouver, as so many dodgers moved here, and made it a much more intersting city. They revitalized neighborhoods, and now all own expensive houses in such areas and help keep city hall in check. My heart goes out to all those parents who are losing children to this generations Vietnam war.
And I want Dennis Kunich for President.
Yes, Lynette, bringing back the draft would shut down the war. And soon. It would likely spark demonstrations, civil disobedience, and activism on a scale not seen in nearly forty years. Is that such a bad thing, really?
Since the war started, I've been frustrated by the disconnect between what I've heard Bush say about fighting this mortal threat to our way of life, our freedoms, and our civilization, and the lack of sacrifice asked by the government of its citizens to accomplish a successful outcome. I've also been puzzled by folks who enthusiastically and vociferously, and yet balk like some young Republicans when asked to take action in the cause (serve and fight being just one option). My favorite response came from one weasely little douchebag: "It's not in God's plan for me" (to enlist). A draft would call their bluff.
But I have to admit, the likelihood of re-establishing conscription is about as likely right now as impeachment, given the let's-sit-on-our-hands Congress.
i think a draft would make it real for people, too. it must be terrible for those who have family members in iraq to suffer in such isolation from the vast majority of the country, pretty much untouched by the effects of this disaster.
we are going to have to do something if the troops stay there. at some point they are simply going to drop out through illness, exhaustion, injuries.
i think bush is trying to hold off to throw this onto the next president (assuming he gives it up, which i am not sure he will if there's another big terrorist attack here ~ war powers and all of that).
i hate to be cynical but i would be willing to bet karl rove and dick cheney have plotted this out with timelines and charts designating when to roll out the terrorist threats and all of the rest so as to better the chances of a rethug getting elected in 2008.
of course that might defeat their purpose: maybe they're willing to turn it over to a dem for 4 years in order to dump this mess on the democrats. my party has never been good at defending itself. we're like a bunch of cowed children, hanging our heads, unable to come up with the truth or even a counter argument to the lies and critiques of the other side.
and BJ!! hi honey!! i was just thinking about you yesterday and here you are. :-)
I may be retarded, but who are the five R boys? Rove doesn't have any kids. Does Rumsfeld?
Those would be the Romney boys, David. Google "Romney sons" to read the whole story.
Here is another view on why we may get the draft back:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/stay-the-course-in-iraq-_b_60273.html
Those unfit for college, or with criminal records or with skinheads might not be enough voluntters...
I have often said they need to reinstate the draft, and start with the Bush twins. But then, I was told, they wouldn't pass the drug tests... My father, brother, husband, son, and now grandson have all served our country, draft or not. Yeah, we're Dems.
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