Will he draft you for the U.S. Army?

[Khephra]

Will he draft you for the U.S. Army?

IT'S UNLIKELY A DRAFT WILL RETURN, ANALYSTS SAY, BUT WORRIES PERSIST

By Jim Puzzanghera

Mercury News Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON - Talk of a military draft keeps blowing in the wind this campaign season, and it's giving many people chills.

E-mails and Weblogs continue to warn that Congress and the White House are moving to reinstitute a draft by next spring for all men and women 18 to 25 years old -- no deferments. Although the Bush administration has adamantly denied it for months, Democrats have tried to seize on the fear to energize worried young voters and mothers to vote for Sen. John Kerry.

With fighting intensifying in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military is stretched so thin that soldiers are being prevented from retiring. Two bills have been introduced by Democrats in Congress to revive and expand the draft, which was discontinued near the end of the Vietnam War. Adding to the anxiety is the Selective Service System's recent advertisements for people to serve on local boards, which would help administer a draft. The service requires millions of men age 18 to 25 to register in case one is ever reinstated.

But despite that seemingly strong evidence, it's highly unlikely a draft will return, barring some major national emergency, lawmakers and analysts say. There is virtually no backing for the legislation in Congress, which must authorize a draft. One of the main reasons for the lack of support -- the intense opposition from many Americans -- is exactly what's fueling attempts by Democrats to make it a campaign issue.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/9778852.htm

[BulletproofLandshark]

1. Notice the disclaimer in the article...

"barring some major national emergency". The Bush administration fooled a lot of people into considering the possibility of Iraq attacking the United States. I'm sure they could sucker enough people into it again (Iran,Syria,etc...). No matter what the "experts" say, my gut tells me the draft starts in 2005, and the invasion of Iran or Syria follows in 2006.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. actually I beg to differ just in the time line

I expect the invasion of Iran to happen, regardless who wins, BEFORE January 20th... REMEMBER SOMALIA... and poppy bush

Otherwise, you are correct

[saigon68]

3. Lots of Racist NeoCons still want to settle up with Somalia

They will get a real rush out of killing a few black "extremists".

[BulletproofLandshark]

4. Your scenario...

Is,of course,entirely possible as well, maybe even more likely should Bush lose. Nothing's quite like making a mess for someone else to clean up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Yep, I have been thinking of this

and this is going to be a shock to many americans, especially if Kerry wins decisively

[Spoonman]

6. Here's something that will really frighten you

"Legislation has been introduced in both houses to revive the draft, which was ended in 1973 as the Vietnam War wound down and subsequently replaced by an all-volunteer army. The bills are sponsored by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. No action has been scheduled on either measure."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/04/22/MNGSK691H61.DTL

[Radius]

7. That is politic..

Why would 2 democratic senators do this?

[Massacure]

8. Isn't there another one going around though made by Rethugs?

One that isn't so political.

[Radius]

9. Didn't see one in the house or senate, but maybe?

[Earth_First]

10. H.R. 163 & S. 89

...have both been tabled since 2003. This is an election year, no candidate barring political suicide would touch this issue with a ten foot pole. Additionally, expect not to see a "draft" rather a "civilian volunteer corps" or "civilian conscription program".

[Radius]

12. They were democratic bills

with democratic co sponsors. I think their purpose was to create a "draft scare". This would never pass. To my knowledge the military does not want a draft because of Vietnam era reasons.

Hit a 1000, woot.

[FrozenNorth]

11. Fact check

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=200

Everybody is a little too eager to buy into this. If the story was true there would be a hell of a lot more coverage and you wouldn't see anything else on the news. Think about it... all press left and right would have exhaustive coverage of it. It would drive up the ratings with John Q. Public much more than the endless dreck about the Peterson case and Kobi.

[Name removed]

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