Powell Says War Service Should Pertain to Everyone

[southernleftylady]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) refused to get into the debate over the Vietnam service of the U.S. presidential candidates on Sunday but said if the United States ever went back to mandatory enlistment, everybody should be "equally liable"
Powell made the remark on "Fox News Sunday," explaining his opposition to Vietnam-era policies that allowed many, including his boss, President Bush (news - web sites), to serve in Reserve and National Guard units instead of on the battlefield.

Powell said he disagreed with the policies that allowed people like Bush to serve out the war in a National Guard unit. "But those were the policies that were in place at that time," Powell said. "And President Bush and Senator Kerry volunteered to serve their nation under the policies that were in place. And both served honorably and both were discharged honorably."

The war records of Bush and his Democratic opponent, Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts, who was decorated for his service in Vietnam, have been a subject of heated debate in the presidential campaign.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040912/pl_nm/campaign_powell_dc

[Joylaughter]

1. The Draft Is Coming

Sad to say - and when it does the nation would go along easier if they know the COmmander in Chief has served and followed the rule of law. So that is yet another indication that Kerry is going to win. It is my first sad realisation about this because I want Kerry to win but I oppose the war and I oppose the draft.

[mmonk]

2. Sorry

I will protect and defend the constitution of the US. Nowhere does it say to follow someone that created a war on lies and where unlawful orders are being carried out in violation of military code. When we can be in on the decision making process of wars of choice, I'll think about it.

[Wickerman]

3. And so it begins - lock up your sons and daughters

they are soon off to fight in Georgie's never endign war machine.

[GreenArrow]

4. telling the truth service

should pertain to everyone. And Colin should start setting an example.

[havocmom]

5. Bet there will be 'alternative service' for objectors.

Will sound reasonable but I bet it will be used to allow big corporations getting government contracts get to use 'alternative service' inductees as very cheap labor for the grunt work for those contracts. US troops already sitting ducks providing security for Halliburton convoys. It will happen; young Americans will be indentured servants or they will be cannon fodder.

[drunkdriver-in-chief]

6. Yes indeed - fight or you'll be sorry

There will of course be some exemptions from the draft, but people that go that route will be assigned to say sweep streets for minimum wage.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi general_eberhart!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[PsN2Wind]

8. "Mandatory enlistment"

has a much nicer ring to it than "draft" doesn't it? If Dubya is elected I,for one, will not oppose a draft. I will oppose the type of deferments that allowed most of the chickenhawks to avoid service. I'm sorry for those opposed to this war but the only end I can see for the PNAC crusades is to make everyone share in the pain.
I will do whatever I can to also require a surtax to put the war on a pay-as-you-go basis and for anti-profiteering laws.

[Cat Atomic]

9. So Bush's cowardly hypocrisy is alright, because that was policy.

So in other words, "massa is honorable because massa says being a chickenshit is honorable".