Top Army recruiter: Draft wouldn't help

[Rose Siding]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A military draft would not improve the quality of soldier over the current all-volunteer force, the head of Army recruiting said Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, said volunteer soldiers want to be a part of the military, making them "as wonderful a soldier as one can imagine."

"I think what we have today far surpasses a draft," he told a Rotary Club audience.
...
A good economy and a falling unemployment rate mean fewer people are looking for jobs. "Recruiting is a challenge in the best of times," he said. "We're competing with industry."

Nevertheless, the Army expects to meet its recruiting goals for 2005, he said, noting the targeted recruiting age range -- those between 17 and 24 -- are "joiners" willing to serve.

"They're civic minded," Rochelle said. "They recognize the threat very well that Sept. 11 poses."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/17/top_army_recruiter_draft_wouldnt_help/

[darkism]

1. ** doesn't want quality

He wants cannon fodder.

[The Zanti Regent]

17. Ask my dead son, my only child.

Oh, sorry, General Asshole, you see, you can't because you sent him to die in Iraq.

[Horse with no Name]

32. So sorry for your loss. eom

[ninkasi]

36. I only know you through DU

Zanti Regent, but every death I hear about, every precious life lost, brings your name to my mind. Any death of a loved one, under any circumstances, causes years of unrelenting pain and grief. No survivor of a lost loved one is ever the same.

With time, perhaps some of the worst of the pain may heal. In your case, however, as in the case of anybody who has lost a loved one to this tragic, greed induced farce of a war, for you to have to read, and hear, over and over, about what a brave sacrifice your son made to keep America free must keep the wound in your heart and soul from ever healing.

Does this country truly believe that our loved ones died for us? Can any person with a grain of intelligence really think that destroying Iraq, and destroying not only our dead soldiers, but their families as well,is a noble thing?

Why not just call it what it is, the sacrifice of the powerless by the powerful, in order to gain even more power, since no matter how much they have, whether power or money, will ever be enough? Isn't it enough that our loved ones must die, or be maimed for life, without also cloaking the truth of their deaths with lies told by men who are without question the most vile and evil men ever to grab this country by the throat and squeeze the life out of us?

[Az_lefty]

37. Sorry for your loss...

I was in Iraq in 03', a total zoo.

[HereSince1628]

46. Clearly the quality of general officers leaves much to be desired

I guess you go to war with the generals you have not the ones you might like to have.

[mudderfudder77]

51. Was he drafted?

[jswordy]

53. LOL...yer cartoon is funny, because facts, objectivity and truth...

...are all in short supply on most blogs. Ideology, innuendo and spin are rampant.

I like the ideology, innuendo and spin here, which is why I come here. Others like the ideology, innuendo and spin at Free Republic, so they go there.

:shrug:

[mudderfudder77]

54. I agree completely

It's more of a sarcastic stab at the people who hold up these blogs as the only legitimate voice of the people as soon as they break a story they like - completely ignoring the 100 lies that the blog spread previously.

[lonestarnot]

67. Love this toon! n/t

[wildcat78]

61. Sorry for your loss

My son recently came back from Iraq after serving with Marines Golf 2/4. I remember who each day was full of anxiety. Now, you have to live a loss I can't imagine for the rest of your life.

My son is now as anti-war as one can get and does not have kind words for shrub.

[quaoar]

62. I'm very sorry for your loss.

[noamnety]

2. Denial?

"five of the six military reserve components have failed to meet their recruiting goals for the first four months of the current fiscal year, the military's top officer said on Wednesday."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/17/politics/17military.html

I don't think they need a draft, but they need to admit we can't afford - either financially or in terms of personnel - the commitments we've made around the world.

[neuvocat]

3. They can target the poor a lot more easily.

You make the appeal to those who need financial help and they're much more likely to enlist. You try to draft them and they will resist. Its reverse psychology.

[gordianot]

4. Build those robots or remote soldiers.

Turn loose the new dogs of war. Draft only the techies.

[Dan]

18. only those from the Red States and voted for Bush

[renaissanceguy]

55. I wish.

If the pugs want war so badly, send THEM.

I won't have any part in something that I don't agree with. SCREW THIS idea of "rallying behind the president." He's not a king, and he certainly is not god.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/479723

[zann725]

58. That's what I was thinking.

From a "budgetary" standpoint though, I wonder what a blown-off arm or leg on a Robot costs to repair? And if a Robot's computer gets scrambled during battle, if it can distinguish between the enemy or fellow soldiers? My guess is 'no.'

[tabasco]

5. I'm sure all commanders would rather have volunteers.

Also, I'm sure all commanders would rather have 200 soldiers than 100. In order for the neocons to continue their imperial policy, there will have to be more troops whether they are draftees or volunteers. Seeing as recruitment is dropping off, the neocons have a choice: alter their foreign policy or institute a draft. I'm pretty sure the neocons will continue their destructive imperial policies. IMO, there will be another tragedy which will "change everything" followed by a draft.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. bingo!

We are needing another event so we can take the next step.

[Mich Otter]

6. Why We Can't Get Health Care Or Paid Education...

How many of the people currently in the services joined up primarily to get the opportunity for the education and the health care? I suspect more than half.
How much of the military would we have to cut back to be able to pay for a national health care program and to pay for schooling for all Americans that would take them as far as their talent would allow them to go?
It is no wonder to me that our leadership in America wants us to live in fear and does not support a real national health care program or proper educational opportunities for all Americans.

[mhr]

7. "A good economy and a falling unemployment rate.....

......mean fewer people are looking for jobs."

What planet are these folks living on?

[TexasLawyer]

15. it means that fewer 18 to 25 year olds

are SO desperate for a job and for benefits that they'll risk death by joining the military.

[icehenge]

29. Just what i was thinking

I'm working PT, been trying for a full time
tech job for 2 months....

[thinkingwoman]

42. that's what I want to know

my county has had a consistant 7-8% unemployment rate for at leat 3 years now.

[SupormomFreeAtLast]

76. That jumped out at me also.

They must be in total denial.

[ticapnews]

8. We have a good economy? (eom)

Tell that to black kids in the inner cities or farm kids in rural America...

[ixion]

9. they're civic minded, and we like to exploit that

and strip them of any personality and reprogram them to be trained killers... it's all part of the Great 'Murikan Way. :eyes:

[Horse with no Name]

10. My daughter is a college student

And she said that the recruiters presence is very very visible on their campus.
She said they are trolling hard for college kids--she said she is approached on a daily basis.
Guess this set of budget cuts hasn't recruited enough yet. Maybe they will wait until next semester. Sheesh.

[yorkiemommie1]

11. my friend said they went after her son and his friends relentlessly

while they were hs seniors.

her son enlisted to her dismay (she hates *) and she said that while there was no economic need for him to enlist, his other friends were not as well off and she thinks that is why they enlisted.

[lonestarnot]

68. Get a fucking restraining order! n/t

[flyarm]

30. i hear from friends they are all over high schools promising the

golden egg as well..many pf my friends say the recruiters call every night..and when they tell them not to call they threaten them..soi have told all my friends to get a coaches whistle and when they call dont say a thing but blow the damn whistle in their ear as loud as possible!!


some friends have listened to me...and have done so and get no calls afterwards..but others havent and just keep bitching about the calls...

years ago i had someone calling me and he was a preditor and a detective told me to do that so i put a whistle on a ribbon on the phone..and i will tell you 3 times and the guy never called back!

dont let these recruiters intimidate you or your family..get a whistle!!

fly

[lonestarnot]

69. A massive shun would be impressive! n/t

[trogdor]

44. That's why SUNY wants to up tuition by $500/sem.

Bastards. Price college out of more people's budgets, and there ya go.

[HockeyMom]

45. Leave No Child Behind Law

My daughter was a HS Senior 3 years ago. Since she had turned 18, I couldn't sign the Do Not Call paper. The Military called her almost immediately after she turned 18. And he called and called and called. Wouldn't take no for an answer. It got to the point that she was terrified to answer the phone that it might be the recruiter. I told her she had to tell him FIRMLY to leave her alone. I said that if you have to get nasty, then do it. She did. He didn't call again.

If they were that desperate 3 years ago, plus with a GIRL, I can imagine what it is like today.

[Big_Mike]

77. If you want the calls to stop,

simply tell them that she has Asthma. All of the services disqualify an applicant on those grounds (they cannot wear protective masks for chemical weapons or firefighting if they have Asthma).

[alfredo]

49. Two people at our meeting last night had to drop out of college

because of the 14% increase of tuition this semester.

Here's a question, is there a correlation between tuition increases and republican governors.

I have these numbers so far.

New York (SUNY) system has approved tuition of $4,350, up 28% over last year. Oklahoma State University, a 24% hike. Iowa State University, 22% . Kansas State University, 18% . Arizona State, 39%. Kentucky, 14%.

[MSgt213]

12. He doesn't want a draft because of the headaches. It has nothing to do

with the quality of solider. I happen to think that most people in American and including this forum would fight and risk losing life and limb if there were a demonstrated true threat to this country, our way of life and freedom.

I also think that most Americans and including this forum would fight, risk their lives and suffer sacrifices to save people of other nations if they knew for a fact that our government's only intention was to stop mass murder of innocent men, women and children.

But we have a government that has lied to us almost since the inception of this country. A government that lies is a government that deserves no trust, faith or allegiance.

Instituting a draft in an such an atmosphere of extreme distrust and faith in leadership is a disaster the likes of which we have never experienced before.

[TahitiNut]

38. This General is but another example of the evils inherent ....

... in a professional (mercenary) military. The arrogance and elitist attitudes of a military viewing themselves as superior in both abilities and attitudes to the citizens of the country demonstrates the kind of perspective that could make Kent State seem ordinary. Such a military is not accepting of civilian scrutiny, is not candid about its mission or spending, and is not respectful of Congress itself. Such a military is ample proof of the wisdom of posse comitatus.

Citizen-soldiers have, throughout this nation's history, demonstrated a keen comprehension of the balance between liberty and defense and have comported themselves with courage and integrity. Benedict Arnold wasn't a conscript. Lt. Calley wasn't a draftee. The abu Ghraib torturers weren't draftees. The vast majority of WW2 troops were NOT career military; they were either drafted or voluntary enlistees for the duration ONLY.

[Southern Dem 2005]

57. Your joking, right?

You actually think we would be better off without a professional military?

[TahitiNut]

59. Did I use words that were too big??

Of the options available, an all-volunteer/career/professional military is the worst - even worse still when blatantly politicized as has been done in the last four years. Even the draft military of the Vietnam era is preferable. I personally support a Universal National Service obligation, where every citizen is required to serve from 15 to 48 months in a branch of the military, the Public Health Service, the Peace Corps, VISTA, or other selected public service options.

[Name removed]

65. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

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[SomewhereOutThere424]

79. People, people...

A non profit internet forum isn't the place to attack eachother over such personal views. Both being vets, you don't need to spill eachother's guts to prove it here, we're all equal regardless of what we used to do.

That said, I think we can all come to the agreement that, draft or no draft, morale is greatly increased when the way going about the war and what they fight for is important. The general is misleading in his comments, soldiers don't give a damn about 9/11 because most are not going after its orchestrators.

Drafted or not, it isn't likely you're going to have morale when contractors and soldiers are forced by generals to kill children. No one likes a war, it makes people cold indifferent and, for some, unable to act agreeably even on a simple internet forum. I don't promote it at all, I understand defense is needed and sometimes covert defense (as in attacking first) is also needed. I think things can go far more diplomatically if we were willing to discuss things peacably instead of attacking when it isn't needed.

There is no way to force morale into someone, and biting eachother's head off isn't going to make us anymore motivated, eh?

[ausiedownunderground]

83. Currently it does appear that most Americans support War!!!

But you are only 290 million in a world of 6 Billion. When we get our hands on your arse- watch out Democrat - The "Clusterfuck" in Somalia was nothing to what you'll experience if you "volunteer" for the "Bush Gang's" wars in our world!!! LOL Bring it on AWOL chimp!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

82. Yeah..how to attract the cream of the crop

Have everybody serve :D

[Big_Mike]

78. Biggest problem with a draftee force

is that you don't have the time to train them up. The Germans draft for just short of 18 months. You spend about 4 - 6 months making them a soldier, and it takes around 1 - 2 years to train them up following that. In essence, the Germans let their kids go just short of them being fully trained.

In our forces, particularly in technical jobs, or those requiring language skills, training alone is 18 - 24 months.

This retired progressive says the draft is not for us, unless we are being overwhelmed. Then that raises questions about the unorganized militia.

[TahitiNut]

81. That ignores the 'preparedness' argument, which has validity.

When I was drafted in 1968, I was overwhelmingly willing to buy into damned near any argument, no matter ow specious, that it was a 'wrong' to me. Even then, however, I was aware of the equities and inequities.

Clearly, the greatest inequity was the unbalanced and uncompensated burden placed on a few. It was inequitable in terms of wealth. Those whose families could afford to pay their tuition and expenses often opted to become 8-year 'professional' students. If they stayed in college until they were 26, they avoided the draft. (Yes, this 'escape' was eliminated in 1971 ... too little, too late.) Further, the wealthy had a far greater advantage in 'occupational deferments' or in using influence to avoid the more dangerous duty assignments. It was inequitable in terms of gender. There's nothing that a male does in the military that cannot be done by a female. (A penis doesn't pull a trigger or throw a grenade.) It was inequitable in terms of sexual orientation. There's nothing that makes a gay or lesbian less able to perform. Nothing. People focus on the myth of 'voluntary' vs. 'involuntary' and conveniently ignore stop-loss and economic coercion. Absolutely none of these inequities have been ameliorated. None. Today's military is an exacerbation of the fragmentation and classism in our society, even worse than the pre-1971 draft. The post-1971 draft was only somewhat better than either what we have today or the pre-1971 draft.

A peacetime Universal Service obligation builds a citizenry more prepared to defend themselves than rely on some disadvantaged minority. The basic military training doesn't merely equip them for their short-term active service in peacetime, it equips them with the potential need for longer term service should a real national emergency akin to WW2 require it. (Furthermore, it has its "gun control" advantages. I'd feel far more comfortable if the vast majority of people owning guns had basic military training.)

Even more significant, I believe, is the appreciation one acquires for such service and for the others one must serve with. I don't believe it's an accident that liberalism thrived after WW2 when the people who saw "the other side" came back and raised children.


This argument also ignores the fact that "technical training" has cross-benefits in the civilian sector. The arguments about 'training taking too long' don't really apply to the traditional combat arms. They apply most to the support functions and the more highly skilled duties. But that 'training' has lifetime benefits to the recipient and to the civilian sector. It's NOT wasted.

[area51]

14. "A military draft would not improve the quality of soldier..."

A military recruiter said:

"A military draft would not improve the quality of soldier...."

I think they're more concerned about quantity than quality right now.

The recruiter also said:

"A good economy and a falling unemployment rate...."

And as others have brought up, this recruiter must be living in an alternate universe. Who the fsck is he trying to fool?

---

"Prosperity is just around the corner." -- Herbert Hoover
"The economy has turned a corner." -- GW Bush

Herbert Hoover = GW Bush

Neither man cared about the Depression their economic policies created.

[Disturbed]

16. A Military Draft...

would escalate resistance to the Bush Junta's Empire expansion. This is why Charles Rangle is pushing for a Draft.

Those that think the Draft would solve the War with Iran and Syria are mnistaken. Not only would their be mass protests toward war with those two countries but it would take at least a year to have enough troops ready for a ground war.

In my view, war with Iran and Syria won't happen.

[Dan]

19. another thing

It would potentially destroy the military....
or rather create such problems within the military,
that the effectiveness and ability to complete the mission
would be suspect.

[mordarlar]

20. A good economy and a falling unemployment rate : O

Huh? Seriously are they living in an alternate reality? There must be some other plane of existence these people are broadcasting from.

[conflictgirl]

26. That was the part that really got my attention too.

Sure, the reason military enlistment is low is because the economy is so great. It has absolutely nothing to do with 1400+ dead American soldiers.

[glitch]

63. Yup - sounds like the general is in denial. Perhaps he's sensitive,

and his feelings might get hurt if he realized the real reason people don't want to join his special club.

[NVMojo]

21. Well, I was in a deep conversation about the draft tonight with two

active duty soldiers back from Iraq and one recently retired soldier who served in Kuwait, Somalia and a handful of other high risk assignments. That gentleman said that military statistics found that of the 55,000 soldiers who died in Viet Nam, 70% of them were draftees. He said this meant that those soldiers were not combat ready as they were usually trained in 4 weeks or less once drafted and then shipped off to fight with seasoned military soldiers. So they KNOW this shit.....

[leesa]

35. The point is that they need warm bodies for the Iraqis to shoot at or they

can't get their war on. They have no choice but to draft. They may not want too, but these bozos want 30 years of war...what choice is there?

[TahitiNut]

64. "70% of them were draftees"?? You BOUGHT that BULLSHIT?!?

Of 58,193 names on the wall, 17,672 are draftees. Draftees accounted for 30.4% of combat deaths in Vietnam. 25% (648,500) of total forces in country (2,594,000) were draftees. (Draftees, almost invariably enlisted and junior, had a far greater likelihood to be serving under direct fire.)

When medals and awards are examined, it's amazing that draftees got roughly a proportionally equal number (slightly more, actually) - since it was more than obvious (in my unit and others) that a preference was given to lifers (career soldiers) for such awards. The 'preference' could be as slight as being more expeditious in processing the paperwork.

[Placebo]

22. What September 11th threat?

Once again, what does that have to do with where these recruits will likely be sent, Iraq?

Soldiers aren't going to protect us from another "9.11" but some people in DC with a brain might! :eyes:

[saigon68]

23. The Draft to Prop up Corporations and their Millionaire owners

The idiot says

"the threat very well that Sept. 11 poses."

WTF is he smoking--- 19 nut cases bring down some buildings.

We trade our way of life so the rich become richer safe in their gated communities. Halliburton loves rhetoric like this as they hand count their war profits.

[galledgoblin]

24. 17?

did I miss something? why are they recruiting 17-year-olds? they can't wait that one year before harassing us?

[trogdor]

43. Old news, dude.

They do this in peacetime, too. Contact all high school seniors and sign them up to do as soon as they graduate. I don't like it either, but it's been legal for a long time.

My son is almost 16. They'd better not call my house, or else they'll get an earful from me.

[OneBlueSky]

25. "Shrink, I want to kill . . .

I mean, I wanna, I wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and guts, and veins in my teeth. Eat dead, burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill, KILL, KILL!"

And I started jumpin up and down yelling, "KILL! KILL!" And he started jumpin up and down with me, and we was both jumping up and down yelling "KILL! KILL!"

And the sargent came over, pinned a medal on me,sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."

[TahitiNut]

39. Easy, Arlo.

:silly:

[kineneb]

72. sittin' here on the Group W bench

We all just need to get on the Group W bench somehow...

[truthisfreedom]

27. civic-minded="patriotic" kool-aiders. threat posed=bush fear factory.

this article is a perfect measure of the brainwashing going on in government.

[ausiedownunderground]

28. Rangel's angle does sound democratic at least

The Draft is far more democratic than recruiters arm twisting young people who are more than likely to be from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. A lot more "freeper" kids will be caught in the net - thats got to be good! The Draft may well also highlight and focus the general American population on exactly what the AWOL Chimp and his band of Neo-Crazies have actually been doing to the rest of the world and from this computer desk down here in Oz thats got to be good!!!
However from the military point of view it probably won't be so good. Draftees are likely to be under trained and as a consequence are more likely to be easy pickings for the battle hardened guerrillas so US troop deaths will escalate. The MSM can only keep the numbers quiet from the public for so long.
Draftees are also more than likely to "not want to be there" so levels of "Fraticide" will increase and i don't think thats what the military commanders would want -Shot in the back is no way to earn your Purple Heart!
Draftees can also contaminate military discipline with their free thinking ways and their superior intelligence.

[Stirk]

31. No shit, Sherlock. The Draft isn't about "quality", it's about quantity.

What a dipshit thing to say

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Horse with no Name]

34. Food for thought

I wonder if their increasingly ambitious agenda is the reason they are all of the sudden concerned about the diet of the kids in our country and the obesity? Ya know, you can't have fat soldiers.
Something tells me I am pretty close to a truth here because Bushco doesn't give a shit about anyone or anything, let alone yours or my children. But in the long run, with military all over the world, sounds like an indoctrination diet to me.
Personally? This war machine would get my kids over my dead body and I don't care how fast we would have to run or to which border.
He's Not My President and he aint taking My Kids!

[redqueen]

40. Even Pat Buchanan says 9/11 was a result of American interventionism!

Unbelievable the amount of flat-out LIES the press is willing to spoonfeed the American public with.

Here's an exchange from Meet the Press last Sunday.

Russert: Prescription for endless war?

Buchanan: In my judgement what happened on 9/11 was a result of (US) interventionism. Interventionism is the cause. It is not a cure for terror."

Russert: The president said that on September 11th, "freedom came under attack."

Buchanan: "The president of the United States was profoundly mistaken. He has misdiagnosed the malady. He has misdiagnosed the reason for the attack, Tim.

"The United States was not attacked because we are free. Bin Laden was not attacking the Bill of Rights. We were attacked because the U.S. military and political presence is massive over there. Bin Laden in his fatwah, his statement of declaration of war on the U.S. said the infidels were standing on sacred soil of Saudi Arabia. They want us out of the Middle East. They don't care whether we have seperation of church and state."

I'm not even going to bother commenting on his clearly delusional assesment of our economy. These guys read Orwell as a primer instead of a warning.

[bvar22]

41. The economy IS GOOD....

...for those who make a living killing people and destroying things!!
There are positions opening up in Iraq every fu**ing day!!!

[ProfessorGAC]

47. Can This Guy Read?

Maybe if he reads the Moonie Times he'd think the economy is doing well, and the unemployment rate is falling. But, the UE is static, on a statistically significant basis, (not falling by enough to be considered valid), and the economy is not growing by anymore than the change in gov't borrowing.

He must just watch Faux, and read the Wash. Times. Then, he'd have no way of knowing the economic truth.
The Professor

[Skidmore]

48. The benefit of a draft right now is that

it would put the brakes to an ever expanding and unending war. When everyone is forced to send their children to a war they didn't choose, then you can bet that the war machine will start having wrenches thrown in it. Now that is hard for me to say since my only son is draft age.

[Horse with no Name]

50. I remember a day that this would have made any parent

proud. Timely I suppose, but now it makes me gag.
My junior in High School scored an 87 on the ASVAB--which I understand is a very high score.
Today, in the mail, there is mail from West Point wanting to talk to her about giving her a commission as second lieutenan in the US Army. She is a junior in HS,lol.
They are having a CATTLE CALL in Dallas for West Point recruits on March 3--what is this about??
Has that ever been done? I had always thought the prestige of West Point was that you went to them not they come to you? Shheesh! Bush has even desicrated the prestige of going to the Academy.Just shaking head....

[KDLarsen]

52. Talk about beating a dead horse

"They're civic minded," Rochelle said. "They recognize the threat very well that Sept. 11 poses."

What's their current excuse? I thought Afghanistan had already been invaded, Iraq molested & OBL all forgotten about :mad:

[David K.]

56. Feeling a draft from the right?

I sure do. I thought the backdoor draft was enough! Remember that one? It has been around awhile.

Definition: n. extension of military enlistments through stop-loss orders, which force personnel to involuntarily extend their tours of duty.

1999: Lee Knoper wrote at http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3708F409.2FC7%40msnbc.com “Re: Recalls Occurring; Seeking More Info”: One individual advised that he is being involuntarily recalled for placement in the Army Reserve, despite having been out of the Army for over two years. Apparently the referenced action is being taken because of the Army’s ongoing manning problems. I’m aware of the continuing liability for recall after separation, but among some of my correspondents the news that this “back door draft” is actually occurring was understandably greeted with surprise and concern. 2003 Carol Lin (CNN Sunday) (Nov. 9): “New Poll Shows Half Of Americans Disapprove Of Bush’s Handling Of Iraq”: Garcia:…’"The use of the increaseing dependence on the reserve and guard components amounts to, as one of the editorial writers said in a meeting yesterday, a back door draft."… Lin: “That’s interesting. A back door draft. In a sense even though it’s a volunteer army, but these guys didn’t sign up with the idea of spending their Christmas in the desert, I sure, certainly under these battle conditions.” 2004 Bettijane Levine Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (Nov. 5): “Uncle Sam still wants them”: That’s a draft…a backdoor draft. That’s compulsory military service…against the individual’s will.

[LinuxInsurgent]

60. hehe...

"I think what we have today far surpasses a draft," he told a Rotary Club audience.
...
A good economy and a falling unemployment rate mean fewer people are looking for jobs. "Recruiting is a challenge in the best of times," he said. "We're competing with industry."

That's the military mentality, folks. Screw the economy and let unemployment rise...so that the military can have more recruits.

Can someone please tell these military idiots that the point of the military is to PROTECT the civilian society and allow it to grow economically. Society doesn't exist to feed the military, the military exists as a necessary evil to protect civil society.

In the mindset of this man...he has orgasms everything he hears unemployment went up and the economy got worse...because that will mean "more willing volunteers" for the army.

How depraved and absurd.

[Gin]

66. Are most of the injured and dead reserves? I don't recall hearing

much about the regular Army folks in the news. Did I miss that?

Also..because of the fast medical treatment and Kevlar vests...these injured soldiers are being saved....with loss of limb and sight and burns....they would have been died if the medical help was not so efficient.....the death toll without the fast medical treatment would probably be near 5 to 10,000.

[lonestarnot]

70. Homeless unemployed and on the streets is better than in a bunker! n/t

[Southern Dem 2005]

74. Have you ever been homeless?

[lonestarnot]

84. Yes as a matter of fact I have... Not a fun thing...but a learning

experience. Anyone checked the increased numbers on the homeless lately?

[SomewhereOutThere424]

80. That's Great...

"We don't need a draft because we've crushed the people's spirits so heavily, they want to die for our causes. They have no hope at a future, so why not just go take out your anger on some iraqi who's just as hopeless and misled as you?"

While we're at it, let's bring into light that this is the same exact tactic saddam husseine used for his people. Drive them into such hideous poverty their hopelessness and rage would let them become a great military force. I think it's great we have a president and a military who's become no better than some do-nothing no-WMD middle eastern country...and all for the sake of having bush's name put into a square in baghdad?

I'd like to know when there's a draft against the drafters. Although...that would be voluntarily motivational, too.

I'm a new yorker, and you know what? I'm far more willing to go against my own government right now than some place with no involvement in 9/11. Bush is the one with involvement in 9/11 in such proportional figures, not saddam. Why would I want to fight a scapegoat when it's so blatently obvious that our nation's president hush hushed what he saw as 'the military recruitment tactic of a lifetime'? It's a good thing they attack our education systems and ban our books too, or what may be a 'good time of recruitment' may be a 'bad time of civil war' ;)

[rocktivity]

85. You're not "competing" with a "falling unemployment rate," general

You're competing with a rising death toll--not to mention a increasingly uninspiring commander-in-chief!

:headbang:
rocknation