No draft for now, official reports

[NNN0LHI]

http://2theadvocate.com/stories/061205/new_draft001.shtml

No draft for now, official reports - Selective Service head visits state

Whether it's called the draft or conscription, the idea of compulsory military service looms large at a time the United States is at war in Afghanistan and Iraq while reports of Army recruiting shortages circulate.

As the head of the Selective Service System, William Chatfield said Saturday in Baton Rouge that he hears questions about a draft call a lot lately.

"From everything I hear, right now, the all-volunteer Army is sufficient," he said. snip

There also have been policy changes adopted regarding a draft if it is reinstated, he said.

Changes include tightening up on student deferments and creating one central lottery instead of local draft boards.

[Bake]

1. "For now"

"Right now."

The assurances are becoming less assuring.

Bake

[merwin]

35. 'All Volunteer Army'. I don't know any of them that are voluntarily being

stop-lossed.

[cornermouse]

2. Is that anything like "no invasion of Iraq plans?"

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. yep

[ElectroPrincess]

3. Translation: There's enough in the IRR until after the 2006 elections

Yes, they'll activate the Individual Ready Reservists (IRRs) up to the limit. I hope they are NOT successful to hold ground to not have an DRAFT until after the 2006 elections.

I hope the American sheeple realize that "The Draft" is coming sooner rather than later and VOTE ACCORDINGLY!

[mod mom]

27. "Those who vote decide nothing, those who count the votes decide every-

thing." -Joseph Stalin

They are waiting to get full control of the voting apparatus which is why we all need to be fighting against the Voting Machines!-100% PAPER!

[wakeme2008]

4. Does this mean Iran and Syria are off the table PERMANENTLY

If not then a draft is needed....

[meganmonkey]

5. So it's not even "for the time being" or "in the near future"

Just "for now"....

How 'bout tomorrow?

It's on its way, no question.

:cry:

:patriot:

[zoeb]

6. Keywords are

"policy changes adopted." The making changes tells me they are looking very close at using the draft. Wonder what the 51% that voted for Bushco think about their president now.:rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

7. One central lottery, rather than the more democratic LOCAL draft boards?

As if THAT isn't obvious.

No doubt they've got plans to make sure only chickenhawks and their loved ones are eligible for student deferments. They'll politicize the draft, no doubt.

They'll try to make sure people pay but hard for daring to have a moral political point of view.

[atreides1]

11. Here are some facts

I just went through my intial training for one of the local boards, and out of the five of us there, four of us were prior military.
Unlike "draft boards" of the past where the makeup was usually people
of means, and members who never served, the make up of the Local Boards is being done taking the demographics of the area into consideration.


Actually it will be Local Draft Boards that will make the call on the following judgemental classifications:

1-A-O Conscientious Objector available for Noncombatant Military
Service Only

1-O Conscientious Objector to all Military Service

2-D Deferred because of Study Preparing for the Ministry

4-D Minister of Religion

All others are administrative and will be decided by the Area Office,
if a registrant appeals a decision by the Area Office, then the Local
Board will make a decision on that appeal.

It is also the right of the registrant to claim as many deferrements
as they think that they want.

Other then classification 2-D, all other students, if granted a deferrment will only have their induction postponed until the end of the school year, this includes those in their senior year of high school.

[murray hill farm]

14. does this mean that...

if a person is in study to become a minister of religion, they can get out of being drafter? if so....time to sign up for classes!

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Yep many will find religion all of a sudden

[rainbow4321]

25. Yeah but will they recognize ALL religions..

Will UU hold the same weight as Baptist, etc...I could see them making a loophole the size of TX on that one "rule" alone.
The TX state treasurer down here (Strayhorn--she is Scott McClellan's mother) at one point tried to take away a local UU church's tax exempt status cuz the congegration was not of "one belief". She failed in her attempt after the media and lawyers got actively/publicly involved.
So I can see some of the shrub people picking and choosing which religion would "count".

[Judi Lynn]

33. That's one of the creepiest things I've heard in ages.

They have no intention of respecting the rights of others. In the end, all that matters is themselves.

Delightful there were enough level-headed people around to keep her plan from succeeding.

[ebayfool]

41. atreides1, what will their guidelines be for physical disabilities?

My grandson (I've raised him since he was a baby) is going on 15 now, & it weighs heavy on my mind. He used to be considered legally handicapped (by SSI standards) until they started revising the guidelines - I got fed up w/fighting them & took him off the program @ 3 years ago. He has no lrg. intestine (bowel) & missing part of the small intestine - just how desperate will these arses get when they DO start up the draft? My youngest daughter is 25, & will be sent to friends in 'other parts' if need be - but my boy has to stay where I can get medical care for him when needed. His parents have no contact w/him - me & his Auntie T are the ones that are worried @ this. I know most say there's no way that they would take disabled draftees, but I never thought I would see them sending injured & disabled soldiers BACK to Iraq, like I've seen in the news lately! I have no 'faith' in what would be considered common-sense w/these people, so I wondered if they have laid out any guidelines for the boards?

[rateyes]

8. Anybody know any nice places..

in Canada to live?:D

[ptolle]

21. canada

My travels through canada tell me there are any number of nice places to live. I personally tend to favor the western provinces;Alberta, British Columbia, but I suppose it's really a matter of personal preference.

[Dawgs]

9. Now, it's out job to push that a draft is coming...

Let's put them on the defensive with this. Everyone knows that the military has been stretched for awhile now. Everyone knows that recruitment is way down.

We have the facts on our side. Let's use it to our advantage.

[Igel]

15. I'm not sure this would be a good thing.

Probably, maybe not. I suspect pushing this in the media's too soon.

Dem activists have been all but crowing in the news recently about impacting military recruitment. They've been making a lot of recruitment offices miss their targets. I've read and heard a fair number of stories, and RW sources are indignant.

If this can easily been seen as the reason for a draft, people will remember the stories. "Was my little Johny drafted because these people kept Kevin over there, who wanted to join up, from doing so?"

It may not happen. But it may.

[noamnety]

10. In similar news

I would like to report that I have begun a long long fast. I won't be eating any time soon.

(said while piling ham and cheese on a bagel)

[salin]

12. bush folks say the most inane things

no draft. volunteer is sufficient.

we keep ss in place for preventative reasons:

"In a way, it's a psychological tool," he said, "It's like we're sending a message to enemies that we could meet any threat."

??

Right - our enemies know there could be a draft and a larger force, ergo it stops them (the enemies) from attacking.

Errr - probably their reading the denials that a draft would ever be used by scared politicians (due to the reality that there would be political payback from such a move) sends the opposite message...

But - I somehow doubt that this is the issue that they are following very closely.

Cracks me up, becuase there was really no point to the inane comment in the first place - it isnt like the bushjr administration is why there is a SS - thus he doesn't need to give a justification... but they all seem so hyped up on macho rhetoric that they just can't help themselves from saying really inane statements.

[ugarte]

13. Make every enlistee a millionaire

A million dollar signing bonus. So what if you raise the half-a-trillion dollar Pentagon budget a few billion more? With private contractors/mercenaries making hundreds of thousands, actual soldiers should at least get a measly million.

[assclown_bush]

16. "Don't Ask Don't Tell" Doesn't work for me. I am GAY, and I'm Telling.

I'm not exactly sure if "gay deferment" would apply. But as a member of the GLBT community I am not enlisting in any army under false pretense. I wonder how many young republican cowards will use a "gay deferment" to avoid doing their duty and fighting for the war that they voted to support? If the U.S. army were to suddenly decide that "gay" was "o.k. during a time of war" I'd leave this country and find some other place to live. Of course, this is all predicated on the discussion being over the Iraq war. If our country were truly attacked by a foreign power I would fight to protect our country side by side with anyone. Even, egad, a republican.


:hippie: :patriot:

[oneold1-4u]

19. Drop homo out

During ww2, korea, & vn, somehow selective service wasn't selective! One could admit having bubonic plague and they paid no attention!

[assclown_bush]

40. From the results of the 2004 elections, Repubs prefer plague to Gays.

Gay men rile up homophobic republican males the most. There was enough hatred and religious zealotry to have brought out the bible thumpers to vote in favor of Bush. I don't know how comfortable the armed troops are of taking in openly gay men who refuse to keep quiet over the "love that dares not speak its name". When it comes to Iraq or any other illegal and immoral war, I'd rather have flight than fight.

[PsN2Wind]

17. Charlie Rangel

received much flak for his symbolic draft proposal, should author a bill to abolish the selective service administration, since we're continually told there "is no need". Let the Neo-cons defend the continuation of an unnecessary government agency.

[oneold1-4u]

18. Did anyone else read?

There is supposedly a 2000 contingent of military personnel (Not secret service) with and/or near the president at all times? (24/7) That is a lot of soldiers! The number will certainly grow for him and his whole "outfit" as they become more aware of the growing skepticism of their plans for this country! They will begin to use foreign mercenaries, of course, who don't know or gave a damn about this country!

[Lars39]

22. Do you have a link for that?

That's the first I've heard of that, although I don't doubt it being true.

[converted_democrat]

38. I hadn't heard the part about the troops, but I heard today that we are

hiring 10,000 Ugandans to fight for us. I haven't heard anything about Bush surrounding himself with troops, but with the level of paranoia in the Republican party right now, it isn't that big of a stretch.

Edit for link----http://islandnet.com/~bbcf/_articles/usa_war_resisters_apr05/usa_war_resisters_apr05.htm

[mod mom]

24. Are they waiting until the next planned "terrorist" attack? nt

[rainbow4321]

26. Which will be soon, w/ chimp's low approval rating..

Or at the very least, time for another Osama sighting, no doubt.

[mod mom]

28. Time to pull out the "goat" book again! nt

[rainbow4321]

29. This recent article must be a trial balloon..

Now comes the drip-drip-drip of weekly news reports, just to start the public brainwashing. So hidden underneath the Jackson trial and every other who-gives-a-fuck headline will be quieter, less flashy headlines about the potential draft needs...or the medical/special skills draft which will be used to draft NON-repukes since they are not the ones with the skills that will be deemed needed by shrub and his cohorts. That way the majority of his elite "base" stays happy since the more specific draft won't effect THEIR kids.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8143733

Military looking for a few good medics
... and surgeons, and RNs, and radiologists, too


“What’s happening with our combat medics is not so much a recruiting problem as it is keeping up with the Army’s expansion,” says Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, the Army’s surgeon general. “We’re standing up entirely new brigades, and that has added to requirements, so we’re having to hustle to continue to recruit highly qualified men and women who can make it through courses and get into the field.”

While media reports have focused on the problems the Army and Marine Corps are having with recruitment, the retention of highly trained specialists is as serious, if not more so, for the long-term ability of the military to sustain operations around the globe. Kiley notes that some 36,000 medical staff – doctors, nurses, technicians — have deployed to southwest Asia from the Army alone in the past four years. That is not only time away from home, but in some cases an interruption of their training as internists or medical students.

Where are the nurses?
Other specialties in the medical and other fields also are experiencing serious shortfalls. These include information and internet specialists, as well as many mid-level officers who appear to be concluding that plotting a military career during wartime is not as attractive as it may have been during the 1990s. Others, like registered nurses, who rank as officers in the military, and non-commissioned physicians assistants and certain engineering positions, reflect shortages that extend into the civilian economy, as well.

[cascadiance]

30. A DVD for potential conscientious objectors...

Pepperspray productions has a 30 minute video on things to do to ensure that one can qualify as a conscientious objector, and for those that follow that route, the key is to start doing some of this groundwork NOW, instead of waiting until the draft becomes a reality!

I just viewed it the other day, and it does cover a lot of useful things (like how to contact the three branches of government and the press to get you "on record").

On the other hand, with this administration in charge, I'm not sure how solid the laws on this will be to get in the way of the fascists when they completely take the gloves off. Then it might the time to move to Canada (or perhaps even someplace like New Zealand...

http://peppersp.server312.com/CO.htm

[ckramer]

31. The idea of volunteer army is that people will voluntee to protect

their country when threatened. But nobody would voluntee to invade others, to go abroad killing innocent people for the interests of oil companies.

America is not threatened. The draft will not save this illegal war.

[mainer]

32. They're waiting for a Democrat to take office and catch the blame.

by 2006 we'll desperately need a draft.

We MUST NOT nominate any Democratic Presidential candidates who pledges to "stay the course" in Iraq. Any Democrat who says we can't leave is going to meet the same failure that Lyndon Johnson did, trying to win an unwinnable war. He/she will be forced to support a draft ... and will be blamed for all the miserable failings of George W. Bush.

Our 2006 candidate must state, clearly and firmly, that it's TIME TO GET OUT NOW.

[Timmy5835]

34. Remember...

Only Congress can start a draft. These people want to get re-elected and keep their cushy jobs. There will be NO draft.

[stillcool]

36. The assumption that representatives...

in government would be concerned about re-election is no longer a valid one. The electoral process in this country is contaminated and leaves we the people with no say. This administration and the ruling party can and will do whatever they please.

[fortyfeetunder]

37. But Cheney said it's going to be a long war

So where are they going to find all the warm bodies for the frontlines? I don't think it will be an all volunteer army -- and I doubt if it's really a "volunteer" army based on the anecdotes of recruiters doctoring documents, etc....

[AAARRRGGGHHH]

39. Can anyone speculate

On who will have to participate in a draft? I would guess it would be something like 18-24 year olds to start off with, but this is only a guess.

If anyone has any information as to the structure these things usually take, I would greatly appreciate it!

[tabasco]

42. It's not his decision to make whether / when we have a draft.

His opinion on the matter is worth nothing.