Agency initiates steps for selective draft

[chasqui]

Agency initiates steps for selective draft
Congress shows little support for effort to draw skilled Americans

By ERIC ROSENBERG
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The government is taking the first steps toward a targeted military draft of Americans with special skills in computers and foreign languages.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is adamant that he will not ask Congress to authorize a draft, and officials at the Selective Service System, the independent federal agency that would organize any conscription, stress that the possibility of a so-called "special skills draft" is remote.

Nonetheless, the agency has begun the process of creating the procedures and policies to conduct such a targeted draft in case military officials ask Congress to authorize it and the lawmakers agree to such a request.

"Talking to the manpower folks at the Department of Defense and others, what came up was that nobody foresees a need for a large conventional draft such as we had in Vietnam," said Richard Flahavan, a spokesman for the Selective Service System. "But they thought that if we have any kind of a draft, it will probably be a special skills draft."

Read more:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/164693_draft13.html

The tag line at Slashdot (yeah, I admit I spend some time there) was:
"From the Canadian-border-still-open-for-now dept"

[boobooday]

1. Special Skills Draft

Yes, let's have one. We'll call it an election, and we'll only draft non-fascist human beings instead of these MONSTERS!

Time to drop out of that computer science program . . .

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[54anickel]

2. Plenty of unemployed folks fit this description now -

The agency already has a special system to register and draft health care personnel ages 20 to 44 in more than 60 specialties if necessary in a crisis. According to Flahavan, the agency will expand this system to be able to rapidly register and draft computer specialists and linguists, should the need ever arise. But he stressed that the agency has received no request from the Pentagon to do so.

[splat]

4. draft for women too?

54anickel: Men and women in this health care draft?

I'd rather see the WPA than a draft as a jobs program.

[54anickel]

14. I dunno, But just think of that "jobs machine" churning!

UE that are drafted are off the UE roles.
Employed that are drafted vacate a job for the UE to take over.

I'm surprised Shrub isn't pushing for this right now so he can brag about the great job creation. :eyes:

Maybe they'll just privatize the military altogether, and call the draft "selective recruitment".

[shanti]

42. yes, the health care people

will be co-ed. i'm sure this story has posted to DU before, check it.

[hang a left]

47. WTF

"The agency already has a special system to register and draft health care personnel ages 20 to 44 in more than 60 specialties if necessary"

It was my understanding that the two bills in Congress had not been voted on. SR89 I thought was in committee, and it's companion bill was refered to DOD. Did we miss something?

[Cooley Hurd]

54. Would they do this with IT professionals, too?

"The agency already has a special system to register and draft health care personnel ages 20 to 44 in more than 60 specialties if necessary"

I'm 38 & an IT professional. Think they'll draft me? :scared:

[Gman]

3. This should be reworded to say "As of 2:24 CST, on 3/13/04,...

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is adamant that he will not ask Congress to authorize a draft, and officials at the Selective Service System, the independent federal agency that would organize any conscription, stress that the possibility of a so-called "special skills draft" is remote."

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. I don't know why they bother selecting anyone but Republicans.

The military intimidates anyone who isn't a Republican once they're enlisted in the service. So why subject non-Republicans to the abuse?

[mobuto]

10. They do?

You mean Republicans like Daniel Inouye? Wes Clark? John Kerry? Max Cleland? Bob Kerrey? Charles Rangel? At the moment, there is a lot of complacent Republicanism in the officer corps, and not so much at all amongst enlisted men, but that's changing fast.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. And Republicans like me, DS1, HawkerHurricane, DemoTex

Skittles, Rabrrrr and many others?

[HawkerHurricane]

24. Actually...

I like the idea of drafting only Republicans... The people who vote for the war mongers should be the first to go to war.

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. That's my thinking.

They want to claim they're a Republican organization, then they should only recruit amongst their own.

[teknomanzer]

37. Don't forget me!

1991-1994 US army 19K armor crewman abrams m1a1.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

58. And my husband

1985 - 1996, US Army, served in Desert Storm (Purple Heart among others), 1st Cav, 101st Airborne, etc. As big a Democrat as they come.

And his best buddy, Mike, US Army 1987 - 2002, now a Reservist in Iraq. HUGE Democrat.

And my dad, and my uncle, and my grandfather, and.....I could go on and on.

My grandfather btw was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force when he retired. Was in WWII. Never voted Republican in his 82 years.

[Art_from_Ark]

18. Most of those people you mentioned served decades ago

As for Clark, didn't he claim to have been forced out by oversealous right-wingers?

And we all know what happened to General Shinseki when he made his arguments about the then upcoming Iraq War.

[The Backlash Cometh]

29. Exactly. The campaign strategy from Republicans has alway to been to

claim the military as their own. I understand you see this far worse in the Air Force than in the other two branches. It stifles any objective thinking, which could explain why our military seems to be so weak on intel and big on idealism.

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. How many of them served since the 1990's?

Within the last decade, the Republicans have all but claimed the military as their own domain. And we've read many testimonials on this message board from Democratic soldiers who feel too intimidated to express their political affiliations in an organization which insists that their soldiers are pro-Republican. Which is why absentee ballots from the military are generally expected to favor Republican candidates.

[shanti]

43. my dad was a military lifer

and also a lifer dem....since when does anyone follow you into the voting box?

[The Backlash Cometh]

45. Are you sure about that?

It seems I remember reading an article that claimed that absentee ballots from Democratic soldiers made it as far as their supervisor's trash can.

[HawkerHurricane]

62. If true, then that supervisor should be brought up on charges.

Like, messing with the mail (federal charge).
Messing with a ballot (federal charge).
Messing with a serviceman's mail (UCMJ charge).

The supervisor should NEVER have touched the mail. Mail goes from the soldier's hand to the mailbox, to the postal clerk (who is in a seperate chain of command than most of the base/ship) to the US Postal Service and that is IT. A supervisor interfering with the mail is bad juju, except in cases involving military censorship... and even then, it's usually done by someone who is NOT that soldier's supervisor. They screw with servicemen in many ways, but touching the mail is not one of them. Never mind touching a ballot.

[The Backlash Cometh]

63. I believe the incident occurred on a Navy ship.

So the "mailbox" is a bit more accessible. The big question is, how can we ensure that it doesn't happen in the next election?

I live in Florida and all I heard during the 2000 election is that the absentee ballots coming in late would favor Bush. Lots of room for mischief was created when they extended the voting deadline for the military. That's why it's criminal for the RNC to paintbrush the military as partisan, yet, it happens all the time.

[HawkerHurricane]

64. Still a crime.

Statute of limitations isn't up yet. Get me some details and I'll have that ship's CO on charges for not putting a stop to it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

65. Perhaps we should start a new thread?

The info would have come from either the old archives here on DU, or from a Florida newspaper. I think it was the latter. If I had to take a guess, I would guess the Palm Beach Post.

[Chelzek]

6. For once I am glad

I have nothing more than an high school education.

[GCP]

12. Welcome to DU, Chelzek

:hi:

[MikeG]

7. Freepers go first!

[RainBoy]

16. Even I would volunteer if they wanted someone as old as me.

I'd be there to help the iraqi people. I could care less about the politics of the situation.

[burrowowl]

33. Welcome to DU, RainBoy!

To help the Iraqi people, it would be better to sign up with an NGO.

[RainBoy]

56. Thanks.

I don't know how long I will last here because I am critical of both parties to some extent. While I think bush stinks as a president I cannot blindly follow the dem party otherwise it would be like a moth flying into a flame at times. Had some rough times during clinton's years in office. No party is perfect but we should all support the party that is more perfect than the other.

I try not to allow anger and hate to dictate my feelings or arguments. I have a much better time persuading people to accept my point of view with some sense of logic for my rationale instead of frothing flying off the handle hatred.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

66. I haven't seen you say a single critical thing about Bush

But I have seen you say CLINTON CLINTON CLINTON!!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

38. Agreed. I just posted the Bill of Rights over there and they booted me!n/t

[7th_Sephiroth]

8. welp, *looks at MSCE certificatiuons on wall*

time fo me to hit canada

[Chelzek]

9. Canada has an agreement

to immediatly extradite any US draft dodgers now.

[7th_Sephiroth]

32. i plan on marrying a canadain citizen

i doubt i would get sent back

[chasqui]

34. where did you find that out?

Is ROTC gonna become ROTM?

59. be a conscientious objector

don't go to Canada.
Stay here and fight it.
If you're really a conscienstious objector stand up for it,

http://www.warresisters.org/

http://www.objector.org/

[leftchick]

11. The end of this article is very telling...

<A Pentagon official familiar with personnel issues stressed that the armed forces are against any form of conscription but acknowledged that the groundwork is already under way at the Selective Service System.>

....More lies wrapped in doublespeak from rummy's office.

[daleo]

15. When they need a general draft, they just redefine to 'special skill'

They can always play with words. The old phrase G.I. (general infantry) will be replaced with the new phrase S.I. (special infantry) and you now have a general draft without ever having a general draft.

[llmart]

17. It's a comin'

if * is reselected in November. They may not have plans "now" but those plans will change if they are voted in. Then we'll see how quickly all those * supporters of draft age are instant Dems.

[PaDUer]

23. They always say they don't have plans...

just like the stolen election...he PLANNED it all WAY BEFORE...They DO have plans now...just like they had plans WAY before he stole the election because of his "daddy". Then they have the balls to bitch about Kerry calling them what he did! Too bad, the shoe fits!

[teknomanzer]

40. Just like there were no plans...

to invade Iraq?

[hang a left]

50. Yeah, I remember

"No war plans on my desk"

[freeforall]

19. With all the outsourcing of jobs...

"a targeted military draft of Americans with special skills in computers "

leaves plenty of people to draft.

[Occulus]

44. Is a degree required for this,

or can they just look at your IP logs which show when and how often you send/receive information, and "assume" you "know about" computers?

For example, I have no tech degree, but always have a linux system installed and properly functioning. I never, ever call tech support, because I never need to. For my home, I am tech support. Does that qualify me for this as well?

[TXDemGal]

20. My brother-in-law is an M.D. in his 30s

whose specialty is infectious diseases. But he's also gay and has been out forever. Would he be subject to a so-called special skills draft if it comes to pass?

[yardwork]

22. If he tells I think they won't take him.

A dilemma for sure. What if everybody who was drafted announced that they were gay or lesbian? Would that get them out of the draft?

[HawkerHurricane]

25. Nope.

The draft boards would just think you were lying, and draft you anyway.

True story...

Late 60's, man is drafted, tells his draft board he's gay... they say 'Sure you are' and sends him into the Navy. (or he volunteered to go Navy vice drafted into Army). Finds that he likes it, and reenlists...
24 years later, he gets outed... and the Navy tries to Dishonorably Discharge him on the charge that he lied on his enlistment forms (pre-don't ask don't tell)... but it turns out he didn't lie, he said right there on his forms that he was an active homosexual. He won his court case, and recieved a Honorable Discharge with full benefits (they wouldn't let him re-enlist).

[pfitz59]

30. Liked the Navy because there's a butt-load of gays........

(pun intended). Better'n 10% of Navy would be out if the DON truly cracked down.

[Cronus Protagonist]

36. Hahahaaa! What a great story!

Loved it. Thanks for posting it. I'm also glad he didn't die while in service or get beaten up by his "buddies".

"FUCK BUSH" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[teknomanzer]

41. Hence a constitutional amendment...

against gay marraige?

[yardwork]

21. It's so convenient that IT workers are the ones being laid off.....

all those computer skills lying around going to waste. We'll draft them and put them to work taking over the world for us! No more whining about unemployment. Two problems solved.

They are laying the groundwork for a draft now. If W is reelected, it will be rolled out sometime in 2005.

All those young Right-Wingers might want to rethink their vote right about now.....

[Barkley]

26. Does federal financial aid for college require selective service registry?

[hang a left]

49. I do believe that I read that somewhere.

I think it is mandatory.

[Crachet2004]

31. It's definitely coming...they are just lying again.

If Bush is re-elected they will draft-women too. Probably find a spot for gays and everyone...no reason not to, except prejudice.

I hate to see it, but no way do we have enough soldiers for all the wars they are talking about. And most of the nations they are talking about taking out will require large occupation forces...probably where a lot of draftees will wind up, like Iraq. And cannon fodder, of course...Iran and North Korea are a hell of a lot tougher than Iraq.

I don't know if I believe all the happy talk about them needing hordes of computer skilled people-they know a lot of those kind of young people are out of work now, and may think, 'hey, better than nothing',. But mostly they will need footsoldiers, just like always. They never spend much training draftees, because they know they will be leaving after one short hitch.

As for the special language draft, who knows how to speak Iranian, Arabic or Korean? People of those nationalities, is about it. Lucky them.

What we need to do, is can Bush, and stop all this crazy talk about 'multi-generational warfare', coming from Dick Cheney and his buddys. Those guys will make a fortune, and the young will bleed, just like Vietnam.

Young people have one chance to make a difference for themselves, this coming November. If Kerry is elected, he would find it difficult to gain authority to wage more war from Congress, as they have already been burned by Bush on Iraq...even if he wanted to. IMHO, Kerry=no draft.

[hang a left]

52. I wish I shared your optimism.

"If Kerry is elected, he would find it difficult to gain authority to wage more war from Congress, as they have already been burned by Bush on Iraq...even if he wanted to. IMHO, Kerry=no draft."

I think it is coming no matter who gains the office of the president.

[Crachet2004]

55. Maybe, but many of us remember how unfairly the draft was applied...

During Vietnam. Unless they have a rockhard case for war, there will be a lot of people protesting in the streets, which is a big reason why they had to end it in the first place. And the whole rich versus poor debate has just been updated, for everyone who was'nt alive back then, because of Bush going into the Guard and then going AWOL. I remember-you could'nt BUY a place in the Guard, you had to BE somebody.

I predict the protests will be too large, and more grey heads in the crowd, than anyone else.

When they draft rich kids, they can take ours...not until.

And I don't think they will draft their own.

[hang a left]

57. I have been thinking about this for about a week now.

In order to keep the masses from completely flipping out over the beginning of conscription, there will have to be a major 'event' take place, and it will have to take place in this country. I fear for the worst.

[Crachet2004]

61. Yeah, me too. It could happen, but you just don't have that same...

bunch of cynical oilmen behind Kerry, as you do Bush. I've always heard there is oil off the coast of Vietnam too, and those same oilmen from Texas were behind LBJ, and that whole mess.

Get rid of the oilmen, and a whole bunch of bad things probably won't happen. They are the root of the evil.

And besides, look at what happened in Spain today...

If there is an attack here, it will most likely blow up in their faces. Bush can't blame Clinton, with any credibility...this is his watch.

[Cronus Protagonist]

35. A draft is a draft no matter how you spin it

"FUCK BUSH" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[JohnOneillsMemory]

39. Outsource to Pakistan and India. Save money, right? n/t

[Cobalt Violet]

46. Is that the same donald rumsfeld who?

Took Souvenirs from the 9/11 debris?http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040313/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fbi_sept_11_rubble_10
Sorry I cant start my own thread

[NNN0LHI]

48. Hi CB. Welcome to DU. Here is a thread about Rummy's souvenirs

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=418776&mesg_id=418776

[jamesinca]

51. Back in Nov-Dec they denied any of this.

There were several thousand jobs posted on the DoD website I believe asking for selective service screener. Big Brother denied that they would be starting a draft of any kind, just keeping all options open is all. Now they are saying they will only have a selective draft if they have one.

Lets follow this progression: 1) Deny any kind of draft. 2) Progress to only a selective type of draft, but not a general one. The next step is to have a draft of some sort, then a general one like pre-1973. I personally will not give up my fluorescent lighting, and climate control to see other parts of the world because of what is most likely an immoral, illegal war.

[Thor_MN]

53. What are they going to do with more IT people?

While IT skills can come in handy in certain situations, they don't help too much in patroling a neighborhood....

[DrBB]

60. Is this their answer to the outsourcing of IT jobs?

All those hackers and sysadmins 'n' stuff out of work. Can't stop our corporate buddies from shipping their jobs overseas. But a shame to waste all that talent when it could be serving the Empire.