I'm hearing whispers of the draft coming back - true or not?

[LZ1234]

Does anyone know if Bush is planning on bringing the draft back? How about any of the democratic nominees?

[hlthe2b]

1. There is a plan in place, and funded... Draft board officials are

being hired. What do you think?

[BigDaddyLove]

2. I think that it's political suicide..........

and therefore will never happen, especially on Bush's watch.

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. What does he have to lose,

if he gets re-elected? It scares the living daylights out of me.

[BigDaddyLove]

11. Even if he waits until he's 'elected'..........

I still think the backlash would be like nothing we've ever seen before and as such I don't think that even this administration would go near it.

[LZ1234]

3. Why isn't there any attention to this issue?

Supposing that's true, then why is there not a bigger deal made out of this? I would think this would be one of the major issues of differences with the 2 parties.

[atreides1]

8. Draft Board Officials are Volunteers, not Employees

There is a plan in place, and there has been an increase in the budget
for the Selective Service. More funding will help get the draft up and running in 75 days as opposed to the 8 months that it would take at this point in time.

By the way those that serve on the boards are not getting paid per se,
they will only be compensated for any out of pocket expense that is incurred for training. Board members are volunteers, and are not paid
government employees.

How do I know this, because I'm one of the volunteers that has signed
up to serve on the board in my area. I have already been sworn in to serve on the board, now I'm waiting to be notified for the required
training.

[Killarney]

4. I've read a lot about this

The Dem. candidates are all against it and Kerry has publicly said that he is against non-voluntary service. He wants to add 40,000 more troops so that non-voluntary (stop-loss) service can end and we can stop treating our Reservists like crap and keeping them over there too long.

I think if Bush wins, there will end up being a draft. We cannot keep on the PNAC road with the level of troops there are now. Some say the draft is already in effect because the stop-loss makes some troops serve involuntarily.

There are many articles out there about this. Here's a good site that links to articles:
http://www.bushdraft.com/

[Lefta Dissenter]

5. go to the Selective Service website

and look at the changes for '04. More money to the SS and they've drastically shortened the lead-time needed to activate a draft.

Clark is AGAINST a draft, and, I think, the best one to get us out of Iraq, preserving our military and motivating those volunteers to re-enlist - THAT's what will keep us from having to re-enact the draft!

I am terrified of a draft - I have two kids of draft age. That's one of the many reasons I'm supporting General Wesley Clark for President of the United States of America!

[LZ1234]

15. I am terrified too...

I have a son that will be draft age during the next term. I was against the war the whole time. I think only the people who voted for Bush should let their kids go since they feel so strongly about this incompetent man, especially if they plan to vote for him again. I have a friend who is pro-Bush who does not believe that the draft is coming back or is even being considered despite an article in the Britain's Guardian newspaper. She has a son my age and I would have thought she would be alarmed too. She's got her head in the sand, as most Repubs do.

[lastknowngood]

6. after Bush the dumber Gert's reselected

they have 5 more wars to fight for total oil dominance check out the PNAC website. You can win a war with air power a missiles but you can't occupy land without troops. That is why Afghanistan has been allowed to return to warlord control outside of the cites.

[buckeye1]

9. Whispers?

If bush is returned count on it.

[Baclava]

10. It's true...the draft is coming...

April 25th, I believe...and it can't come soon enough for me!
It means the mini-camps are just around the corner...

[bluestateguy]

12. Only if * is elected in 2004

It will nto happen in 2004, and * will forcefully deny any assertions that he seeks to bring it back in an election year. There are too many middle aged, middle class women with teenagers who don't want their kids being packed up and shipped off to war (though they have no trouble cheering on war from the sidelines).

After the election is another story. Never having to face the voters again, he could probably cobble together enough votes in Congress to reinstate the draft in early 2005. Remember that most House members come from safe districts, and that only one third of the Senate is up for reelection in 2006. Also, if * is elected in November he and his team will take it as a mandate for their imperialist foreign policy and as a liscence to begin conquering other countries. That will take more manpower, maybe not for sophisticated combat operations (which takes much more professional soldiers nowadays), but for auxillary positions and MP's which will be needed to occupy all these countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, North Korea, maybe even Cuba).

The draft boards are being reconstituted all over the country, the SSS budget was sharply increased for this coming year and the liklihood is that there will soon be a mass exodus of personell from the National Guard and the Army. If there were to be another domestic terrorist attack in the US, the chances of a draft in 2005 would increase even more.

[Astarho]

17. What if * loses

It's a long time from Nov 2 to Jan. 20. He could reinstate the draft, and cause a major headache for the Dem winner.

[bluestateguy]

18. reply

First of all, only Congress could bring back the draft, though I suppose he could have Homeland Security declar Red Alert, meaning that a national emergency was in effect, and reinstate the draft by executive order. However, that order could be countermanded by the new president on Jamuay 20th, and a new president could also suspend the induction process. It shouldn't be a headache for a president with enough cojones to stop the draft.

[justsam]

13. extending the troops time

to stay in Iraq was just a start, if Bush gets re-elected there will be a draft..with Iran, Syria,Korea, and Libia in the on deck circle the Bushs will need a larger military then they can get by waiting for enlistments..

[onehandle]

14. No.

It's just the GOP flexing it's "muscles". They'd lose big time if they tried this.

There are Plenty of expendable poor people. Just another reason to keep a portion of the population poor.

[OneTwentyoNine]

16. If Bush wants more illegal Wars--Yes,before the 04 election--No eom