If the draft comes back, how will it be structured?

[bluestateguy]

If Bush is elected this fall the draft will be reinstituted in 2005. The question then becomes how will the rules be written? Will women be required to serve? If so, in combat, or not? What about that don't ask don't tell policy? Will there be loopholes allowing the progeny of the wealthy to escape service? How will the government deal with draft resisters?

[Khephra]

1. You could ask Hillary or Rangel

They've suggested that we might need a new one, not Bush.

[bluestateguy]

7. Correction

Hillary made no such proposal. You are referring to a speech in which she spoke of the growing cultural chasm between military and civilian life in America. She made no call for a draft. I'm afraid you only heard what you wanted to hear.

As for the Rangel bill, it was not a serious proposal. It was a political measure simply for the purposes of starting a dialogue about the fact that many of the biggest cheerleaders for war in Congress have no children or grandchildren in the military. Nor would the Bush Administration accept it. It called for women to be drafted and had no exemptions for the rich.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Women are in the front lines now...why would a draft NOT include them?...

Take another look at both the Senate and House versions of the bill...they both make provisions for the rich finding a way out:

<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=162.140.64.21&filename=h163ih.txt&directory=/diskb/wais/data/108_cong_bills>

"H. R. 163

To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes."

The exact same language is in S.89:

<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=162.140.64.21&filename=s89is.txt&directory=/diskb/wais/data/108_cong_bills>

"S. 89

To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes."

[brokensymmetry]

2. I would guess...

that it would be some sort of national service plan with no obvious exemptions. I would expect some loopholes - I really don't think we'll see the multimillionaire's daughter working beside the poor man's son.

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. It will be reinsituted no matter who Diebold smiles on

Even bribing Old Europe with enough of America's Iraq oil for some expendables, America's "allies" simply do not have the kind of numbers to staff the territory currently occupied, much less Iran and Syria.

[Sperk]

4. here's a link to the bills...HR 163 with a link to S 89

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.R.163

read it and weep

[Sperk]

8. Don't know why my link didn't work...can google HR 163 if you want

to read the whole thing

SUMMARY AS OF:
1/7/2003--Introduced.
Universal National Service Act of 2003 - Declares that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, unless exempted, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. Requires induction into national service by the President. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) induction deferments, postponements, and exemptions, including exemption of a conscientious objector from military service that includes combatant training; and (2) discharge following national service.

Amends the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the military registration of females.

[wuushew]

12. It is a masterstroke of poltical calculus

and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26


The Neocons will open the borders which will please cheap labor conservatives. The apparent "liberal" immigration policy will be viewed positively by some Hispanic voters who are unaware of what will be really going on. White middle class racism will be placated by removing the excess masses overseas to engage in miliary actions designed to extend peak oil and the comfort afforded by driving SUVs.

[Joanne98]

5. It is coming back

Someone, demswillwin, I think, used to post here alot. She had all the info on it.

[maveric]

6. African American and Hispanics go first.

Then Asians, Italians, Irish and other catholic whites, with Affluent WASPs last to go.

[hang a left]

9. It goes like this

http://www.sss.gov/seq.htm

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

Here is a brief overview of what would occur if the United States returned to a draft:

1. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZE A DRAFT
A crisis occurs which requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply. Congress passes and the President signs legislation which starts a draft.

2. THE LOTTERY
A lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th birthday falls during that year, followed, if needed, by those aged 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 18-year-olds and those turning 19 would probably not be drafted.

3. ALL PARTS OF SELECTIVE SERVICE ARE ACTIVATED
The Agency activates and orders its State Directors and Reserve Forces Officers to report for duty. See also Agency Structure.

4. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL EVALUATION OF REGISTRANTS
Registrants with low lottery numbers are ordered to report for a physical, mental, and moral evaluation at a Military Entrance Processing Station to determine whether they are fit for military service. Once he is notified of the results of the evaluation, a registrant will be given 10 days to file a claim for exemption, postponement, or deferment. See also Classifications.

5. LOCAL AND APPEAL BOARDS ACTIVATED AND INDUCTION NOTICES SENT
Local and Appeal Boards will process registrant claims. Those who pass the military evaluation will receive induction orders. An inductee will have 10 days to report to a local Military Entrance Processing Station for induction.

6. FIRST DRAFTEES ARE INDUCTED
According to current plans, Selective Service must deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days from the onset of a crisis.

[Nazgul35]

10. Since I applied to be on a local board....let me show you what they sent

Not show so much as quote the form letter I just received today...

Dear Nazgul35:

The Standby Local Boards are the heart of the revitalized Selective Service System and a very critical element in our national preparedness mission. Thank you for your interest in serving as a member of a Selective Service Local Board in the State of XXXXX.

We are constantly recruiting indviduals to fill potential openings in Local Boards. we will retain your application for future consideration for this prestigious position.

You willingness to serve as a volunteer Local Board Member is appreciated.

I encourage everyone to apply....as far as I am concerned, there will be no more Cheney's and Bush's in the next draft!!!!!!!!!!!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. Key phrase: "...revitalized Selective Service System..."....

The rich WILL find a way out. Read the first paragraph of each of the two bills.

[hang a left]

13. And this from the same link above

HOW THE DRAFT HAS CHANGED SINCE VIETNAM
If a draft were held today, it would be dramatically different from the one held during the Vietnam War. A series of reforms during the latter part of the Vietnam conflict changed the way the draft operated to make it more fair and equitable. If a draft were held today, there would be fewer reasons to excuse a man from service.

Before Congress made improvements to the draft in 1971, a man could qualify for a student deferment if he could show he was a full-time student making satisfactory progress toward a degree.


Under the current draft law, a college student can have his induction postponed only until the end of the current semester. A senior can be postponed until the end of the academic year.

If a draft were held today, local boards would better represent the communities they serve.
The changes in the new draft law made in 1971 included the provision that membership on the boards was required to be as representative as possible of the racial and national origin of registrants in the area served by the board.

A draft held today would use a lottery to determine the order of call.
Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, Local Boards called men classified 1-A, 18 1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first. This resulted in uncertainty for the potential draftees during the entire time they were within the draft-eligible age group. A draft held today would use a lottery system under which a man would spend only one year in first priority for the draft - either the calendar year he turned 20 or the year his deferment ended. Each year after that, he would be placed in a succeedingly lower priority group and his liability for the draft would lessen accordingly. In this way, he would be spared the uncertainty of waiting until his 26th birthday to be certain he would not be drafted.




CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICE Printer Friendly Version

A conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles.

HOW TO APPLY
In general, once a man gets a notice that he has been found qualified for military service, he has the opportunity to make a claim for classification as a conscientious objector (CO). A registrant making a claim for Conscientious Objection is required to appear before his local board to explain his beliefs.

He may provide written documentation or include personal appearances by people he knows who can attest to his claims. His written statement might explain:

how he arrived at his beliefs; and

the influence his beliefs have had on how he lives his life.

The local board will decide whether to grant or deny a CO classification based on the evidence a registrant has presented.

A man may appeal a Local Board's decision to a Selective Service District Appeal Board. If the Appeal Board also denies his claim, but the vote is not unanimous, he may further appeal the decision to the National Appeal Board. See also Classifications.

WHO QUALIFIES?
Beliefs which qualify a registrant for CO status may be religious in nature, but don't have to be. Beliefs may be moral or ethical; however, a man's reasons for not wanting to participate in a war must not be based on politics, expediency, or self-interest. In general, the man's lifestyle prior to making his claim must reflect his current claims.

SERVICE AS A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
Two types of service are available to conscientious objectors, and the type assigned is determined by the individual's specific beliefs. The person who is opposed to any form of military service will be assigned to Alternative Service - described below. The person whose beliefs allow him to serve in the military but in a noncombatant capacity will serve in the Armed Forces but will not be assigned training or duties that include using weapons.

ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
Conscientious Objectors opposed to serving in the military will be placed in the Selective Service Alternative Service Program. This program attempts to match COs with local employers. Many types of jobs are available, however the job must be deemed to make a meaningful contribution to the maintenance of the national health, safety, and interest. Examples of Alternative Service are jobs in:

conservation

caring for the very young or very old

education

health care

Length of service in the program will equal the amount of time a man would have served in the military, usually 24 months.

[GreenArrow]

15. draft is coming, with Bush or Kerry

How it'll be structured is anyone's guess, but I wouldn't guess there will too many ways to get out of it...unless you have the dough-re-mi.

[hang a left]

16. I am afraid that you are right GreenArrow.

[SmileyBoy]

17. I've decided that I'd rather just go to jail.

I don't think I have the monetary resources to start a new life in Canada. I also don't have a working car at the moment. I'm 21 now, and I'll be 22 this September, 23 in Sept. of 2005. Age/lottery and health wise, I'm ripe for their picking. I just know it'll happen too, and I feel there's really not a DAMN thing I can do about it. I probably would just wait in my dorm at nights following my evasion for the campus police to bust down my door and take me away off to the county jail. Because I really don't give a fucking shit anymore. If they want to arrest me for refusing to fight an ungodly unjust war against people of my own religion, then all the power to them. At least I know that I'm not doing anything wrong. Didn't Martin Luther King get arrested over 20 times???

[DuctapeFatwa]

18. bookmark objector.org

And go tell your parents they did a good job with you :)

[kodi]

19. demanding equality, viz., women be subject to the draft, will undermine it

understanding the right of congress to raise armies & the issue of equality, one way to drive a wedge against support for the draft is to demand that women be treated just like men and be subject to the draft.

[bluestateguy]

20. A federal appeals court refused to hear a case on this last year

I think it was in Boston, but a woman who sued to be included in draft regisration was denied a hearing by a federal judge and then by a Circuit Court of appeals. I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope that women could sue their way into the draft. They'll try, but courts tend to be very deferential to the government's warmaking powers.