George W. Bush has initiated the draft. NOT a joke.

[Brian_Expat]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=15344

By Eric Rosenberg, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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.

Note the continued denials that anything is going on, even as they start targeting computer professionals and linguists for the draft. They keep denying anything is going on, whilst escalating it further and further.

After this step, a simple majority vote in Congress and the Senate (both possible with the Republicans in charge) is all that's needed to start drafting young people.

And read this little tidbit:

Flahavan said Selective Service planning for a possible draft of linguists and computer experts began last fall after Pentagon personnel officials said the military needed more people with skills in those areas.

A targeted registration and draft "is strictly in the planning stage," he said, adding that "the whole thing is driven by what appears to be the more pressing and relevant need today" -- the deficit in language and computer experts.

There will be "deficits" in personnel for combat too by the time the Iraq War is in its second year and people don't re-enlist.

[xultar]

1. No SHIT, there are Selective Service offices opening all over GA n/t

[Dirty Hippie]

2. This is a slippery slop

Round up all of those unemployed computer geeks and put a gun in their hand.

[kalian]

4. Not if we're living under martial law....

you know, after another staged terror event strips away the last
rights that we have as Americans...

[asthmaticeog]

7. Those unemployed computer geeks

will surely increase in number the more this administrations policies let their jobs get sourced to India. Coincidence? :tinfoilhat:

[kalian]

13. Its still friggin silly if you ask me....

these aren't the rambos that they're looking for nor are they the
bullet magnets that draftees usually become.
Unless...well... :scared:

[DBoon]

17. Think what this will do to the unemployment rate!

n/t

[icymist]

29. Suddenly, outsourcing makes sense!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:
:nuke: :grr:

[DemPoliticalJunkie]

39. Computer geeks and guns - not a good combination!

[rocktivity]

3. They're ready to start as soon as March 2005

http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html

:headbang:
rocknation

P.S. Since when does being cannon fodder become a "special skill"?

[Brian_Expat]

5. I have absolutely no doubt they're planning to initiate it soon

They're in a serious, serious situation in Iraq, and are unwilling to get the UN involved. That means a massive draft is in the works when reservists don't re-enlist.

[kalian]

15. Reservists have no further say in what they can do....

they have been stop lossed and will remain in service until they
are let go...whether that's in a body bag or crippled I don't know...

This whole thing reminds me of Starship Troopers when they were
swearing their allegience oath...

[Cooley Hurd]

6. "The deficit in language & computer experts..."

Whew! Thankfully, I massacred my leg in the 11/03 auto accident, so they would probably 4-F me.

Maybe the accident was a good thing? :evilgrin:

[stopbush]

10. Don't count on it. You could end up on their list of

"pre-qualified wounded."

[kalian]

11. Exactly....

and they can give you a wheelchair if necessary... Computer jobs
you don't need to do alot of walking per se... (/sarcasm off).

This is getting me nervous...

[Cooley Hurd]

24. *Gulp!*

(off to break the other leg)...

[Auntie Bush]

26. I heard this time there will be no 4-F.

If they need your job skills you will go. They will find a way to put you to work. So don't "Break a leg"

[Hotler]

8. Here we go......

a new layer on an already big pile of shit. what better way for the neo-cons to sustain greed than by forcing the poor to kill for them.

[supernova]

9. Kerry needs a talking point

The GOP will start up the draft if they win in 2004!

I hope he will broadcast this loud and clear during the campaign.

[kalian]

12. Oh really....?

and you know what Kerry wants to do...? Get 40,000 FRESH, NEW
troops into the military. How else can he accomplish that?
:eyes:

[supernova]

18. I have no idea

but I seriously doubt he'd go for a full fledged draft to accomplish that. Where you around then?

If you were, then you know the acrimony of which I speak. * and co seem to have forgotten it.

edit: Regardless of what we feel about it individually, this issue does need to be brought before the American public to be discussed, debated, and voted on. Which is exactly what I'm sure the * admin doesn't want.

[PaDUer]

20. Guess all the freepers will

all volunteer since they're pros w/ computers, know how to hack, know how to "vote early and vote often"..they won't have any trouble when they're called....OOpps..they're the guys/gals who are in hiding and making calls to their buddy Rush.

[supernova]

22. Heh

Well they probably will sign up, but sadly will not learn the lesson until too many young'uns come home in body bags...oops! "transfer tubes."

Vietnam II here we come. :-(

[m-jean03]

23. Already there perhaps?

Haven't we already exceeded the number of military deaths in the first year of engagement with Vietnam? And aren't noncombatant casualties the highest of any American war since then?

Ugly shit

[boobooday]

14. Yes, this should definitely be brought up as often as possible

Throughout the election.



http://www.wgoeshome.com

[goondogger]

16. Oh Canada!

Looking better everyday . . .

[Brian_Expat]

19. Canada won't accept you. . .

. . . under Mulroney, the Canadian refugee law was revamped to exclude Americans under the draft. That door's been slammed shut.

[goondogger]

21. D'oh! [nt]

[Faygo Kid]

25. TARGETED draft? The rich and powerful get off again.

This is ridiculous. You can't target a draft to employment specialties; or can you? There is no limit to what this Administration will do. If they ever need brain-dead party girl shoppers, the Bush twins may get drafted.

[Chelzek]

27. Under law

Only congress can start a draft. Though he could in theory issue an executive order.

The "special skills" people will probably be given nice safe positions. (research bush's service to see what it would be like) It's those of us who don't have college and are a minority that will be on the front lines.

[newyawker99]

30. Hi Chelzek!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[fortyfeetunder]

28. Hey, Can we outsource the draft to India?

there's a bunch of talented people over there who have Murkan jobs...

[Dover]

31. The alternative of a draft will be private armies/mercenaries.

I just don't see how they can get people (even by draft) to pay for, fight for, and die for unpopular corporate wars. And who will trust our government after the lies and manipulations that prompted our current "invasions" all over the world?

We are WEARY of War as a solution!!!

[historian]

32. dont think that will work

This time there will be a backlash - im sure of it.
Plus the congress (both sides) will get hammered by their constituents - no one wants their children to die for a lie - more and more mothers are speaking out.

[LibertyorDeath]

33. Kick

[Djinn]

34. I don't know if it's an option

Given our current government's craven toadying to the Bush administration (after the next election we'll possibly have the man who call shrub "the most dangerous and incompetent president in American history" as PM) but there's a spare room at my house for any US citizens trying to avoid the draft and a position in the most ill conceived military action since Vietnam.

[Mick Knox]

35. I am a computer tech/programmer and in Nat Gaurd

I work in G1 for an unnamed gen. About 6 mos ago (or somewhere around there) they had us all fill out a survey for special civilian skills we may have aquired... I completed it honestly including my computer info.. so far I think I have flown under the radar.. although I do some work on a comp when active/uta/at etc.

My wife is already panicing :( ... oh well such as it goes.. this news is not good. If ordered overseas, I will faithfully execute my duties... I am concerned though... obviously.

That said... I think a draft is possible with either Kerry or Bush... The Army is running out of troops - plain and simple. We are stretched very thin... that is an absolute fact. Kerry is not advocating leaving.. but rather infusing 40K more troops while promising to negotiate with others to send troops. News flash... they will not be sending troops IMO... so either way.. I do believe a draft is possible, for reasons stated here and for other reasons .. likely after the election.. Bush or Kerry.

[Stephanie]

36. kicking for the DRUDGE fans

Guess what? You're getting DRAFTED.

[Hekate]

37. Sick

:argh: :argh: :argh:

This needs a kick

:kick:

Hekate

[DemPoliticalJunkie]

38. Wow this is the first time I have seen any of this.

[Cronus Protagonist]

40. More temporary worker visas would fix it.... (eom)

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