130 Soldiers from Arlington Honor Guard sent to Iraq means DRAFT is next

[Dems Will Win]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/07/international/worldspecial3/07CND-GORDON.html?ex=1073019600&en=8df3c53a5ddfad45&ei=5070

-snip -

The United States Army's Old Guard is best known for its ceremonial duties. Its soldiers stand vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery and serve in color guards for visiting dignitaries...

...The Old Guard, formally the Third Infantry Regiment, will not say where its contingent of 130 or so soldiers is going, but Pentagon officials say the current plan is to send B Company to Djibouti, the tiny East African nation strategically situated on the Horn of Africa, across the strait from Yemen, and a location where the United States has established a base to respond to terrorist threats.

...But make no mistake, the American military commitment to Iraq and Afghanistan for the next year is still enormous and putting considerable strains on the armed forces. The boots on the ground are a visible sign of the Bush administration's commitment in Iraq and, as President Bush vowed, to plant the seeds of Democracy in the Middle East. Pentagon officials say that the military can handle the burden for another year.

-snip-

A major worry for the Army is also that a third year of large-scale deployments in Iraq will make it difficult to retain the noncommissioned officers and experienced reserves that are needed for a quality volunteer force. Reserves will account for more than a third of the troops deployed in Iraq next year. Retention is a lagging indicator, but the anecdotal indications from reservists in Iraq is that some will leave the military at the first opportunity if they conclude that it entails regular yearlong tours away from home.

-snip-

Bush '04 = DRAFT '05

[BayCityProgressive]

1. I don't even want to think about a draft.

[Dems Will Win]

2. You don't have to--until April 1, 2005

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

Reduces draft activation time to 75 days by March 31, 2005, conveniently after the election.

[Q3JR4]

3. Wouldn't it require

an act of congress to reinstate the draft? Short of another September 11 occurance, does anybody see that happening?

:shrug:

[Dems Will Win]

4. Yes and on April 1, 2005, I'm predicting Bush will say "we're not going

to cut and run from Iraq, DoD says it needs the DRAFT" Wouldn't need an attack with that line to get Frist and Delay to agree. Besides he has no choice, even the DoD admits they only have enough soldiers for another year in this very article!

Remember the 2004 Plan by SSS to reduce activation time down to 75 days by March 31, 2005.