Do we need a draft?
For those who missed LKL and AC360 the last 2 days, here's a part of Bill Maher interview with Larry King where they talk about Iraq and draft, and the other clip is Michael Ware on Anderson Cooper 360 explaining situation in Iraq after yesterday's deadly suicide bombing that claimed over 500 lives.
You might have read that a few days ago Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, known as "the War Czar" told NPR that military draft is considered. "I think it makes sense to certainly consider it, and I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table, but ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another."
3 comentarios:
As soon as they start up the draft, I'm gonna start helping kids go to Canada.
Bastards.
Could we have a had a better week - White House wise? First Karl Rove quit, now Tony Snow. Take that Bush!!
Ivy, I think Lt Gen Lute gave a very accurate assessment of the situation. Even though it’s easy to lose sight of it with all the BS coming out of Washington, there is a very real threat to this country and we have to have the ability to protect ourselves. We had a surge in enlistments following 9/11 but a lot of those people are now finding themselves on their third or fourth tour in Iraq instead of fighting Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. In some cases, they’ve been retained on active duty past the end of their contracts due to Stop Loss policies. That’s got to be affecting enlistment rates. Unless something changes, we may very well reach a point where the draft will need to be reinstated in order to meet national security needs. But as the general said, that is a policy decision.
"Sec. 451. Congressional declaration of policy
(a) This Act may be cited as the ''Military Selective Service Act''.
(b) The Congress declares that an adequate armed strength must be achieved and
maintained to insure the security of this Nation.
(c) The Congress further declares that in a free society the obligations and privileges of
serving in the armed forces and the reserve components thereof should be shared
generally, in accordance with a system of selection which is fair and just, and which
is consistent with the maintenance of an effective national economy.
(d) The Congress further declares, in accordance with our traditional military policy as
expressed in the National Defense Act of 1916, as amended, that it is essential that
the strength and organization of the National Guard, both Ground and Air, as an
integral part of the first line defenses of this Nation, be at all times maintained and
assured.
To this end, it is the intent of the Congress that whenever Congress shall determine
that units and organizations are needed for the national security in excess of those
of the Regular components of the Ground Forces and the Air Forces, and those in
active service under this title (sections 451 to 471a of this Appendix), the National
Guard of the United States, both Ground and Air, or such part thereof as may be
-2-
necessary, together with such units of the Reserve components as are necessary
for a balanced force, shall be ordered to active Federal service and continued
therein so long as such necessity exists.
(e) The Congress further declares that adequate provision for national security requires
maximum effort in the fields of scientific research and development, and the fullest
possible utilization of the Nation's technological, scientific, and other
critical manpower resources.
(f) The Congress further declares that the Selective Service System should remain
administratively independent of any other agency, including the Department of
Defense."
The next president is going to have to find a way to protect the country while trying to undo the damage caused by current policies.
Post a Comment