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The next step is a military draft

Posted by David DeGraw at 2:52 PM on August 24, 2006.


The recent involuntary recall of thousands of Marines from the reserves to active duty is an ominous sign that the military draft will be reinstated.
Military Draft Coming?

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The recent involuntary recall of thousands of Marines from the reserves to active duty is an ominous sign that the military draft will be reinstated.

Cox news reports:

"For the first time since the war against Iraq began more than three years ago, the Marine Corps is calling up its last line of reservists, men and women so removed from active duty they're no longer even attached to a unit.
Unless volunteers step forward, the Marines will soon issue orders requiring up to 2,500 such troops to report for training, a rare move analysts regard as a troubling omen this far into the conflict and a clear sign of a long haul ahead."
The call up has prompted Jon Stoltz, former Amy captain in Iraq and head of VoteVets.org, to make this statement to ABC news:
"This move should serve as a wake-up call to America. Today's announcement that thousands of Marines in the Individual Ready Reserve will be called back to go to Iraq is proof that our military is overextended, and there is no plan for victory in Iraq. Today's actions speak louder than words… [This is] one of the last steps before resorting to a draft."
Even though Republicans claimed during the last election cycle that there would not be a draft, now their spokesmen, like uber-crazy-man-conservative-war-monger Glen Beck, are suggesting that the draft may be a good and necessary idea.

If you are in your late teens or early twenties, or have a child that is, you might want to start getting politically active. If Cheney and co. decide to attack Iran, they might come a-knockin'.

Note on the video: Notice how Beck deceivingly starts out the clip by trying to minimize the involuntary recall and falsely claims that they are only calling up 1200 reserves.

Digg!

David DeGraw is AlterNet's video blogger.


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View:
"Universal National Service Act of 2006"
Posted by: aurora2484 on Aug 24, 2006 4:10 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A bill was introduced earlier this year by Rep Charles Rangel [D-NY], "To provide for the common defense by requiring all persons in the United States, including women, between the ages of 18 and 42 to 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 Bill was referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Short title, "Universal National Service Act of 2006"

From Section 2, "National Service Obligation":
"It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act."

and, "National service under this Act shall be performed either --
(1) as a member of an active or reserve component of the uniformed services; or
(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security."

From Section 4, "Implementation by the President":
"(a) In General.--The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act."
more at govtrack.us bill= h109-4572 (don't know the current status of the bill..)

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» .note the ages.. 42? Posted by: aurora2484
» RE: .note the ages.. 42? Posted by: ellie
» I totally agree with you Posted by: sausage
» RE: I totally agree with you Posted by: lively56
this could be the cincher
Posted by: aislinnluv on Aug 25, 2006 3:39 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
i've been positing a move out of this country because of the state bush and co. have brought us to. with 2 teenaged kids at home, and 2 others who have not yet reached the age of 42 (WHAT THE HELL???) it is looking more and more like i will be getting the hell out of dodge. let's see if w. is ready to send precious little barbara and jenna off in their khaki and camouflage before we poor and middle class part with our loved ones. that jackass.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» A year ago Posted by: Lizmv
» RE: A year ago Posted by: ellie
Thank God My Kids Are Gay
Posted by: terradea on Aug 25, 2006 5:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am so grateful that my children are gay. Even though they act straight - to avoid the persecution of the religious right and the republicans - they are wonderfully gay. And when the draft comes, they can come out of the closet with glee!

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» I can't decide... Posted by: sausage
» RE: Thank God My Kids Are Gay Posted by: FAITHCARR
» Everyone should serve Posted by: sausage
» RE: veryone should serve Posted by: FAITHCARR
Who couldn't see this coming?
Posted by: RoffleTheWaffle on Aug 25, 2006 5:27 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's an honest question. Who couldn't see this coming? Anybody who never believed the draft could or would return - especially in the sorry state we're in now - has been in some serious denial.

There will be a draft, and it will come soon. I for one propose voting with our feet and leaving while we still can.

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Draft.
Posted by: itchyvet on Aug 25, 2006 5:53 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
OK folks, so an ILLEGAL behind the door draft is now in full swing, hang on a sec there, haven't we been hearing the troops were gonna be withdrawn bit by bit as the Iraqis stood up and took over ?
LOL, I really have to laugh at the situation Americans have got themselves into so willingly.
No way which angle you look at this Administrations asperations and wishes, they simply cannot EVER be carried out with the military it has today.
I said this right from the beginning, and far better informed voices then mine, supported my assertions.
Now after destroying the materiale and machinery of your forces in the Iraqi adventure you had to have, as well as the pysch of the troops as well, all of a sudden, the Administration has realised it cannot sustain what it has set in motion with the troops it has.
Neither can it ENLARGE it's actions either for it's favourite targets Iran/Syria, so they've set in motion a sly secretive draft which at the end of the day, is only a stop gap measurement.
So guess what folks, how long will it be now, UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOU OR YOURS ? LOL !
Finaly, the U.S. citizenry will become personaly aquainted with what they've been dishing out to so many innocent people for the last 6 years.
I wonder whether the offspring of those corrupt sycophants in Congress are also going to do their bit for their parents.

If it's any consolation, Australia is also undertaking a programme to increase it's military numbers.
It was announced yesterday that they are going to increase our capability to 8 battalions of infantry.
They intend to mount a public relations campaign for volunteers, as if our youth would be so stupid to waste their lives on a pointless excercise that's been initiated by the U.S. simply to make them money, more fools they.
However, the problem is, with an unemployment rate of unprecidented levels at a minimum unheard of in this country, so low that we have to inport foreigners to work at McDonalds ect, ect, cause our kids refuse to work there for the chicken shit wages they pay, when they can obtain far better work in the mining industry, why should any of them volunteer for the idiot military ?
The IRONY of all this, is when the Vietnam war was raging, the Australian Govt could not sustain 9 Battalions without conscription, even back then, when unemployment was very high, people still refused to volunteer to die for the LIES.
So they instituted Conscription simply to sustain the manpower, thus it doesn't take Einstein to work out, no way will they EVER get sufficient fools to volunteer their lives, especially in todays environment of labour demands, and the inteligence gathered by our youth with the available tools at their finger tips
So, I guess we also can stare conscription in the face in the very near future to sustain the boots on the ground with them idiots in the Whitehouse so's they can get richer and richer.
Gawd, am I glad I'm too old fer that shite, besides, knowing what I know today, no way in hell, would they ever get their hands on me, I know my way around the bush far to well. HEH.

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» RE: Draft. Posted by: Bulldog
Gays
Posted by: itchyvet on Aug 25, 2006 6:01 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So you think your kids will be safe cause they're gay Huh ?

Talk about self delusion, what is it with you people, how do you do this to yourselves, is it something in your water or something ?

I don't want to piss on your parade or anything, but I think you should seriously do some homework on the issue and focus especially on past military engagements and the implications during those periods for gay personel.

For cryin out loud, it's just been reported that one out of ever four recruits in your military has been sexualy abused/raped whilst undergoing rookie training.
Doesn't that tell you anything ? Or do you think your kids will just simply love all that ?
So far we haven't even dealt with what happened to gays during WW 2 either, nor have we dealt with the Repugs views on homosexuality either.
Methinks you should stop kidding yourself and probably look for a country you can all piss off to, Holland comes to mind.

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» RE: Gays Posted by: vicki2001lynn
'Jon Stoltz, former Amy captain'?
Posted by: Chickensh*tEagle on Aug 25, 2006 6:20 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sounds like he's a deserter from Democracy Now!

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GOOD!
Posted by: incenseman on Aug 25, 2006 7:28 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I was in the Nam and the reason we saw so much decent was draftees. People who don't want to be there will scream the loudest along with their families. The draft is the beginning of the end. I will take to the streets alongside them in my old uniform!

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Send the Bush party girls
Posted by: jegnj on Aug 25, 2006 7:17 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If only every man in Congress, and it is mostly men, and the president, had to send their own kids to war before they invaded another country. I want to see the Bush girls in basic training. I want to see them over in Iraq before there is a draft. I would go to any country on the earth rather than send my sons to an oil or religion war.

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Draft
Posted by: pocomoco on Aug 25, 2006 9:16 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When the war in Vietnam started I told my two teen-age sons that I would support them if they decided to head for Canada or Sweden to avoid a draft. I feel the same way today as I have grandchildren. four, who would be vulnerable under this bill and six others who would eventually be vulnerable.

This has nothing to do with patriotism. It has to do with lying, incompetent presidents, Vietnam, Johnson, Iraq, Bush.

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REad MY Lips: NO DRAFT!
Posted by: ubertext on Aug 25, 2006 10:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just like his daddy-
Bush will lie through his teeth

Read my lis: No Draft!

& yes they will take our daughters now too- Where is the litmus test of politics?
Bush should send the twins if this war is so Just

prescott bush sent george P to fight in WW2

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HERE WE GO GANG
Posted by: Roverton on Aug 25, 2006 11:57 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's harvest season again.

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precisely why they have not initiated the draft
Posted by: Gregor on Aug 26, 2006 9:23 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The reactions on this website is precisely why Bush & Co. have not initiated the draft. Although if there is another big disaster they will again have to pull troops from Iraq...Hmm. What is a prez supposed to do? But the reason they are pushing for a draft is because they want to set up bases in the Congo. Need more soldiers to cover all the hot spots. Besides, since they have been lying about the figures their measly 2500 killed in Iraq is actually closer to 18,000 in real numbers. And of course the wounded is much much higher. But I digress. Their idea of the draft would decimate the universities. So all these colleges and U's would be empty and cause them to go bankrupt and hmm...Another reason not to do the draft. We would have older people in the workforce. Why do you think they cut senior benefits? To get them into working again while the young are off getting their heads blown off.

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draft
Posted by: pappy on Sep 1, 2006 8:40 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The time has come for disobedience "Hell no we won't go"
Leaving the country is ok it is a horrible country now . Who wants to serve in the Halliburton,Exxon,Carlyle Group Army?
This war has nothing to do with Democracy. We don't believe in what they believe in. It's funny you need clearance from the FBI to be a cab driver, but any nut can be elected to office. Some how we need to screen applicants for office, for example this woman in FLA. doesn't belong in the senate she belongs in a mental instution. Get your passports in order!

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