Powell Says War Service Should Pertain to Everyone

[Nambe]

WASHINGTON (Reuters)

Secretary of State Colin Powell refused to get into the debate over the Vietnam service of the U.S. presidential candidates on Sunday but said if the United States ever went back to mandatory enlistment, everybody should be "equally liable" for war service.

Powell made the remark on "Fox News Sunday," explaining his opposition to Vietnam-era policies that allowed many, including his boss, President Bush, to serve in Reserve and National Guard units instead of on the battlefield.

Powell said he disagreed with the policies that allowed people like Bush to serve out the war in a National Guard unit. "But those were the policies that were in place at that time," Powell said. "And President Bush and Senator Kerry volunteered to serve their nation under the policies that were in place. And both served honorably and both were discharged honorably." ..

"I am angry that so many sons of the powerful and well-placed managed to wangle slots in Reserve and National Guard units," wrote Powell, a 35-year career soldier and four-star general who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Bush's father, former President Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton.

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[nadinbrzezinski]

1. so is colin going to say (he just did)

that his boss is a coward?

Way to go Colin now when are yuo resigning?

[RevCheesehead]

2. Resign? I'm waiting for the Kerry endorsement! n/t

[Rose Siding]

3. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x821350

[Inland]

4. "under the policies that wer in place". Yes, little was asked of Bush

as a matter of the policy that allowed powerful people the discretion to hand out favors and Bush to pull strings. And the matter of policy that let real heros and men like Kerry volunteer for combat. Can't Powell see the difference between the policy Bush took advantage of and the policy Kerry did?

[Moderator]

5. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x821350