Alter: We're Dodging the Draft Issue

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6099727/site/newsweek/

It's a potentially lethal issue—the kind that could make young voters swarm to the polls and their nervous parents change their minds about supporting President Bush. Republicans are peeved over Democratic claims that the president will impose a draft if he's re-elected. John Kerry was hammered for mildly suggesting that such an idea was even "possible." Bush backers are right that this is a suburban myth and no such plans are underway. A scary and misleading Democratic e-mail circulating on college campuses highlights pending legislation to revive the draft and efforts by the administration to bolster local Selective Service boards. Predictably, the e-mail doesn't mention that the draft bills, which are going nowhere, are sponsored mostly by Democrats (who think military service falls too heavily on minorities) and that the draft-board system is being kept well oiled because of old laws requiring it—not some nefarious Bush plot. "Not. Gonna. Happen," concludes conservative columnist Michelle Malkin.

<snip>

But the world is a strange and unpredictable place. While Bush has no plans to reinstate a draft, he could be forced into it by events. Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, a likely presidential candidate in 2008, says that a draft "might become necessary" in the years ahead. The threshold question before the election is this: which candidate is more likely to have so few international friends amid a crisis that he would have to move beyond the all-volunteer force? This question takes the seemingly arcane issue of burden-sharing and brings it home to the American heartland. If we need, God forbid, to occupy another country that truly threatens the United States, we will either do it with the help of our allies or with the conscription of our kids.

<snip>

IranAs the crisis unfolded, we would approach our allies. If we had repaired our tattered relations with them and they felt the United States was again exercising sound judgment, they would join us to de-nuclearize and stabilize Iran. If they didn't, and we faced an occupation that would make Iraq look easy, we would unquestionably have to impose a draft. It doesn't take a nuclear scientist to figure out which presidential candidate this year would have a better chance of making a fresh start in securing the cooperation of our allies when the world erupts again, in Iraq, Iran, North Korea or anywhere else. Diplomacy works. Five years after Bill Clinton's war in Kosovo, 100 percent of the peacekeeping is handled by foreign troops.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Dean and Edwards are pushing this. We need all of our speakers to....

push this issue. It WILL bring the "security Moms" right back to the Democratic side!!!

Edit: I also know a number of young people who are "on the line" who would vote Kerry if it meant no Draft. Push this issue because June 2005 is too late.

[RamboLiberal]

4. And we need to remind Security Moms with kids

If their kids are 14+ now then the next four years could definitely see them drafted to go off to war. Or forced to join the military cause they can't afford college or can't get a job.

If the kids are under 14 - remind them that what Bush does in the next 4 years could still see their kids taken by a draft or lousy economy if Bush is allowed another 4 years to piss of allies, saber-rattle at potential enemies, etc. After all Vietnam stretched through Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, etc.

[Kikosexy2]

11. With...

Iran and Syria on their sights, a draft is definitely going to be needed. We're stretched too thin as it is. And if N. Korea keeps shaking the trees as well--the Chimp has no choice. Get the word out: a vote for Bush is a vote for the draft!

[iaclassic]

2. another good link to share

http://www.bushdraft.com

[iaclassic]

3. Hope this isn't too long to post here

The following is the text of a flyer I am working on...2 to a page.
Feel free to copy and distribute.
;)
..........
"We need a draft, and we are going to get it." ~ Paul Wolfowitz, Dep.Secretary of Defense

Have you heard about Bush's plan for a draft?
Not many people have.

Did you know that Bush has ordered the selective service system to fill all their draft board positions? He also added $28 million to the selective service system's budget "to prepare for a draft by June 15, 2005".

Even while he does this, he denies he is planning a draft. Why? Because to reinstate the draft during a first term would be political suicide, but in his second term, he won't need to worry about the next election. With only 44% of the troops in Iraq saying they will re-enlist, he needs a draft to continue with his pre-emptive war doctrine.

You might think you're safe because you're at college, but since the last draft they have changed the college deferment. Instead of a 4-year deferment, they now allow only semester-long deferments.

Want to avoid the draft? The answer is simple:
VOTE AGAINST BUSH.
Visit www.bushdraft.com for more information.
..........

[phantom power]

10. you might consider replacing....

"vote against bush"

with

"vote for kerry"

[Kagemusha]

5. Why would US allies be strong enough to bail us out?...

And that's if they were minded to try.

France has what, an aircraft carrier with a screw loose? (as in, propeller..) NATO is already bogged down in Afghanistan. Occupying Iran would take drafts in many countries other than the US.

And if Iran isn't to be conquered and occupied, what will destroying its nuclear facilities (including civvie power facilities) gonna do? It's gonna make them actually really honest to Allah try to make the Shiites in Iraq explode, and make Israel pay, too. At this rate all we'll manage to do is make the Navy and USAF push the tempo that much higher and bomb Tehran along with Fallujah.

The problem is, I see no scenario here where Kerry, going in with a "Bush +" plan to do exactly what Bush is doing, but with a nicer mask to fool the allies into helping, is actually oging to achieve anything real. I don't think they're strong enough to help. We bomb their cities; they car bomb our troops and Iraqi police allies.

It's an f'ing stalemate, and I see no reason that Kerry would make a difference. I've seen Alter and others make the argument that Kerry would make a difference for too long: I'm sick of it, no, he wouldn't.

If Kerry wants to make a difference there, he'd have to negotiate with terrorists of some measure, either the mullahs in Iran, Sistani in Iraq, or the Sunni ex Baathists. The Kurds are poised to knock the whole boat over so talking to them is probably not going to work anyway. But short of picking favorites from the non Iraqi exile community, or dealing with Iran to calm them down, it's the same stalemate: Bombs for terror.

Because right now, with US forces physically on the ground and exposed, terror works.

[lolly]

8. France's Aircraft Carrier with loose screws?

Aircraft and weapons are two of France's major exports--last I heard, ahead of cheese and wine.

[DanGough]

6. Draft return

The return of the Draft, or even the threat of it will make NASCAR dad's really think about what is going on in Iraq. Do you think they want their aspiring "Dale Jr's" to drop out of the local community college and go fight? NO WAY! Once the actual threat of having to send their sons and daughters off hits home, they will recoil the blind support for the war. Keep hammering it John. If nothing else, it will make Bush accountable should he be re-selected come Nov. 2

[Dawgs]

7. I think Bush's "credibility" also needs to be questioned...

Dean and Clark can push the draft issue by using Bush's credibility in the world.

If America is forced to send troops to Iran, North Korea, etc., the rest of the world will not support us... not even Europe. If Bush is still in office, America would have to go it alone. This means we either pull out of Iraq or reinstate the draft.

If Kerry is in office we most likely would have the support of Europe, France, Germany and every other nation that won't support Bush.

This is one issue that will change the mind's of mothers and young adults. In 1991, during the first Bush vs. Iraq war, there was talk of a draft. I was twenty, in college, in danger of being drafted, and I was scared to death.

I know my Aunt(who would vote for Bush) is voting for Kerry because of this issue. She has a 17 year old grandson.

[wryter2000]

9. Sigh

Nice try, but if Michelle Malkin says it's not going to happen, it won't. </sarcasm>

[Name removed]

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