Military DRAFT proposed to start June 15, 2005

[npincus]

While Bush endorses a voluntary military /denies a draft will be reinstated HOW CONVENIENT that 2 bills to reinstate the draft are waiting in committees in Congress... and when it becomes INEVITABLE that we can no longer sustain enough troops in Iraq, Europe, Asia and the next target of the Neo-con's democratization fantasy (Iran? Syria?) what do YOU think is next? This is the road we are on, thanks to Bush.

I think the pending draft is a powerful issue to mobilize first-time voters: college students, young folks, parents, etc. I know my sister, who is not especially interested in politics, is freaked out about this (she has 2 young sons) and will vote against Bush.

here is info about the pending draft legislation that my cousin sent me:


Congress brought twin bills, S. 89 and HR 163 forward, entitled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, "to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, 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." These active bills currently sit in the committee on armed services.

Dodging the draft will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era. College and Canada will not be options. In December 2001, Canada and the U.S. signed a "smart border declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign affairs, John Manley, and
U.S. Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter.

Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year. This plan, among other things, eliminates higher education as a shelter and includes women in the draft.

more ifno:

http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/National/2003/S89/default.asp

[Cascadian]

1. Kerry better go against this.

That's all I have to say. To send young men and women to their deaths this way is not the answer. Kerry better come up with a better plan than this. I will never support a draft. If Kerry goes with this plan, than his past will come back to haunt him.




John

[Cascadian]

2. Go to Mexico.

Cannot go to Canada, guys?


You best better learn Spanish well and go to Mexico.


John

[MichaelHarris]

3. We offer

safe houses and transportation, kinda like an "underground railroad" for our brutha's and sista's who need shelter.

[NYC Liberal]

4. Kerry needs to come out against this ASAP,

and tell younger voters that if Bush is elected they WILL be drafted. And if he IS elected, and this does go through, then I think we'll see support for Bush and his wars fade pretty quickly.

[Cascadian]

5. Honestly I cannot see how Kerry could back a draft...

if he continues this insane war in Iraq, how would he confront his anti-war activist past. Those words he spoke before Congress would return to haunt him...


"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?...."



John

[robcon]

10. Kerry has said we need MORE troops in Iraq.

I suspect he would need a draft to do that, if the number of extra troops is significant.

[MoonRiver]

19. Kerry said the troops would be part of a new international coalition.

Kerry is the only one who can do this. * has lost all credibility and we are being shunned by the rest of the world under his "leadership".

[Cascadian]

6. Good topic....kick

[roseBudd]

7. Youth are a key demographic

we need to increase turn out with issues they care about. You can help by attempting to influence LIKELY democratic voters by emailing bands before they appear at swing state music venues asking them to speak to their fans and audience about these important issues.

for instance here is Bogarts in Cincinnati, Ohio:

http://bogarts.com /


rosebud

[liveoaktx]

8. Bushie Twins need to be FIRST in line-remember at the RNC

where they said something like they needed something to do for the next 3 years? Perfect Answer-Go to Falluja!

Young and Irresponsible Bushie Twins Introduce Dad

[PA Democrat]

12. A lot of people feel that way- check out this LTTE in my local paper

Iraq opportunities
In their introduction of their mother at the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, Bush daughters Barbara and Jenna mentioned that now that they had graduated from college, they were "looking around for something to do for the next few years." I'm certain my 22-year-old niece (a naval officer serving in Iraq) could recommend plenty of opportunities for young college grads -- in the Gulf. Perhaps driving a Humvee in Najaf? Or maybe directing air traffic out of Baghdad?

Barb and Jenna would look just as fetching in fatigues and body armor (their parents could surely afford to buy them their own) as they do in their designer gowns. How about it, girls? Sign right up.

LISA RULONG
Bethel Park

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04248/373286.stm

[sandraj]

18. great letter

n/t

[PA Democrat]

9. I am sending this off to some of our right wing friends w/ draft-age kids

and pointing out that there are NO college deferments and that women will be drafted also. We'll see if these people are still so gung-ho about Bush's insane war in Iraq.

[Fed Up]

11. they'll probably say "Oh that's just Democrats lying."

that's their stock answer to everything else.

[LisaL]

13. I guess they will be very surprised then-

if one day they end up somewhere in the desert.

[Joanne98]

17. What I've started doing...........

Is tell them, "You remind me of one of those women who watches her husband go into her teenage daughter's room at night and insist there's nothing going on". THEY HATE THAT!!!!!

[oasis]

26. If they read Clarkes "Against All Enemies" and visit the PNAC website

they will be able to see who's lying about expanding the "War on Terrorism".

www.newamericancentury.org

[Proud liberal Kat]

14. As much as I would love this to be a silver bullet

Those two bills were both introduced by Democrats to the best of my knowledge with the thought process of if there was a draft we would be less likely to go to Iraq etc. The thought that if everyone's children would have to serve that the people would rise up against an unnecessary War.

Now I am not saying that Bush wouldn't re-institute the Draft in order to have enough fodder for his four more Wars, but these two bills are so distanced from him that if we start mass-sending them we are just as bad as those mass sending the 87 billion flip-flop BS and the BS about Kerry voting against all the weapons systems that Cheney proposed for cuts!
Kathy

[oasis]

22. The invasion of Iraq was NOT introduced by Democrats. PNAC neocons

pushed Bush into that war and they will push him into Syria and Iran. This is what needs to be stressed the draft aged voters.

www.newamericancentury.org

[Joanne98]

15. Welcome to DU.........

This is really important. Spread it around. Especially to the "security moms" with teenage sons. :)

[no_hypocrisy]

16. The trouble with the bill that Rep. Charles Rangel has put out:

1. It was meant as a symbolic gesture to make a net so fine that rich kids of influential citizens could not escape the draft, e.g., with a phonecall to their Senator, with a college deferment, etc. It wasn't meant as rounding up our youth to promote empire indefinitely for corporations.

2. This bill could pass with two dire consequences:
a. Rangel's bill can easily be AMENDED by the republicans (assuming they have enough numbers on their side) to gut the inclusion provision for rich kids, and thus

b. The regular bunch of kids, e.g., low income, drop-outs, part time college students, get drafted and killed or maimed.

Result: status quo with a DEMOCRAT jump-starting the draft.

[npincus]

20. be very afraid

kick

[oasis]

21. Dems need to play up the PNAC angle. Occupation armies in Syria and Iran

will be made up of draftees.

[DaveSZ]

23. Kerry needs to talk about this

IMO it's a real concern for us youngins.

I flat out won't vote for him if he supports this, and I will protest against him - same as Bush- if he does.

[DaveSZ]

24. The bill is introduced by his Democratic friend in the Senate:

Introduced: January 7, 2003 by Sen. Ernest F. Hollings

[oasis]

25. Please read post #22.

[Il_Coniglietto]

27. Oh lovely

Less than a week before my 18th birthday.