Bush rules out return of military draft, says he'll increase benefits

[Dems Will Win]

Including the DEATH BENEFIT....

Campaign 2004: Bush rules out return of military draft

By STEWART M. POWELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON BUREAU

President Bush yesterday ruled out resuming the military draft as the death toll of Americans in Iraq topped 1,000 after 17 months of combat and occupation there.

Bush, addressing a question from a supporter in Sedalia, Mo., said the key to avoiding resumption of the draft, which ended in 1973, was to provide enough benefits to the nation's volunteer armed forces to encourage continued recruitment.

-SNIP-

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/189816_campaign08.html

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

[amber dog democrat]

1. That means we will have a draft.

I am learning Chimp speak. Taking correspondance courses.

[JI7]

2. when running for re-election doesn't one talk about how they HAVE

increased benefits and other things they HAVE done rather than what they WILL do ?

[Cha]

6. Excellent Point!

more empty bush promises...it's NOT what bush says ..it's what he does the American public better watch for.

Like, what were his campaign promises in 2000?????

[girl gone mad]

14. Yes that's a good point..

and would make a great soundbyte for Kerry or Edwards.

Why is Bush running on promises instead of running on his record?

[Fridays Child]

3. Don't forget the widows' share, asshole.

:mad:

[jpgray]

4. Do we know the quote? The paraphrase sounds like 'we'll try and avoid it'

The article, unfortunately, doesn't provide one.

[IIgnoreNobody]

20. He didn't 'rule it out' - he said 'don't worry about it'

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040907-6.html
Q Mr. President, if the war on terrorism continues, do you feel that there will be a need for the draft? And do you want to start the draft again?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, first of all, the war on terror will continue. It's going to take awhile. And, no, we don't need a draft. What we need to do is -- don't worry about it. What we need to do is to make sure our troops are well-paid, and well-housed, and well-equipped. (Applause.)

[stray cat]

5. What will he do when he no longer is worried about re-election?

Given the promises he has failed to live up to during his first term when he faces re-election, anything goes during a second Bush term.

Scary as it sounds, the last 4 years has been the "politically correct" Bush because he knew he would run for a second term.

[mark414]

7. so does this mean

he'll return them to where they were before he cut them?

[Vincardog]

8. Ask the Teachers what the shrubs promises are worth

Or ask the Police
Or ask the Firemen
Or Ask the Forest service

But If you want the Real Story ask
Ask the Oil Companies
or Ask Halibuirton
or Ask The Carlyle group
The Insurance Companies

The sad fact is unless you contributed BIG to the Idiot Bush
you are SOL. Especially if you Harv any ethics.

Help is on the WAY GO KERRY

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Just like when he removed

combat hazard pay from our troops and Rummy decided to close PXs across the nation.

This is how bush will increase benefits

Remember, up is down and black is white

Into the hole we go

[Dems Will Win]

12. EVERYONE PLEASE HANG UP THIS DRAFT FLYER EVERYWHERE!

Go to http://somnamblst.tripod.com /

Thanks Rosebud57! Follow Rosebud's instructions on the site to print the .tif file out (the correct file). The .gif is JUST A SAMPLE.

In May, the Seattle Post Intelligencer published an article about a document they received through the Freedom of Information Act. It was revealed that the SSS is currently “designing procedures” for the implementation of a “Skills Draft” after holding a top-level meeting on it with Deputy Undersecretaries at the Defense Department. This draft would change the very mission of the Selective Service and require “virtually every young American”, male and female ages 18-34, to register for the Skills Draft and list all the occupations they are proficient in to fill labor shortages throughout nearly the entire government.

Here, for the first time, is the FOI document itself:

http://blatanttruth.org/selective_service091304.pdf

This document is real, having been acknowledged by the DoD and the SSS when they said no action is being taken on it at the present time, as reported:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/171522_draft01.html

Although Congress would have to approve new legislation to create a Skills Draft or reinstate the combat draft, Family Circle reported in its July 13 issue that Karl Rove has polled GOP members of Congress in September 2002 to see if they would support the President if he requests reinstatement. The Republicans said they would vote for the draft.

In addition, the SSS itself has said that it is “designing procedures” (Seattle PI, May 1, 2004) to implement the skills draft, meaning designing the compliance cards and the data fields needed to keep track of “virtually every young American” and their skills. Acting Director of the SSS Brodsky has also said the Skills Draft is the “top priority” of the Selective Service for 2004. The Issue Paper options include:

- Allow a non-combat draft for shortages in critical skills, without calling a combat draft.

- Fill labor shortages of all kinds throughout not only DoD but the Dept. of Homeland Security and other agencies, especially high-paying professionals like computer networking specialist or linguist.

- Create a single-point, all-inclusive database, in which every young person would be forced to send in a “self-declaration” of all of their critical skills, chosen from a long list of occupations like the Armed Forces Specialty Code. The usual penalties of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine would apply to all non-registrants.

In the secret planning meeting document, the next steps strongly recommended by SSS Acting Director Brodsky were:

1. “Promptly” redefine the SSS Mission to draft men and women up to age 34 for skills, and deliver them within 90 days or sooner to the Department of Defense. Program a massive database to be ready to enter millions of names of those registering their critical skills.

2. Expand mission to deliver personnel in skills draft to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, including FEMA, NSC, Border Patrol, INS, Customs, Corporation for National Service, Public Health Service and other agencies.

3. Form interagency task force to provide Administration with recommendation on this skills draft for the entire government.

4. Obtain White House Statement of Administration Policy on the future of the SSS.

5. Be prepared to market the skills draft, raising the non-combat age to 34 and the drafting of women to the Armed Services and Appropriations Committee.

In contrast to this planning and preparation to create a targeted draft, Kerry plans to spend an additional $7 billion to strengthen the Volunteer Army in what is essentially a “No-Draft Plan”. Moreover, Kerry is strongly opposed to the neo-con plan revealed in Wes Clark’s book Winning Modern Wars, in which Clark was told by a senior Pentagon official that invasions of Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Sudan and Somalia were planned and still to come over the next three years.

DON'T FORGET TO USE THE .TIF NOT THE .GIF FILE.

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

[whistle]

10. Uhmm, let me see now, death benefit insurance for active....

...military persons runs about $216 in premiums per year for $200,000 in death insurance and the families get $6,000.00 in immediate cash. So what is Bush going to do, double the insurance level so that military can pay up $432 in premiums? Or will he pick that up in the military budget for 2.5 million service people thats about $540,000,000.00 additional. I'd be willing to have the tax payers who earn $250,000 or more per year pay for that!

<link> http://www.cpms.osd.mil/icuc/attacks/Death%20Benefits%20Chart.htm

[Dems Will Win]

13. I think he's going to double the DEATH BENEFIT

to $12,000...

[whistle]

16. Well, that just comes out of the insurance money does it not....

...so how would getting $12,000 instead of $6,000 help significantly increase voluntary enlistment in the armed services? Boy, if that's all a person's life is worth to these people, I don't blame most young people for not signing up. How about setting the death benefit to $50,000.00 and upping the life insurance policy to $500,000.00 with the military picking up the incremental premiums? Also, why are 7,000 seriously wounded and disabled vets not getting proper medical care, aftercare and rehabilitation for services and sacrifices made? That is a monumental burden on families and I've always supported maximum care for our returning veterans who were wounded or disabled. Kerry can make that his commitment and let the republicans do what they do best, talk, but never produce. There are 20,000,000 wealthy ($250K+) tax payers who can pick up that bill moving forward.

[Dems Will Win]

22. kick

[whistle]

24. sorry what does kick mean?

[Massacure]

11. Increase benefits?

So now they will charge 10 dollars per meal instead of 20, and pay $200,000 for a flat tire instead of $100,000?

[2Design]

15. I believe his budget plan is already in place to DECREASE benefits

[whistle]

17. Hey, that's right, more BUSHIT!

[Grassroots Mom]

18. Bush is the ultimate flip-flopper

No nation building, then nation building
Free trade, then steel tariffs, then no tariffs
No draft, guarenteed we'll get a draft.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi Grassroots Mom!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dems Will Win]

21. kick!

[elperromagico]

23. He also said he could pay for his tax cuts and still keep the surplus.

So much for Bush campaign promises.