I know this is hard to believe, but it's true. The Republicans want to restart mandatory military service. We know this as "The Draft." The Republicans do not respect our all-volunteer military. Even though it's the mightiest fighting force ever seen in history. Even though that's all we needed to win the Cold War.

I thought this was an elaborate hoax, but I went on the web to see. It's true! The Republicans really want to do this, and they have it all ready to go. Here is a link to the full text of this Republican proposal: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c107:H.R.3598:

This is the Republican plan, quoted directly from their proposed law: "To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered under the Military Selective Service Act," which compels children as young as 17 to report their address and movements to the US Government. There it is, in their own words!

When first introduced in 2001, this bill had little support. However, this horrible idea is gaining momentum in the GOP controlled House of Representatives. Rep. Nick Smith, a Michigan Republican offered these reasons for his law to force young men to fight in wars against their will:

"America faces a unique moment in history: our nation is at war, our homeland was attacked, and our personal security is more at risk than it has probably ever been since World War II." Smith Introduces National Service Bill. http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/pr20129a.htm

While all that is true, forcing young men into the military would not address any of these important concerns. We know a draft couldn't have prevented the 9/11 Al Qaeda attacks, and it won't stop future terrorism. Only better, more vigilant leadership from the White House, the CIA and FBI can do that. Why aren't the Republicans working on that?

I'm not feeling any safer than I did on 9/12/01. Are you? The Republicans have had over a year to fix the problems, but all they've done is stonewall and issue colored alerts. When they tell us to be afraid, they can't even say what we have to watch out for. It's upsetting. It's frustrating. It makes me wonder if they have any idea what they're doing.

We're not getting real leadership from Bush, Cheney, or Attorney General Gonzalez -- the man they chose to supervise the FBI Director who thinks torture is OK, and international treaties like the Geneva Conventions don't apply. I was stunned to learn Ashcroft had FBI agents investigating prostitution rather than tracking known terrorists on 9/10/01. Gonzalez is doing the same, even as the CIA warns terrorists are going to attack the US again. Where are their priorities? Fix what went wrong on 9/11? No! They want to restart the draft!

Our current all-volunteer military accomplished everything we've ever asked of it. So why this Republican push for a draft now? Compulsory military service won't improve our national security.

A draft would serve no purpose unless the Republicans plan to invade Iran, Syria, and other nations simultaneously. I watched Rep. Weldon, a Republican from Pennsylvania and the other co-sponsor of this new Draft legislation on the "Hardball" program [September, 24 2002] and he revealed the real reason behind his plans to start drafting young men into the military.

Rep. Weldon said our military forces are "stretched too thin." He says they're down "to the bone" trying to hold on to Afghanistan while meeting our other commitments. That was before Bush invaded Iraq.

Republicans want to draft young men to fight and die in foreign lands for dubious reasons. We can easily understand what those reasons are. Republicans know they cannot support all the wars they want to fight with an all-volunteer military. Democrats have a better idea. Rather than have the FBI busy rounding up young women for selling sex and passing laws for rounding up young men to fight in far off wars, the Democrats want to work at keeping us safe here at home.

Mandatory military law main sponsor Republican Rep. Smith says: "Military training and experience prepares communities for potential challenges while encouraging community and national service. People should have some obligation to participate in defending and serving their country. This responsibility comes with the freedoms we all enjoy. The common experience of most men serving their county prior to 1973 had a very unifying effect." (Smith Introduces National Service Bill)

While Rep. Smith is correct that freedom comes with responsibility, his idea to draft young men to promote national unity is dangerous nonsense. The draft did not have a "very unifying effect." The opposite is true! Every draft since the Civil War through Vietnam provoked riots.

Like most elected Republicans, Rep. Nick Smith is out of touch with real Americans and reality. He either betrays gross ignorance or plays fast and loose with facts. Anyone who knows anything about American history understands the draft is a divisive and destructive force in our nation. During the Civil War, the wealthy bought their way out of service. During the Vietnam years, resentment boiled over as people of privilege like W. Bush and Dick Cheney dodged the draft or used family connections and slipped out of service.

Bush jumped ahead of 1000s on waiting lists into a cushy National Guard unit, and then went AWOL for about a year. His well-connected father got W. in and out of the Texas Air National Guard without performing his full term of duty, while others fought in his place. Cheney obtained a string of deferments, saying he had "other commitments" more important than military service in a war he loudly supported.

Several other pro-war Republicans stayed safe at home while poor and working class Americans risked their lives in Vietnam. Ironically these rich Republicans want to force more poor and working class kids to fight their battles again.

Here, in alphabetical order, are some infamous "Chicken Hawks," the bold Republican would-be warriors who were reluctant to stand for the last draft but who seem eager to start a new one:

Abraham, Spencer -- Former Bush Secretary of Energy, wouldn't fight.
Abrams, Elliott -- guilty of lying, tells us to trust him about Iraq.
Ailes, Roger -- FOX News hawk, expert at tricking voters for GOP
Alexandar, Lamar -- Senator and past GOP candidate for President
Ashcroft, John -- "top cop" in charge of keeping us safe. He didn't.
Barr, Bob -- GOP Congressman had FBI hound Clinton not Al Queda.
Bartlett, Roscoe - GOP Congressman, wouldn't fight.
Bauer, Gary -- once and future GOP candidate for President
Bennett, Bill -- knows what's best for us, dodging war was best for him.
Bush, George W -- 2nd place finisher in 2000 Presidential Election.
Bush, Jeb -- helped 2nd place finisher "win" 2000 Election
Card, Andrew -- W. Bush Chief of Staff, dodged service like his boss.
Chambliss, Saxby -- GOP wants new draft despite dodging it himself.
Cheney, Dick -- his anti-terror task force didn't meet once before.
DeLay, Tom -- pro-war GOP wants new draft despite dodging it himself.
Evans, Don top Bush advisor who wants new draft despite dodging service.
Gaffney, Frank demands war, refused to fight.
Gingrich, Newt -- pro-war GOP who wants new draft despite dodging service.
Gramm, Phil -- GOP Senator, his wife served on Enron Board of Directors.
Hannity, Sean FOX hawk for war, if he doesn't have to go.
Hastert, Dennis -- Top GOP in the House, Speaker ... for now.
Hume, Brit -- FOX hawk demands war, so long as he doesn't have to.
Hutchinson, Asa -- Bush's "Drug Czar," in Congress was like his brother:
Hutchinson, Tim -- GOP Senator made FBI hound Clinton rather than Al Queda.
Keating, Frank -- GOP Senator demands war, dodged service.
Kemp, Jack -- GOP VP candidate played for NFL claiming VN disability.
Keyes, Alan -- once and future GOP candidate for President
Krauthammer, Charles -- loudly demands war, refused to serve.
Kristol, William -- FOX hawk demands war, refused to serve.
LaPierre, Wayne -- NRA "tough guy" so long as the target can't shoot back.
Limbaugh, David -- critic of Clinton's "draft dodging" too good to fight.
Limbaugh, Rush -- critic of Clinton's "draft dodging" too good to fight.
Lott, Trent -- once and hopefully not future Senate Majority Leader
McConnell, Mitch -- fighter against clean campaigns, no guts to serve.
Medved, Michael -- critic of communism in Hollywood, no guts to serve.
Nickles, Don -- GOP Senate critic of Clinton, too good to serve.
Olson, Ted -- Solicitor General, too good to serve.
O'Rourke, P.J. -- unfunny comic who opposed war until too old to fight.
Perle, Richard -- loudly demands war, but wouldn't fight in one.
Pitt, Harvey -- Bush's toothless corporate watchdog too good to serve.
Quayle, Dan -- W. Bush's father's surrogate son, too good to fight.
Racicot, Mark -- Chairman of party that wants your sons drafted, not theirs.
Romney, Mitt -- Republican candidate for Governor of Massachusetts.
Rove, Karl -- Bush's "Brain" tells GOPs war wins votes, refused to go to war.
Scalia, Antonin -- killed Democracy in 2000, refused to serve his country.
Shelby, Richard -- GOP Senator who supports war, too good to go himself.
Starr, Ken -- made FBI hound President Clinton rather than Al Queda.
Stein, Ben -- unfunny comic supports war now he's too old to fight.
Thomas, Clarence -- Scalia's caddy, also too good to fight for his country.
Thompson, Tommy -- GOP "tough guy" too chicken to risk his life for his country.
Tyrrell, R. Emmett -- made FBI hound President Clinton rather than Al Queda.
Will, George -- loudly demands war, but wouldn't fight in one himself.
Wolfowitz, Paul -- loudly demands war, but refused to serve.