Feel A Draft Coming On?
By Mike Hersh, Feb 27, 2005
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.
The list of "Chicken Hawks" goes on and on. It's shocking how top GOPs want to send American kids to kill and die in unnecessary wars, even though they dodged service themselves! See: http://www.nhgazette.com/chickenhawks.html
The Republicans have their bill to restart the draft all ready to go, just waiting for the right moment. Perhaps the terror attack they're not doing much to prevent? If they can, Republicans will draft young Americans and send them overseas to foreign wars. And for what? Power games? Profits for Republican campaign contributors? Oil?
The GOP has this outrage ready for the Congress to pass -- unless you stop them! What can you do to stop this?
Stop the Republicans' unrestrained swing to extreme right wing. I don't care which party you usually support if any. Reject this latest Republican assault on our rights and freedom. The Bush/Cheney gang tramples our rights - from the theft of the 2000 Election to date. They stepped up their agenda exploiting 9/11 with the hideously misnamed US Patriot Act. Now they want to restart the draft and wage war against Iran no matter the costs. The Republicans know they cannot support all the wars W. Bush plans to fight with an all-volunteer army. They want to draft our young men to fight and die in foreign lands for dubious reasons -- mainly to do with oil. Don't let them.
If you are a young man, aged 18 to 25, call your Senators and Congressional Representative and tell them they must oppose Bush's rush to war against Iran. Call like your life depended on it. Because it does. If you're not in that demographic, but if you love someone who is, you must write to your local papers. Then contact Congress and tell them if they support war against Iran, you will never vote for them again. Get and wear anti-war items, stickers, buttons etc. Tell all your friends and family to do the same. Unless you want your sons, brothers, grandsons, and / or friends shipped off to kill and die in old men's power games which have nothing to do with our national security, you must choose balance and moderation over extremism and militarism.
Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001 (Introduced in House)
HR 3598 IH 107th CONGRESS
1st Session H. R. 3598
To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered under the Military Selective Service Act, and to authorize young women to volunteer, to receive basic military training and education for a period of up to one year.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 20, 2001 Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself and Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL To require the induction into the Armed Forces of young men registered under the Military Selective Service Act, and to authorize young women to volunteer, to receive basic military training and education for a period of up to one year.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the 'Universal Military Training and Service Act of 2001'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Basic military training and education.
Sec. 4. Period of basic military training and education.
Sec. 5. Educational services and prorated Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
Sec. 6. Role of Selective Service System.
Sec. 7. Induction of conscripts and acceptance of volunteers.
Sec. 8. Deferments and postponements.
Sec. 9. Exemptions.
Sec. 10. Military training in branch of member's choice; conscientious objection.
Sec. 11. Pay and allowances.
Sec. 12. Discharge following training.
Sec. 13. Relation to authorized end strengths for active forces.
Sec. 14. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 15. Transitional provision.
This bill continues listing every detail necessary to enforce conscription to send young men to fight and kill and die in foreign lands. Remember to vote for and demand moderation, balance of power, and to prevent extreme laws like this from passing. Support our young people. Keep them free and alive.
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