Newsweek: Could the Draft Come Back? 36% of 18-29 already think so!

[Dems Will Win]

Could the Draft Come Back?
As military operations continue in Iraq and forces are stretched thinner, President Bush and his Democratic challenger are getting more questions about the revival of a military draft

By Jennifer Barrett
Newsweek
Updated: 8:15 p.m. ET June 04, 2004

June 4 - It’s one of the Internet’s most persistent rumors: The Pentagon and the White House are quietly laying plans to reinstate the military draft—as soon as the 2004 presidential election is over.


-snip-

But that hasn’t stopped the conspiracy theorists. “Most Americans believe there’s no way that a draft can happen, but it doesn’t take a lot of vision to see it right around the corner if we pick up one or two more enemies,” says Scott Kohlhaas, the state chair of Alaska’s Libertarian Party who launched a Web site called DraftResistance.org in late 2002. And while 63 percent of 18-29 year olds in a NEWSWEEK GENEXT poll conducted late last month think it is unlikely that the draft will be reinstated, a full 36 percent say it’s likely a military draft will be reactivated.


-snip-

But a series of headlines detailing new military service extensions in Iraq and the deployment of reservists have done little to quell suspicions. This week, the Army announced an expansion of its so-called stop-loss policy that would require soldiers who are being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan to extend their active duty at least until their unit’s terms of deployment are over. That means that thousands more troops could be forced to stay in the service months longer than they’d anticipated. In a speech the next day, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry called the extension a “backdoor draft” and said soldiers are being stretched too thin.

-snip-

Saville says about half the new recruits each year typically come from the Army, but many who are leaving are choosing not to enlist in the Guard now since it is not looked at as being “part-time” anymore. That’s made the National Guard more dependent on recruiting graduating high-school students, who have been reluctant to join after reading headlines about the number of Guardsmen being called to duty—and, in some cases, being killed—in Iraq.

-snip-

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5139838/site/newsweek/

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

KERRY HAS A NO-DRAFT PLAN (ask me anything)

[saigon68]

1. GET DRAFTED = GET KILLED FOR HALLIBURTON

I'm sure the soccer mothers or whatever else they are called, can't be too happy about this.

Ask some parents and wives what they think of the war after their kid OR husband got smoked --- especially those 5 today

THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM --- saigon says BULLSHIT !!!!

[Zhade]

2. Sorry, but I think your math is off.

Continued occupation of Iraq (under ANY president) = draft.

The Iraqis want us gone, yesterday. As more of our soldiers die - and they WILL, even under Kerry, because WE ARE NOT WANTED THERE - we will creep closer and closer to a draft, no matter who sits in the White House.

It's the illegal occupation of Iraq that threatens a draft, not just the possibility of b*sh attacking more countries.

And, as much as the corporate media would prefer us to think otherwise, this isn't a conspiracy theory, just simple logic.

[Dems Will Win]

4. Kerry says his foregin policy would make DRAFT "absolutely unnecessary"

With NATO into Iraq, and Kerry getting even French troops into Iraq, we will have less there and re-up rates will go back up because the troops will know Kerry is Prez not AWOL.

It's mostly invading Syria, Iran and holding onto Uzbekistan that they will need the DRAFT for.

Kerry is pledged to restoring the Volunteer Army, which Bush is crushing under his boot.

[teryang]

6. "Continued occupation of Iraq...= draft"

I agree, there is no other way. Are Germany and France going to send 65,000 troops to Iraq? It's either that or expose American forces to greater danger by lowering their numbers without providing any measures for their practical defense. This alternative would result in the last Americans being pulled out by helocopters trying to operate under fire from the green zone.

[otohara]

3. It's Because of My Bush=Draft Bumper Sticker

I'm spreading the word...

[teryang]

7. I tell every parent I meet

...the draft is coming if they elect chimp. People get real suspicous about him and Rumsfeld when it comes to their own flesh and blood. Their credulity for government promises completely evaporates.

[DBoon]

5. A Libertarian behind drafresistance.org

is very interesting..

[lostnfound]

8. This article is so distorted..and irresponsible.

Instead of looking at the facts, they paint it as a matter of "persistent rumors" on the internet.."that hasn’t stopped the conspiracy theorists".

[booksenkatz]

9. My 20-something Libertarian gay friend

says he isn't worried about a draft, because all he has to do is tell them he is gay; but I have this feeling that as the military gets more desperate for cannon fodder, they won't give a shit about one's sexual proclivities.

And another friend of mine, who recently tried to get into the service, but was rejected due to slightly high BP, will eventually be accepted, I'm sure, as the medical requirements are loosened up.

World domination requires bodies. Wake up, America.

[Scooter24]

11. The military

would find a way to suspend the DODT policy if the draft is enacted. The best theory I could come up with is that most homosexuals will probably get CO status and will still be obligated to serve in some capacity (i.e., non-combat). All it would take is a simple majority vote in congress to suspend Article 125 for the draft and it would easily pass. If not, the headaches from lawsuits would be overbearing. However, I wouldn't expect the law to be repealed or voided because as soon as the draft is over, you can expect them to start enforcing it again.

Even though I will be 25 next year and the chances of me getting drafted are very low, I will still stand up for those that the draft would effect. Right now many men 18-26 have taken a passive attitude towards the draft, and when one does get announced, the panic from being unprepared will be widespread.

[BiggJawn]

10. Well....36% are paying attention....

There's hope....