166,000 to be DRAFTED by June 30 in Spring Draft

[Dems Will Win]

In Russia.

http://www.mosnews.com/feature/2004/04/01/929.shtml

-SNIP-

On 1 April Russia will see the beginning of the spring draft. This year all conscripts will safely reach military units, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, recalling last year’s incident when several soldiers caught severe frostbite en route to their base in the Far East, with one conscript later dying. Conscripts eligible for alternative civil service will assume their duties in autumn, the Defense Ministry said.

The Defense Ministry on Tuesday declared the beginning of the spring conscription campaign. In the period from 1 April to 30 June 166,050 young men will be called up for military service, Vassily Smirnov, head of the General Staff recruitment directorate of the Defense Ministry told a news conference in Moscow.

This will not be enough for the Russian army, the official admitted. This year as few as 9.5 per cent of men of call-up age will be available for service (while in 2003 there were 10.3 per cent, and in 1994 – 24 per cent); the others are legitimately freed from military service, either exempted for health reasons or entitled to a deferment.

Among Russia’s regions, Moscow with 2.7 per cent of the total number of able-bodied young men has the lowest turnout. On the whole, the 2004 spring draft will not differ greatly from previous campaigns, Smirnov reported. As always Russian citizens will continue dodging conscription.

-snip-

POOTY-POOT HAS A DRAFT, BUSH/CHENEY WANTS ONE TOO!

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

[skooooo]

1. Hey! We better keep up with the Russians...

...or no telling what could happen.

[OpSomBlood]

2. Russia should have been in the thread title.

n/t

[whistle]

3. Wow, this sounds like mobilization...

...166,000 draftees just about covers the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Where can Russia amass such an army I wonder?:think:

[northzax]

4. uh, in case you didn't notice

russia is a damn big place to cover.