Just how in the heck are we going to man one or two more wars?

[salin]

With the rhetoric ratcheting up from the neocons on the Iran/Syria and North Korea front it is almost unbelievable that the question I started this thread with isn't ALWAYS uttered when the subject of the all too familiar war rhetoric is reported.

We can't man it as is. Stop-gap service retentions are not enough.

Stop being afraid those of you in the media. Ask the question. There is only one answer, and frankly before we embark on more wars - there really does need to be an American dialogue on the topic.

Draft.

Politically unviable so noone mentions it (as in, of course they won't call for a draft, it is untenable).

So frightening to the population noone mentions it (as in, I am of age...; or my son/daughter is of age; or my grandson/neice/nephew/granddaughter is of age.)

However pursuing another war - would inevitably require one.

So the national dialogue has to be... is this next war (be it Iran, Syria, or North Korea) - worth sending your son/daughter/cousin/grandchild/etc. to fight?

My father quit college to enlist in WWII before there was a draft. At that point in history - he believed in the cause as did millions of others. That is when you have national support.

If there isn't that kind of support, if people do not believe the cause is great and serious enough to go themselves or send loved ones - than perhaps the war ought to be rethought.

All that said, as I read the ratched-up war rhetoric - while reading that Bush wants to lower the # of guardsmen (reportedly in order to match lower enlistments and be able to claim there is no problem meeting recruitment goals); when the army is reportedly preventing 50,000 soldiers who have met their service requirements from leaving the service (via stop-gap-loss); WHen there have bee numerous reports of lack of retentions (signing back up for more service) in both the officer ranks and the non-officer ranks; With reports coming out (with Rummy predictably denying them) that our troops are spread far too thin ("breaking point"?) With all of this happening - why are the major media folks NOT asking the simple question: Just how in the heck are we going to man one or two more wars?

I know folks fear the "draft" conversation - but I honestly do not understand why we are NOT having it here, and across the country, in light of the growing appearance of real war plans being cooked up (and implemented) by the WH? Given that the poltical mayberry machievellis in the WH think that "war" ups the GOP's political opportunities - the timing - in the midterms - isn't surprising. Thus it is all the more important to ask of anyone in earshot - the common sense question whenever a discussion of military action against another country is brought up: Okay - if the US does pursue action - How the Heck are we Going to Man It?

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. They're still suckering kids into the military.

Most that I know are going into the Navy or Air Force, but they really believe their kids will be safe from going to war. Those are the ones that will be fighting the Iran and Syrian wars.

[salin]

3. Won't they first need to give some rotational relief

in Iraq and Afghanistan? We are already short-handed in the existing wars. The current (and soon to be) enlistees simply allow the pentagon to not yet "cut and run" (their words) from the current military conflicts. I don't believe that the current rate of signing up (new enrollees) goes much beyond maintaining current obligations.

Very sad that folks think that there are "safe" branches of the military. One would think that the experiences of the past three years would have demonstrated that this is not true. However in this rough economy, I can understand the draw (belief in payment for education in the future, and 'job training' at the same time), and I can understand the rationalizations (to believe oneself or a loved one will be safe) that allow one to support the enlistment process.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. I think Bush will be impeached before he gets a chance at conscription.

But, then, beware of a Dem president who follows who will continue the neo-con plan. (That's why I'm a bit unconvinced about Hilary).

So, the neo-cons are between a rock and a hard place. The rock being their fear of Iran and Syria taking advantage of the void in power that the neo-cons created when they took out Sadaam, who was a secular leader. The hard place being American public opinion.

What is the only solution to their problem? The only one that is left. The conscripts must come from Israel. And when that happens, expect Armageddon to begin because the Muslim nations will have a reason to unite, like they never had a reason before. That is my greatest fear.

[norml]

2. Possible ways? 1: Service Means Citizenship. 2: Go Nuclear.

3: They want it to be a disaster.

[salin]

5. That last one frightens the h#ll out of me.

They are so ideologically blinded to reality - that they really do beleive that they could pull this off with minor repercussions - they are INSANE.

[undeterred]

4. We have left ourselves totally vulnerable to attack at home

Our National Guard units at home are unequipped and understaffed. Everything they have has been sent to Iraq. Its not just that we don't have enough resources to fight another war- we are ill prepared for an attack on our soil or another natural disaster.

[salin]

6. We have already witnessed this

how many more disasters will it take before folks say: Enough is Enough.

[undeterred]

10. We did witness it with hurricane Katrina

and so did the whole world. So anyone who really does want to attack us knows exactly how unprepared we are.

[Donkeykick]

8. IMO:

Bush has done this in order to not only PAY for his war on terror in Iraq, :eyes:(and take note just how all of that oil was going to help pay for all of this--like Cheney said!:eyes:x2) and his unpreparedness in New Orleans, but his embarrassment over our young people NOT wishing to join up to fight this thing!

[0007]

9. The only way I see it, is from the air. And I don't indeed think

that will work out to well.