Is there anybody here who thinks that the draft won't be reinstituted?n/t

[Oleladylib]

[cobaindrain]

1. depends on how long they want to draw out Iraq

I can't see it happening within the next 2 years. After that...depends on the casualties and recruitment numbers. It'll be political suicide to reinstate the draft.

I don't think too many comfortable, upper middle class families tucked away in the suburbs are going to give there sons up without a fight. Be they republican or democrat. It's an unspoken FACT that certain classes of people in America aren't meant to fight wars. They can orchestrate them, but never fight.

[MADem]

2. December Surprise: Bush Plans Post-Election Call Up Of National Guard And Reserves

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/529

If this is true, all of you retirees out there, grab your asses....because we're next if we don't see a course correction soon. They can't keep scraping the bottom of the barrel...everyone who they can get has gone already, most several times, in HEAVY rotation.

Politically, it will be a challenge to bring back a draft. I'm thinking a Democratic House would be loathe to throw more Americans in front of a failed strategy.

On edit--link to WAPO article, devastating! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/04/AR2006110401160.html

The Army's National Guard and Reserve are bracing for possible new and accelerated call-ups, spurred by high demand for U.S. troops in Iraq, that leaders caution could undermine the citizen-soldier force as it struggles to rebuild.

Two Army National Guard combat brigades with about 7,000 troops have been identified recently in classified rotational plans for possible special deployment to Iraq, according to senior Army and Pentagon officials, who asked that the specific units not be named. One brigade could be diverted to Iraq next year from another assignment, and the other could be sent there in 2008, a year ahead of schedule.

[Oleladylib]

12. This is the reason I posed the ?-our reservists are running out

of patience with this from what I read...extended duties and redeployment seem to be the road to "running out" of available troops..I can see where bush would want to both win and lose this midterm..

[stevedeshazer]

3. Me.

It's today's third rail of politics.

Even if the Radical Right somehow prevails by hook or crook, a military draft is off the table.

Trust me on this. It won't happen. It's political suicide, and they know it. That's why a Democrat proposed it.

[citizen snips]

4. If we invade another country

then I think a draft is very possible.

[DUgosh]

6. Take my nephews please!

They are spoiled rotten young men who did not study hard enough to pass the college entrance test. They are still living at home and "looking for jobs" but their staunch Republican Dad makes sure they have trucks, insurance, gas and cell phones and plenty of food in the frig.

[hvn_nbr_2]

5. Bringing back the draft, for either Iraq or Iran, would...

finally "be it", in the sense of the perennial DU question, "Is this finally it?" That would finally wake the sheeples and start the revolution.

However, if they very resourcefully do it in the mode of boiling the frog, by tiny steps and increments, they might get away with it.

[tritsofme]

7. Not in a million years

The GOP will destroy the volunteer army before they find themselves out of power for a generation by instituting the draft.

[doublethink]

8. Hope not ....

but my nephew and I got our Anti-War, Anti-Draft song and video out there just in case ... check it out if ya got a moment ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YOzMHiT5Bo Peace. :)

[Kablooie]

9. Depends on Tuesday's results.

[dmosh42]

10. Won't happen unless....

If Bush starts something with Iran or any other 'evil' axis people who we don't talk with, then we would have to activate the draft system. I still believe that if we still had the draft, Bush would not have the approval of the majority, and would be out of office now. I know it was unpopular during the Vietnam era, but that was the reason it kept the people focused on the conflict. If we re-institute the draft, there should be no reasons for deferment except mental or physical problems. No little rich-boy deferments like Bush and Cheney had. (I know Bush had a no-show type air guard)Incidentally, I was a USN volunteer 1960-66, so remember all these things very well.

[Infinite Hope]

11. I think it will not...

Congress wouldn't support it, Democratic or Republican.

[robcon]

13. There is ZERO chance for a draft.

No one wants it - not Repugs, not Democrats. It wouldn't get 10 votes in the Senate, or more than 25 in the House.

[lisainmilo]

14. I think it depends on Tuesday..

but that is just by opinion....

[robcon]

15. What do you mean "depends on Tuesday?"

Under what conditions will a draft be passed, or even proposed? Dems win? Repugs win?

[lisainmilo]

20. If republicans win

I believe they will institute the draft. Mc Cain has said we need 20,000 troops. Bush taking cautious road before elections, but I am sure that will change if repugs win, which THEY WONT!

[Telly Savalas]

22. People were saying this two years ago.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

16. Our promise to defend South Korea

may see a draft being instituted if war breaks out with the North. But I think a democratic congress will insist on getting the troops out of Iraq before they would go for a draft. Also a draft would cripple this country financially. New military equipment, weapons, vehicles, ships, air crafts etc will have to be bought. Iraq has left this country in a difficult position. It is time the republican supporters woke up the reality.

[Pragmatic Pilgrim]

17. We can't read the future, so let's use it NOW, before election!!

I've posted on this elsewhere, saying that the logic is inescapable--he's extended duty-tours, lowered enlistment standards, reactivated middle-aged reservists, redoubled high-school recruitment efforts, and yet his generals are crying for more troops. All that would seem to be left for him would be a draft.

Sure, the tea-leaves would indicate there's not a chance of a draft. The main reason, I believe, is the Baker Commission, whose recommendations won't be released until after the election. It's his Dad's latest effort to bail out his kid, as he's had to do with the Prodigal Son forever. Bush has already ratcheted-down his "stay the course" rhetoric in order to be in a better position to accept the Baker Comm. recommendations, which he has certainly seen weeks ago and which are sure to prescribe a path out of this mess.

But when we're talking to voters, we're not obligated to read the future, nor can we. This guy has done plenty of rash, bullheaded things before.

If there's any single threat that could swing this election our way, it's the potential for reinstating the draft. As I say, the present facts are clear and the logic is unchallengeable.

In our last-minute conversations with Undecided or Infrequent voters, we should state those facts and help them extrapolate to the logical conclusion.

[hughee99]

18. I don't think we'll see the draft again. n/t

[Zynx]

19. A conscripted army simply does not work with our current doctrine

Even if it was politically viable (it's not), it's simply not compatable with our per-soldier investments.

[Hosnon]

21. I think it is highly unlikely. nt