Does Kerry support a draft? Please answer.

[robbedvoter]

Kerry supporters, this was said on a thread. Clear it up for me, will you?

[sandnsea]

1. No

But it won't matter how many times we say no, other people will still say he does.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. He has never said that he supports reinstating the draft

[LiberalBushFan]

3. No, never

unless the Repubs are big meanies to him about it. They might call him "soft on defense" if he doesn't call for a draft. On the bright side, this would hang the Repubs out on a rope when the draft turns out to be a failure because many Americans die for no reason.

But in all seriousness, he is against it for now -- "I don't think it's necessary under the current conditions" is what he said.

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. He says he doesn't think it is necessary "at this time"

He has also called for 40,000 additional troops in Iraq.

It is not known whether he would deploy US or Israeli assets to invade Syria, nor has he mentioned how he will staff the invasion of Iran.

[Dems Will Win]

5. John Kerry is opposed to the compulsory military draft

and would, like Clark, Dean and the other Democrats, bring in foreign troops to replace many US forces in Iraq.

Kerry sees terrorism differently than Bush, as more law enforcement and focused military strikes. A draft is clearly not needed to catch several thousand terrorists. What is needed is human intelligence to be safer.

Bush, on the other hand, is spending $28 million this year to reduce the DRAFT activation time down to 75 days by March 31, 2005. This, and his refusal to bring in foreign troops, means he IS planning to bring back the draft. Take a look:

http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html

Expect the first lottery aruond June 15, 2005!

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

[redqueen]

6. He wants two more divisions

Re-enlistments are down, new enlistments the same.

Where will those troops come from?

[Dems Will Win]

9. Where? From increased re-enlistments and increased recruitment

If the troops know a Dem is Pres and that the PNAC Plan of conquering the world oil supply is off, the re-up rate and the recruitment rate will return more towards normal and can mostly handle the problem.

He won't start a draft just to get an extra division or half a division, believe me!

[redqueen]

11. Sorry

I 'believed' clinton once.

And it's the last time I'll take a DLCer at their word (they're too close to republicans, sorry)

[eileen_d]

16. Do you have any citation to back this up

I would like to see a quote confirming this. Thank you.

[redqueen]

17. Of whether he wants two more divisions?

Here's that:

http://www.ontheissues.org/2004/John_Kerry_Homeland_Security.htmIncrease military by 40,000 troops-but no draft

Q: You said that in your first 100 days you would move to increase our armed forces by as much as 40,000 troops. You said there was a dire need for two full divisions. People are wondering right now about voluntary versus draft.

KERRY: We don't need a draft now and I wouldn't be in favor of it under the current circumstances. All across this country there are families who are suffering greatly because the Guards and Reserves have been called up. They are overextended. Their deployments are too long. If we're going to maintain this level of commitment on a global basis, and for the moment we have to because of what's happened, we need an additional two divisions. One's a combat division and one is a support division. That's the responsible thing to do. That's temporary, because I intend to go back to the UN, rejoin the community of nations, bring other boots on the ground to help us, and reduce the overall need for deployment of American forces in the globe.

Source: Democratic 2004 Primary Debate at St. Anselm College Jan 22, 2004

[eileen_d]

18. OK, that's cleared up - Kerry has stated clearly he does not want a draft

And you are choosing not to believe him. It's your right to refuse to believe Kerry; it's not your right to misrepresent Kerry's statements. Those are my beliefs on the subject...

[redqueen]

19. If all we could discuss were the candidate's own versions of the truth

I daresay the debate would be a bit less than informative. :)

[Desertrose]

20. I read it this way...

KERRY: We don't need a draft now and I wouldn't be in favor of it under the current circumstances.

Sounds to me he is covering his ass for the possibility of a draft in the future....and that is NOT misrepresenting his statement.
You are naive, I am afraid, if you think Kerry will get us out of the endless war.

Kucinich is the only one who really wants to get us out.


Peace
DR

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. I do not claim to see into his soul, that is what I heard him say

You are correct that he believes that having other countries join the US in committing war crimes is a good idea, and it is popular with the voting class.

Whether the crusade victims and their families think it is a good idea is irrelevant.

[kiahzero]

8. WTF?

Do you have any evidence Kerry is planning on invading either of those two countries?

It seems like you were trying to compare Kerry to Bush... but I'm sure that's not what you meant, because it's against DU rules. So what did you mean?

[robbedvoter]

10. He has his eyes on Syria

Kerry for preemption doctrine, war with Syria
http://robbedvoter.forclark.com/story/2004/1/25/63853/2133

Kerry sponsored the Syria accountability act. He writes a constituent:

"I cosponsored the Syria Accountability Act to hold Syria responsible for its support for terrorism, occupation of Lebanon, and possible pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.  http://jasonfromwaltham.forclark.com/story/2004/1/22/1801/68576

[redqueen]

12. Yes, he's on plan with the PNAC crowd, the whole DLC is

They won't come right out and say it, but look how Clinton governed.

If we elect another one of them, we get what we deserve, and the next election will be... interesting.

[Desertrose]

21. thanks , my sentiments exactly redqueen

If we elect another one of them, we get what we deserve, and the next election will be... interesting.


DR

[kiahzero]

13. What does the Act actually do?

Impose some sort of 'smart sanctions' on the ruling class? Designate them negatively? Ban imports/exports?

Without knowing what the bill means, I have no idea what "sponsoring the Syria Accountability Act" means in the real world.

[DuctapeFatwa]

15. Here is a link to the text of the Syria Accountability Act

http://www.theorator.com/bills108/s982.html

[DuctapeFatwa]

14. He believes he can do a better job implementing current policy

As do the other major candidates. The only ones who have expressed direct opposition to the policy itself are considered "unelectable."