A winning issue for Kerry: The DRAFT

[WI_DEM]

John Kerry must continue to make it clear that he will not re-instate the draft if he is elected. If there is any issue out there which can decide this election this is it. As we know, people on both sides of the aile in Washington have been saying that with the War on Terrorism and Iraq combined we may have to bring the draft back. Kerry must continue to oppose this and when Bush also says, "There will be no draft if I'm elected" Kerry should just say, "It is all about credibility, Mr. President--you say there will be no draft if you are elected but you have pulled the wool over the American people once too often for us to take you at your word."

This will be a issue which will bring out those elusive 18-24 year olds and their parents like no other.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. He truly CANNOT make that promise

the reson, the military is streteched to the limit and then some. We cannot respond to any major emergency. We have proven we cannot fight a two front war (Technically both Afghanitan and Iraq are in the same theater)

In fact I susepct the miltiary is in far worst shape than most suspect and he may have to impose one just to keep the armed forces head above water

And there are many reasons why I don't want one... but I realize the problems. After all my husband just retired from the United States Navy (20 years of service), hence I do have an inkling of how bad things are... truly are... and yes the press is not telling you just how bad they are.

So if I were Kerry I would not make that promise

[OneBlueSky]

2. won't make any difference if he does . . .

Bush will simply match him and say that he, too, will not activate the draft when he's elected . . . he'll be lying, of course, but voters won't know that until after the election . . . at which time he won't give a fig what the voters think, and go ahead with the draft anyhow . . .

[Dems Will Win]

3. He has said NO DRAFT while Bush is spending $28 mil to reactivate it!

This summer Bush is reducing DRAFT ACTIVATION time by having the SSS conduct NATIONWIDE EXERCISES to test the whole system, even to the point of filling all DRAFT BOARD vacancies and gearing up the Alternative Service for COs for the first time in three decades. With the current reactivation plan due to go into effect in a few weeks, the SSS must report to the Director on March 31, 2005 they are tuned up and ready to conscript within 75 days of reauthorization from Congress (just a trigger resolution is needed, no new law). The first lottery for 20 year-olds could be June 15, 2005.

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

That's what Bush is doing. Quietly oiling up the DRAFT Machinery for Spring 2005.

Kerry's NO-DRAFT plan to raise 40,000 additional troops and avoid reinstatement of the draft is added up this way (my synthesis):

1. Move some paper-pushers to combat (lots of potential there in nearly a million non-active-duty)
2. Increase enlistment with real scholarships and pay raises
3. Let troops know Special Ops will hunt al-Queda, no more invasions needed, so Guard/Reserve re-up rate goes up. "Primarily a law enforcement effort, not a full military effort", say JK on MTP last Sunday.
4. Start a "Civilian Stability Corps" that would help in reconstructing Afghanistan and Iraq and relieve military pressure.
5. GET FOREIGN TROOPS TO COME INTO INSTEAD OF LEAVE IRAQ!!

http://www.candidatemap.com

"...I propose that we enlist thousands of them in a Civilian Stability Corps, a reserve organization of volunteers ready to help win the peace in troubled places. Like military reservists, they will have peacetime jobs; but in times of national need, they will be called into service to restore roads, renovate schools, open hospitals, repair power systems, draft a constitution, or build a police force. A Civilian Stability Corps can bring the best of America to the worst of the world—and reduce pressure on the military."
< Source: Kerry, John. "Protecting Our Military Families in Times of War: A Military Family Bill of Rights." March 17, 2004. http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0317.html >

With this NO-DRAFT PLAN, Kerry will not have to resort to conscription, even after Bush screwed the whole thing up.


From STOPTHEDRAFT.COM

http://technologyreports.net/stopthedraft/?articleID=2550

What do a former fighter pilot in the National Guard and a former officer in the Navy have in common? Both have promised not to reinstate the military draft if elected president.

Senator John Kerry has promised that if elected president he will not reinstate the military draft, but will increase troop numbers by 40,000.

President Bush and his staff have also promised the American public that there are no plans to reinstate the military draft.

-snip-

John Kerry wants to deploy 40,000 more troops to Iraq and finish the job quickly. Yet when asked how he would do it, he said that a draft is not needed and people will enlist. To his advantage, however, Senator Kerry was an anti-war activist after serving his duties as a Navy officer in the Vietnam War and knows first-hand the pitfalls of the military draft.

-snip-

Kerry said on MTP that we don't need to invade whole nations beyond Afghanistan. He has a plan to increase 40,000 troops without a draft, a plan to bring in foreign troops to Iraq.

There's this: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/clips/news_2004_0330b.html

“When I returned from service in the military, I testified to the Congress about the racism in the military, about the lopsided application of the draft, the impact that it had on minority communities, the lopsided number of casualties, both African-American and Hispanic, predominantly.

“And I testified to the Congress about the inequality of the application of the draft and the way in which they were treated when they came home, left in communities that were neglected and lacked health care and education and other issues.”


Also this: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/clips/news_2003_1203a.html

"Kerry also said he doesn’t believe there is a need to reinstate the draft, a source of conflict during the Vietnam War. "

Kerry has said that with 2 more divisions and a better foreign policy we will never need the DRAFT.

[Dems Will Win]

4. Kerry tells 130 college editors NO DRAFT

http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?id=28347

-snip-

He said he would guarantee that social security funds would be available through the rest of this century, and that he would ensure there was no military draft because he would conduct "more sensible foreign policy."

-snip-

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05
KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

[nonkultur]

5. Promise to abolish Selective Service

Then you would easily get the no-draft vote.

Get HR 487 passed
http://www.theorator.com/bills108/hr487.html