BREAKING ON HARDBALL: Bush asks Gates for ways to Increase Overall Military Size

[berni_mccoy]

Hmmmmm, let me think of one.... A DRAFT!

[Ioo]

1. Here is a link

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20061219/D8M47PQG1.html

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Oh.... I thought you meant Bill Gates, I was gonna say, try one of

the function keys..... nevermind.

[brer cat]

12. lol. I'm having to adjust to the "new" Gates too.

But "delete" will certainly work with any of the * administration as far as I'm concerned. "Insert" President Kerry or President Gore would work also.

[WI_DEM]

3. I doubt a draft will come--it would be too politically polarizing and would

doom the Republican party and they know it.

[MADem]

7. A Democratic congress would have to approve it. NT

[WI_DEM]

11. and I don't think the democrats are dumb enough to vote to bring it back either.

[berni_mccoy]

9. I don't think Bush cares about the Republican party

And it's either a draft or expanding the military into the private sector (that is bring in more mercenaries from Blackwater, Haliburton, et al).

[AndyA]

4. They aren't going to be able to get too many more live bodies,

unless they do a draft. The recruitment centers aren't exactly what you'd call busy these days. And is it any wonder? They go over to a country that is bitter, risk their lives, and for what?

A LIE!

So Halliburton can get richer.

Then if they get hurt, they get crapped on by red tape when they come home. It's disgraceful that the Republicans don't support our military. They say they do, but their actions are proof that they do not.

It will be interesting to see how they spin this one.

Maybe George can go over there himself and fight. Oh, and he can take Dick, Condi, Laura, and the Twins over with him. We won't miss any of them.

[MADem]

5. Before everyone gets all tizzied and frazzled, please remember this

In order to increase the actual SIZE of the total force, the Congress must authorize an increase in the total end strength. They have to authorize any draft, too, but one is not the same as the other. It COULD happen, but I don't think that's likely without a shitload of debate.

What Monkeynut has proposed is an increase in USA and USMC 'ground' forces. Ground, as in 'ground round' AKA hamburger.

Absent an authorization from Congress, they could well push the 'blue to green' program (google it, you'll shit) or do force reductions in brutal fashion in the USN/USAF to accomodate an increase in end strength for infantry assets in the other Services. It wouldn't surprise me if this is how they'll play it.

It's no accident that the USAF now has their kids in boot camp playing war games, which is totally new for them.

[Ioo]

6. I ask the older DU'ers - Did we not do the same thing in Vietnam?

[MADem]

8. Well, no. We came right out and revitalized the draft, and did it by lottery.

And Congress approved it. That's not how they're planning on playing this game. At least not yet.

[peacebird]

10. like i said on another thread - bush talks of increasing Marines and Army

He can do this by changing the rules regarding the reserves and National Guard units and how frequently they can be called up, AND by using Rummys "Blue to Green" program... You remember that one, right? Rumsfeld thought Air Force and Navy would VOLUNTEER to switch over to Marine or Army. When the results were in and as disappointing as one could expect - Rummy took to "volunteering" sailors himself. That's why you have SAILORS killed in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. They have been handed over to help their brothers in the Marines.

Bush will destroy the Air Force and Navy to keep from having to institute a draft because a draft is political kryptonite and the repubs will not stand for it - they are already weak enough because of Dubya.