So where does * think he's going to get people to increase the enlistment in the military

[Skidmore]

at this point? Most people want nothing to do to with this war. I don't think he'll find that young people are lining up in droves to join in the fight.

[babylonsister]

1. Per Hardball, they were talking about the National Guard

getting deployed more frequently to compensate for the warm bodies they think they need.

[EstimatedProphet]

2. Draft

He's not going to get them from volunteers!

[Philosoraptor]

3. They're only now preparing for plan B.

[greenbriar]

4. draft

you know its coming

[MADem]

11. A Democratic Congress will have to vote for that, though. NT

[Earth_First]

14. Reid already said that he supports the "surge" so wtf...why not? n/t

[MADem]

19. You don't draft to support a surge. The surge will be accomplished by doing 2 things

1. Fucking over the people due to rotate out by extending them a month or three;
2. Fucking over the people due to rotate IN by deploying them earlier by a month or three.

It's a shitty personnel management issue, really.

[Cleita]

5. Probably all those immigrants they have been rounding up. n/t

[neoblues]

13. Immigration Amnesty...

in exchange for consigning your life to the U.S. military (there's a chance you might live). That's millions... What the heck, why not just hire Mexican nationals directly? That'd be just like the old time "imperial" nations--hiring mercenary armies to do thier dirty work (would that be too obvious)?

Bah, humbug.

[MazeRat7]

6. Its not about "more" people... its a trick to increase troop levels....

see this so I don't have to re-type:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2949736#2949846

MZr7

[TomInTib]

8. That's how they increased troop levels in Baghdad

Look how much good THAT did.

The military can only tain a few thousand combat-ready troops per year.

This "surge" business is just a way for the WH to buy time.

[rpannier]

7. Prisoners?...the homeless?

people they can brainwash?...
I'm not totally sure. The only thing I am sure of...

It won't come from the upper 1% of the income bracket.

[MADem]

9. MEXICO!!!!!! Earn your citizenship, join the Army!!!!

Don't think they haven't talked about that at the Pentagon....!

No draft, though....seriously, he'll just play with the numbers he has. Shave some off the USN and USAF, plus up the USA/USMC with Guard and Reserve personnel.

Watch the IRR guys -- you're gonna hear some mighty complaints from folks who thought they were out, but they're gonna get dragged back in.

[Cleita]

12. Mexicans have been doing our dirty jobs for decades.

Why not this too?

:scared:

[MADem]

17. Cleita, it is already happening, you know. You got a green card, you CAN join the military

We have Jamaicans, Haitians, Mexicans, Guatamalans, Hondurans, Brazilians, etc., etc., all serving under our flag. They've finally loosened the citizenship requirements to permit them to actually pursue citizenship while serving abroad (used to be, the clock stopped every time they left the country--made it hard for them to get those papers).

They could find people of the right age, aptitude, health, and hand out green cards like candy--once they're inducted...I swear, it would not surprise me if they pulled a program like that out of their asses. it would be a great way 9from their perspective) of sweeping up all those young kids who are "illegal" but who haven't lived south of the border since they were, say, two--the little cholos, who really can't go back and survive.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Somehow I doubt a draft.

It would take at least a year to get a draft system set up, another 6 months before the first draftees could be inducted, a minimum of 6 months' training before the first inductees could be deployed...and by then Wotsizface is outta office.

My bet would be to really kick enlistment bonuses and/or find a pretext under which he can hire foreign mercenaries.

[MADem]

15. Actually, the Vietnam pipeline was about seven/eight months long, total

Guys who got a low number, pulled in December 69, were 'in country' by end of Jun '70. Physical right after New Years', induction and boot camp in May. As the pipeline ramped up, it got down to six months.

The system is already set up--the draft boards are already populated.

That said, Monkey has to get that idea past a Dem Congress...good luck with that.

Background materials:

http://www.landscaper.net/draft.htm#Official%20notices

http://www.sss.gov/fslocal.htm

[oldgrowth]

16. The National Guard but they would have to change the

Rules I think they can only do one deployment now?????

[MADem]

18. Isn't it one in two years? I see them raping the IRR, myself...and pushing blue to green like mad.

[Earth_First]

20. Equally as important, where are we going to get the additional finances...

in order to support additional increases to the current military?

It will take time to train and recruit more soldiers, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. Army chief of staff General Pete Schoomaker estimates the army could increase its current number of 507,000 by at most 7,000 a year. And it will also cost a lot of money – those additional 7,000 soldiers would cost about $840 million a year.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/19/terror/main2282736.shtml

Fiscal year 2006 cost the U.S. taxpayers $441.6 billion...

[ewoden]

21. What is past is prologue

Hey it worked once maybe this is Bush's last gambit now.

"Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels and end with victory this war which should have been begun long ago. Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, now become knights. Let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight in a proper way against the barbarians. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries for small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a double honor. Behold! on this side will be the sorrowful and poor, on that, the rich; on this side, the enemies of the Lord, on that, his friends. Let those who go not put off the journey, but rent their lands and collect money for their expenses; and as soon as winter is over and spring comes, let hem eagerly set out on the way with God as their guide."
Pope Urban II speaking before the masses at Council of Clermont, 1095(asrecorded by Fulcher of Chartres ) The speech served to enter Europe into the First Crusade.

[lolly]

22. Young Republicans Meetings, of course!

You know, the 30-percenters! They should be lining up outside recruiting offices even as we speak (type?) at this opportunity to prove that their Great Leader is right!