I said they couldn't continue the occupation without a draft- I said they were already planning one

[bigtree]

War Czar Gen. Lute on Draft: “I think it makes sense to certainly consider it.”



WASHINGTON (AP) -- Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush's new war adviser said Friday.

Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute is the president's war adviser. Several retired generals turned down the post.

"I think it makes sense to certainly consider it," Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

"And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another," said Lute, who is sometimes referred to as the "Iraq war czar." It was his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.

"The president's position is that the all-volunteer military meets the needs of the country and there is no discussion of a draft. Gen. Lute made that point as well," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Still, he said the repeated deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan affect not only the troops but their families, who can influence whether a service member decides to stay in the military.

"There's both a personal dimension of this, where this kind of stress plays out across dinner tables and in living room conversations within these families," he said. "And ultimately, the health of the all-volunteer force is going to rest on those sorts of personal family decisions."


more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/10/war.adviser.draft.ap/

[zabet]

1. Just what in the hell has the war czar been doing all of this time?

This is the first time he has reared his head since he was appointed
as the war czar (official scapegoat).
I told everyone I knew, at least a year ago, that the draft would be
brought up and they would attempt to re-instate. They all said I was
crazy. Who's the crazy one now, eh?

[TahitiNut]

2. " Draft? Now? I have to wonder whether there's another objective."

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/TahitiNut/403

[bigtree]

4. actually, I think if Americans began to assume continuing in Iraq meant a draft

. . . having the administration discussing one as part of their strategy could help galvanize more folks to end the occupation.

I think they should be asked about this every time they say they want more time. The Pentagon has already said they don't have the manpower to keep up the pace of the deployments.

[TahitiNut]

9. You mean we're not doing everything we can?

I have to wonder just how much participation in our own self-governance we Americans are actually willing to do as a democracy. Which would we prefer? Would we rather complain about what "they" are doing (while we pay taxes to enable it) or would we rather participate more fully (e.g. in office, in the streets, in the polls, in the military) and take responsibility for our own behavior as a nation?

[bigtree]

13. Right now, Bush has waged his militarism without any obvious consequence to Americans

The economic impact has been waved off as a patriotic duty to prop up our employers and pours money into Iraq under the guise of national security. If Americans begin to realize the extent Bush intends them to sacrifice for his Iraq folly . . . start believing he intends to draft them to feed his deadly prop . . .

[TahitiNut]

17. Like I say, I don't think it's at all that simple.

I see a corporatist cabal that hedges it's bets ... and structures these dialectics in a manner to take advantage of both ends of the divides. I watched how the "immigration debate" got framed and see how the "cheap labor corporatists" carved out advantage on both 'sides' of the debate, as it got framed. I see a similar "damned if you do - damned if you don't" conundrum in the furor over the draft. After all, autocrats want people to abdicate their role in their own self-governance! They're succeeding in every respect, as far as I can see.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. That's exactly what's going to happen.

If Bush doesn't orchestrate another 9/11, fears of a draft will decidely put the 2008 election in the hands of the politician who promises to leave Iraq immediately.

[zanne]

8. Can you say "Iran"? nt

[ananda]

20. draft eh

I expect that would wake up enough Americans to force
an end to the war.

That's why I don't think our Fuhrer Bush will allow a draft.

[NNN0LHI]

22. There are lots of parents who wouldn't mind at all if one of their sons were drafted

I know plenty of parents like this. They have a kid who has issues the parent doesn't want to deal with so the honorable thing in their mind would be to have the kid drafted. They always say it will make a man out of him and get him on the straight and narrow. But that is BS. They are just looking for an easy way out.

I actually seen this occurring during Vietnam.

Look at the numbers of parent who are signing papers to allow the 17 year-old sons to enlist right now for some indication of this phenomena.

Don

[LibertyorDeath]

27. Good point TahitiNut

Were all just one big social engineering experiment to these people.....




http://journals.democraticunderground.com/TahitiNut/403

"So... why propose a 'discussion' about the draft? Perhaps to drive an even greater stake in the heart of democratic participation in our own self-governance?? (After all, most of the most staunch liberal politicians of the 50s and 60s were WW2 vets, and Viet Nam veterans discovered their activism was easy compared to serving there.) It sounds to me like this is another piñata which, when the bashing is done and the dust is cleared, will yield at least another decade or two of people far more willing to be taxed for the most expensive military in the world than to put their own asses on the line and participate in the dirty work of self-governance that assures us that we don't engage in military conflict except as a very last resort. ("I'd rather send my money than my son. Let someone else's kid do it.")

[TreasonousBastard]

3. There will be no draft, because...

it is not the Pentagon's decision. Congress has to vote to reinstate hte draft, and it will be tough to get many of thenm to go for it with the mood of the country now.

[bigtree]

6. It's not the possibility of Congress approving one which is important here

It's the fact that the administration is considering one, having stretched our forces to the breaking point and arguing to continue in Iraq indefinitely (Iran on their docket as well).

They should be pressed to explain just how they plan to continue with their strategy of repeated deployments without some dramatic influx of fresh troops. If their fallback is established to be a draft, it could be the spark which ignites a national firestorm of protest against continuing.

[TahitiNut]

24. And that puts the 'oppostion' to Cheney/Bush in a bad position

Congress has NOT forced a withdrawal. Congress HAS funded the 'surge.' As the Democrats and 'anti-war' types have pointed the finger at Cheney/Bush for STRETCHING the military to (or past?) the 'breaking point,' they push back and say that the critics are unwilling to relieve those troops! Checkmate, again.

How can the opposition (1) approve the continuation, (2) blame Cheney/Bush for hurting the military, AND (3) refuse to provide relief for the troops???

Like I say... checkmate.

[rucky]

11. When has that stopped them lately? n/t

[never_get_over_it]

5. I have pretty mixed feelings about the draft

because I believe this invasion will be over more quickly with it. Middle class and rich folks are not going to take kindly to their kids being forced to serve - and when they start coming home in coffins - these folks who haven't really engaged in anti War activities - because it doesn't affect them - will start screaming their heads off.

BUT

I have three nephews 13, almost 9 and 6 - and I have already told them they will go into the military over my dead body - told them if we ever get an adminstration that is not COMPLETELY insane we could think about it - but I really don't want any of them to ever go in the military

[bigtree]

7. that's the reason I think Lute's admission should be highlighted

I don't think Congress could withstand the protests from Americans convinced that the only way Bush has left to continue is some sort of forced conscription of civilians.

[book_worm]

10. I can state without any hesitation there will be no draft before 2008 election

Why? because any politician who votes to reinstate the draft will be writing his or her political obituary.

On the otherhand it would probably take reinstating the draft to wake this country up, but it is highly unlikely to happen, imo.

[TahitiNut]

12. Sure. It's a "third rail" ... like Social Security privatization.

Oh. Wait. Bad example.


:eyes:

[book_worm]

14. So you think it will be reinstated before the 2008 election?

I couldn't quite make out by your answer. Who are all these politicians who will vote, say in July or August of 2008 to bring back the draft? Then go home and face mothers and fathers of draft age kids who will go to the polls in November--to reward them? No I stand by my answer because this is something which cuts deeper with people than even, say, Social Security. Many more people, for instance, want Social Security privatized (misguided souls) than there are who want a draft. And then what presidential candidate is going to say, "I support bringing back the draft?" Hillary? No, her base is women and women (especially mothers) are most against it. Mitt? No, then his five chicken hawk sons may be drafted. (Speaking of which there are lots of chicken hawks in the House and Senate who have kids themselves and they'll have to be subject to a draft too, or else if they try to help them avoid it then they'll be in for bad press).

No Just don't see it happening. But I'll bookmark your incisive answer just in case.

[TahitiNut]

16. See my post #2 above. (nt)

[book_worm]

18. Ok. Thanks.

[bigtree]

15. That's really not what's important in Lute's admission

The importance in his admission is the degree Bush has stretched our forces to the limit, coupled with his intention to continue indefinitely. He really has no other option outside of a draft if he expects to have a viable force to maintain the deployments in Iraq. I don't think it's so far fetched that this administration would consider rounding every able body to fight what they've been describing as such an ultimate threat. I know what Congress' reaction would be to an actual proposal, but there should be just as much outrage to the suggestion that a draft is even being considered as a possibility by this administration.

[book_worm]

19. Yes, I agree that the idea of actually speaking publicly about a draft

by someone as important as the General seems to show the desperation, thanks to Bush's irresponsible policies. But I do think this trial balloon will be quickly shot down.

[CK_John]

25. The draft is on the books. No action needed by Congress. * needs only to point and click. n/t

[CGowen]

23. It still bothers me to use the word czar or tsar which is derived from "Caesar" n/t

[CK_John]

26. Check out my thread in GD-Politics, IMO this month it will happen. Link

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3443138&mesg_id=3443138>