Create a Non-Military Draft: William L. Hauser and Jerome Slater

[The Straight Story]

Create a Non-Military Draft: William L. Hauser and Jerome Slater
Saturday, January 23, 2010

Military veterans William Hauser and Jerome Slater want to bring back the draft—the likes of which America has never experienced. Hauser, a retired Army colonel and Vietnam veteran, and Slater, professor emeritus of political science at SUNY Buffalo and former naval officer, argue the war against terrorism is going to be a long one, and the military today just isn’t large enough to meet the security needs of the country.

“Beyond Afghanistan, military intervention by the United States might become necessary elsewhere as a last resort against particularly dangerous states or organizations,” they write. “But our all-volunteer forces are too small in terms of ‘boots on the ground,’ as well as lacking in the educational, cultural, linguistic, and technical skills needed for hi-tech/unconventional operations in foreign lands. Moreover, because of the stresses of Afghanistan and Iraq, it may become increasingly difficult to maintain the quality of our ground forces.”

The kind of draft envisioned by Hauser and Slater would involve all young men and women. Essentially, each person would get to choose between compulsory military or non-military service. If someone selects the armed services, they also would have the opportunity to decide between combat and non-combat units.

For those opting out of the military, their choices would be between programs like the Peace Corps or the Corporation for National and Community Service’s AmeriCorps. Individuals as well as the entire country would benefit from this kind of mandatory experience.

“Moreover, collective experience through universal national service would nurture good citizenship, social cohesion, and a sense of civic responsibility, providing our youth—and future leaders—with a formative civic experience.”

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Create_a_Non_Military_Draft__William_L_Hauser_and_Jerome_Slater_100123

[anonymous171]

1. There does need to be a New War on Poverty, but this is not how it should be done

[Mari333]

2. oh boy

this thread will be interesting..
cheap volunteer labour force, anyone?


woo eeee.

lets see if mommy and daddy want their little ones to be forced to serve in any capacity....

:popcorn:

[seattle_blue]

5. I really like that picture

What's it called? Peas on Earth......?

[Mari333]

6. hahaha yes found it on the internet

made me smile

[bigtree]

3. if there ever was to be a draft (over every protest against it I could manage)

This would be what I'd demand they adopt.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. I think that there are some valuable skills that many young

people could learn while performing some sort of national service.