Here we go again. Ever since the First Gulf War (1990), hardly a year goes by where we aren't inundated by rumors of re-instatement of a military draft. I wrote the first version of this article in 1999, because all of the services (except the Marine Corps) had missed their annual recruiting goals for several years in a row, and President Clinton had made the decision to attack Kosovo. Rumors of an impending draft were rampant.
I've updated the article every year since, when various situations caused the draft rumor to re-raise its ugly head. For seven years in a row, I've consistently predicted that a new draft was not imminent.
Because of the ongoing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in view of the recent outbreak of hostilities in Israel and Lebanon, my email box is once again filling up with messages from folks concerned that the Bush administration is secretly considering re-instituting a military draft.
Like Rod over at About.com's U.S. Military section, any time there is a bump in activity in Military, like the renewed violence in Lebanon, people start getting worried about the draft. I've written a few articles on the subject myself, and Rod's updated his article again to show why a draft is unlikely. Short of another world war, I don't see a draft happening.
posted at 09:20:23 on 07/19/06 - Category: All Branches
Article Opinions
not named wrote:
well It might happen because the way the world is acting and N.korea and shit with the east and stuff well we are looking at a possible draft within 10-20 yrs..!!
Posted on 07/19/06 14:15:31
anonymous wrote:
Mr President I thought, and other people thought , that he was or is following in his fathers' foot steps with being over in the middle east re: Hussien, And Osama but who really knows but him, oh and uhmm who knows if there will be a draft but the US govn't.
Posted on 07/19/06 14:21:25
alicia maria wrote:
i really think that it would be wrong to draft poor young men to fight a pointless war......if bush would get off his ass and stop being two-faced about who he is doing "business" with, and if these countries would just get along, we wont have so many grave sites.....
Posted on 07/20/06 14:22:32
think about this wrote:
If there was a draft i am pretty sure that the us goverment knows that thier will be many lives pointlessly lost, even though these "draftee's" are "trained" most have no true battlefield expierience and will be less obidient then our troops. we have learned in viet kong that sending in newer troops created the high death toll as the new troops were not used to the gurilla warfare , many falling into pits or such.
the only time that a draft should ever be used is if our armed forces fall to below 25% of its original cappacity.
Posted on 07/21/06 14:22:33
robert wrote:
i disagree about the 25% thing it shouldnt be that low that leaves with nothing i believe it should be 50% and if that happends in my opinion hyroshima should happen again to even out the odds.
Posted on 08/01/06 21:39:30
Linda M. wrote:
I feel that there not only should be a draft, but that there should be NO way to get out of it. It should include ALL the kids of our leaders as they reach 18 also. I think that you should have the option of NOT going to war and stay here in the states for half the pay of those that agree to go overseas.
The armed forces are the best thing that could happen to any of America's youth. It teaches them things that are important for them to know...like respect and decipline and honor.
Posted on 08/02/06 03:59:32
Hector L Torres-Ramirez wrote:
I agreed 100% what Linda M. said, and alicia maria it look to me that you are a coward, you dont sound like an AMERICAN, i think you need to go back were you came from. I think every American men or female should join the military at 18yr old, is the best thing that you ccan do for your country.....
Posted on 08/02/06 06:12:51
Jim D. wrote:
It's amazing to me that we have so many "experts" offering advice. The liberal finger pointers that believe in their own minds that President Bush is responsible for all of America's ills and being two-faced. Hah...Lest we forget how Bill Clinton chickened out at any prospect of detaining terrorists after promising Americans that he would get them? At least the terrorists know that President Bush will not be deterred!
As far as the draft, I do agree with Linda M. and Hector L Torres-Ramirez. I think the Military would be a damn good place for all young men after, the age of 18, to go through at least 2 years worth of formal training. I think it should be an option for the young ladies. Hopefully 2 years of training would help make these young fellows a more mature individual and help teach them respect and honor of this great country and each other. And every American citizen should be proud to say, "This Is A True American." But the making of a good American Model has to start at home FIRST!!!
Posted on 08/02/06 06:53:39
JN wrote:
All that stuff is great and all and you all make great points, but your forgetting about one major thing. The US doesn't have the kind of money that it would take to enact a draft. Just think about, housing, training, food, equipment, pay.....it all adds up. So its going to be a while before we get enough money to enact a draft.
Posted on 12/12/06 05:37:17
charles w, coates wrote:
If you dont start the draft soon, who's going to fight the war?
