[Selective Service] Agency To Test Military Draft Machinery

[Purveyor]

(12-21) 17:48 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --


The Selective Service System is planning a comprehensive test of the military draft machinery, which hasn't been run since 1998.


The agency is not gearing up for a draft, an agency official said Thursday. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009.


Meanwhile, the secretary for Veterans Affairs said that "society would benefit" if the U.S. were to bring back the draft and that it shouldn't have any loopholes for anyone who is called to serve. VA Secretary Jim Nicholson later issued a statement saying he does not support reinstituting a draft.


The Selective Service "readiness exercise" would test the system that randomly chooses draftees by birth date and the network of appeals boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others who want to delay reporting for duty, said Scott Campbell, Selective Service director for operations and chief information officer.

"We're kind of like a fire extinguisher. We sit on a shelf" until needed, Campbell said. "Everyone fears our machine for some reason. Our machine, unless the president and Congress get together and say, 'Turn the machine on' ... we're still on the shelf."

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URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/12/21/national/w171849S55.DTL

[everythingsxen]

1. My, it certainly is getting drafty!

[Purveyor]

2. Indeed there is an "evil wind a'blowin"...

[saigon68]

8. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[trogdor]

3. Bush wants 70,000 new billets.

How does he propose to increase end-strength by 70,000? Recruiting Command can barely make the mission they already have. Let more CAT IV's in? More high school dropouts? More ex-cons? More drug addicts? More foreigners?

Remember what we had in the 1970's? That's where we're headed.

[fairfaxvadem]

5. exactly my question...

I was having this same discussion with my brother, a draft/Viet Nam era vet, US Navy. Based on what Bush is proposing, we either need a draft, or, we'll be raiding the prisons. Because of the Fiasco in Iraq, I don't think the feds could offer big enough financial incentives to beef up the military like they are proposing. We've already dumped millions more into recruiting, lowered some entrance standards, etc., and the services are generally still not making their mark, especially the Army.

What other options are there? I don't see the "volunteer" component increasing much until we are well out of Iraq. No one wants to get sent into a meat grinder, and we can all count on TNT or TBS to show "Platoon" on a regular basis to remind everyone why they don't want to volunteer right now.

But here's the sad part: Bush HAS broken our military. Between personnel and equipment, we're in a sorry state. Who's been minding the store for the last 6 years? Who didn't know that we were going to end up as occupiers once we invaded? You need a lot of people for that kind of operation. Alot more than 130,000 in a country the size of Iraq, that's for damn sure.

**edited: i don't know where Iraz is, so I guess I meant Iraq!***

[Monkeyman]

4. First Sec. Nicholson of the VA statement on the draft

Now This Lock up your kids here it comes

[Monkeyman]

6. Impeach the Chimp Now before he kills more of our kids

[AndyTiedye]

7. Time To Print Up More of these Bumper Stickers

[TexasLawyer]

9. Surge

If you're going to "surge" you need troops to surge with. And to replace the fallen surgers.

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

10. Congress has to approve any draft

Dear Nancy wouldn't lead the charge for a draft would she? Don't think so.