Is a military draft becoming a near certainty?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.keeneequinox.com/news/2005/03/24/Opinions/Is.A-Military.Draft.Becoming.A.Near.Certainty-901259.shtml

<snip>According to the Religious News Service, Selective Service officials have been in contact with religious groups as far back as October.

They have been working on the implementation of 'alternative service' plans for conscientious objectors to warfare who might be drafted.

In late January, Rolling Stone magazine reported that Rumsfeld met with the head of the Selective Service Agency in February of 2003 to "debate, discuss and ponder a return to the draft."

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act note, "Defense manpower officials concede there are critical shortages of military personnel with certain special skills, such as medical personnel, linguists, computer network engineers, etc."

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[MADem]

1. My opinion is that a TARGETED draft is coming

It will be a cherrypicked draft, where they fill holes where needed, not a wholesale conscription of everyone who is healthy between age x and age y. It will be older people too, professionals, many in the medical field, to include EMTs.

If no one screams, and we get in over our heads with NK, Iran, whomever, then all bets are off. War without end, Amen.

[NEOBuckeye]

5. Don't bet on it.

If there is any truth to the poll numbers, then this Schiavo debacle could very well be the start of the "great awakening" among the American people. If the Republicans have slit their wrists politically over this one, reviving the draft would be like jumping in front of a train. Except that the "train" will be mobs of millions who take to the steets of D.C. to protest the GOP's assault on their personal rights.

[MADem]

7. I hope you are right

But I am old enough to remember "HELL NO!!!! WE WON'T GO!!!!" before 58K names got etched on a V shaped wall on the mall in DC. I remember the lottery, everyone glued to the TV waiting for a number to determine their fate. The family fights, with WW2 Dads equating Vietnam with their fight--until they wised up. The cheers from the lucky sods with a good number, and tears for those with a guaranteed opportunity to serve.

There was a lot of drama and protest, but the government managed, despite universities shutting down, and marching in the streets and massing at the White House and Pentagon (that won't happen this time, you can bet on it--by force, if need be), to get enough poor fodder to do their nefarious deeds.

It didn't start to turn until we heard from "middle America"--the silent majority, the ordinary looking Americans in their dorky glasses, straight legged trousers, twinsets and hairsprayed flips, the farmers, the ordinary folk, speaking out and saying they wanted it to end. It was left, right, old and young. The cost was just not worth it. It took WAY too long for that to happen.

I hope they don't wait so long this time.

[Warpy]

2. It always has been

Just read the PNAC site for this gang's imperial ambition. There is no way they can accomplish that without a lot more people fighting for them. The Rumsfeld Doctrine of a small, mobile force has proven to be a dismal failure once the initial conflict is over and the task becomes occupation.

They have a few more invasions to do before they are satisfied that they're at the top of the world dungheap, and they can't do it with the all volunteer army. They can't do it with misusing the National Guard. They can't do it with dragging old men out of retirement and telling them they're back in the army.

They need a draft, they want a draft, and they'll get a draft.

[Anakin Skywalker]

3. Hmm. How Ironic.

Recruiting religious people to kill?

[Steel City Slim]

4. Unfortunately

Recruiting/retention has fallen short the past few months, the upper age limit has been raised to 39. I would think so.

[MADem]

8. 39 is a reserve/guard new upper limit.

From what I have been given to understand. If I'm mistaken, I won't mind being corrected.

I think active remains at "must not have reached 35th birthday before entering active duty" (not training, actual active duty). Draftees will go to the active force.

[wtmusic]

6. Not according to DOD

who claims they have a pool of 2.9M reservists to draw from. No draft. Yet.

[bemildred]

9. It won't be called a draft.

But it will be, it already is, conscription.