Could we have fought WWII with an all-volunteer Army ?

[kentuck]

Since Bush continue to compare the "war on terror" to WWII, how can we fight a billion Muslims around the world with our relatively small "volunteer" Army? In Iraq alone, we are about to run out of fresh troops to send in. Where are we going to get these troops to fight this World War on Terrorism? And we will not leave until we have "complete victory" or everyone is dead? Is it worth it America?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. No.

Neither could we fight the Civil War without a draft (the South were the first to institute it, and it was far more draconian than the draft of the North).

The 'war on terror' will be won the same day we win the 'war on drugs', I'm afraid. No, it's not worth it.

[radwriter0555]

2. The US military isn't volunteer. Volunteers work for free. The US military

troops are compensated for their time and actions and they work on contract. They sure could use a Union right about now.

Not a very good deal for the ones dying, now, is it?

[joefree1]

3. If we had a draft it would really be Vietnam all over

There would be rioting in the streets. Only as long as Bush can fight his hOILy war with professional soldiers and mercenaries can he get away with it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. No. I made the mistake of suggesting it to my dad once...

... he was a battle of the bulge vet where earned two purple hearts and a bronze star.

I said that the draft was unnecessary during WWII. He said: "You're nuts. That was a horrible war, people were dying left and right. People were freezing in trenches. No one in their right mind would volunteer for that kind of life."

Don't romanticize. Kids born in 1925 were just as scared of being blown up as kids born in 1985.

[GoldenOldie]

5. NO!

Every American was involved during WWII. As a 9-year old child, I well remember collecting metal, and peeling the aluminum foil from gum wrappers, cigarette packaging and collecting metals to be used in re-cycling for the war effort....my Mom was one of the original Rosie the Riveter gals, while my dad was flying bombing raids in Europe.

School children saved their pennies to buy Savings Bond stamps and made up shoebox's of soap, toothpaste, combs, candy and little toys, to be sent as gifts to children whose towns, cities and homes had been destroyed by the Nazi's or the Japanese.

FDR and Churchill brought us all together as one.

No trooper volunteered for this mess. You don't go to war based on lies and mistruths. You don't go to war and ignore your generals advice or fire them if they don't tell you what you want to hear. You don't go to war on the advice and guidance of advisors who neither studied battle/wars, or who have little to none knowledge of the Nation and the culture of you are invading.
You don't go to war with a Commander-in-Chief who has never, ever been successful in anything he has ever attempted to lead and you never go to war with a Commander-in-Chief who deserted his own military obligation when it was his time to obey his Commander-in Chief's orders.

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Yeah, I essentially said that to him...

His response? There's a difference between being "involved" and being "a target".

He was drafted, leaving a toddler at home (my older sister). He (with a bullet in his head) and one other person were the only survivors from his company. It sounds like he was right to be apprehensive.

I can say without doubt that he would not have enlisted voluntarily.

Maybe people shouldn't, I dunno.

Is it easier to send troops into harms way when they volunteered? Maybe it is more likely to be treated appropriately if the president must say; "Congress - I need a declaration of war so that I can hand your kids a gun and conscript them into the army."

[Toots]

6. I think we probably did.

Although many were drafted most enlisted. There was a true cause and Americans lined up for the opportunity to defend their nation. Everyone and I mean everyone knows that is not the case today.

[HereSince1628]

8. Nope. 61% of the US forces were drafted==11,535,000 persons

Our recollection is mightily painted by pop-culture.

3 out of every 5 in the military were drafted.

[mmonk]

9. No

Our weapons were not as sophisticated as now and battlefield medicine was no where close to what it is now.