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This page contains all of the posts and discussion on MemeStreams referencing the following web page: Oiling up the draft machine?. You can find discussions on MemeStreams as you surf the web, even if you aren't a MemeStreams member, using the Threads Bookmarklet.

Oiling up the draft machine?
by Hijexx at 10:35 am EST, Nov 4, 2003

The community draft boards that became notorious for sending reluctant young men off to Vietnam have languished sinced the early 1970s, their membership ebbing and their purpose all but lost when the draft was ended. But a few weeks ago, on an obscure federal Web site devoted to the war on terrorism, the Bush administration quietly began a public campaign to bring the draft boards back to life. Especially for those who were of age to fight in the Vietnam, it is an ominous flashback of a message. Even floating the idea of a draft in the months before an election would be politically explosive, and the Pentagon last week was adamant that the push to staff up the draft boards is not a portent of things to come. Increasingly, however, military experts and even some influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan proves accurate, the U.S. may have no choice but to consider a draft to fully staff the nation's military in a time of global instability.

...

Even among those who think the public might support a draft, few believe Bush would dare to propose it before the November 2004 election. "It would highlight the cost of an imperial foreign policy, add an incendiary issue to the already emotional protests, and further split the limited-government conservatives." But despite the Pentagon's denials, planners there are almost certainly weighing the numbers just as independent military experts are. And that could explain the willingness to tune up the draft machinery.

...

Not unless his victory has already been decided.


 
RE: Oiling up the draft machine?
by flynn23 at 10:38 am EST, Nov 5, 2003

Hijexx wrote:
] The community draft boards that became notorious for
] sending reluctant young men off to Vietnam have languished
] sinced the early 1970s, their membership ebbing and their
] purpose all but lost when the draft was ended. But a few weeks
] ago, on an obscure federal Web site devoted to the war on
] terrorism, the Bush administration quietly began a public
] campaign to bring the draft boards back to life. Especially
] for those who were of age to fight in the Vietnam, it is an
] ominous flashback of a message. Even floating the idea of a
] draft in the months before an election would be politically
] explosive, and the Pentagon last week was adamant that the
] push to staff up the draft boards is not a portent of things
] to come. Increasingly, however, military experts and even some
] influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Defense
] Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog"
] in Iraq and Afghanistan proves accurate, the U.S. may have no
] choice but to consider a draft to fully staff the nation's
] military in a time of global instability.
]
] ...
]
] Even among those who think the public might support a draft,
] few believe Bush would dare to propose it before the
] November 2004 election.
"It would highlight the cost of
] an imperial foreign policy, add an incendiary issue to the
] already emotional protests, and further split the
] limited-government conservatives." But despite the Pentagon's
] denials, planners there are almost certainly weighing the
] numbers just as independent military experts are. And that
] could explain the willingness to tune up the draft
] machinery.

]
] ...
]
] Not unless his victory has already been decided.

Oh please people... do WHATEVER it takes to get this idiot out of office next year!


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