Now Why is W Thinking About The Draft??

Question

BE AFRAID
BE VERY, V E R Y AFRAID

Selective Service plans test of draft equipment
VA secretary, White House insist policy has not changed

The Associated Press



The Selective Service System is making plans to test its draft machinery in case Congress and President Bush need it, even though the White House says it doesn�t want to bring back the draft.

The agency is planning a comprehensive test � not run since 1998 � of its military draft systems, a Selective Service official said. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009.

Scott Campbell, the service�s director for operations and chief information officer, cautioned that the �readiness exercise� does not mean the agency is gearing up to resume the draft.

�We�re kind of like a fire extinguisher. We sit on a shelf,� Campbell said. �Unless the president and Congress get together and say, �Turn the machine on� ... we�re still on the shelf.�

Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson prompted speculation about the draft Thursday when he told reporters in New York that �society would benefit� if the U.S. were to bring back the draft. Later, he issued a statement saying he does not support reinstituting a draft.

The administration has for years forcefully opposed bringing back the draft, and the White House said Thursday that policy has not changed and no proposal to reinstate the draft is being considered.

The �readiness exercise� would test the system that randomly chooses draftees by birth date and its network of appeal boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others who want to delay reporting for duty, Campbell said.

The Selective Service will start planning for the 2009 tests next June or July, although budget cuts could force the agency to cancel them, Campbell said.

President Bush said this week he is considering sending more troops to Iraq and has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to look into adding more troops to the nearly 1.4 million uniformed personnel on active duty.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, increasing the Army by 40,000 troops would cost as much as $2.6 billion the first year and $4 billion after that. Military officials have said the Army and Marine Corps want to add as many as 35,000 more troops.

Recruiting new forces and retaining current troops is more complicated because of the unpopular war in Iraq. In recent years, the Army has accepted recruits with lower aptitude test scores.

Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, plans to introduce a bill next year to reinstate the draft. House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said such a proposal would not be high on the Democratic-led Congress� priority list.

The military drafted people during the Civil War and both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. Reincorporated in 1980, the Selective Service System maintains a registry of 18-year-old men, but call-ups have not occurred since the Vietnam War

Hey Gubmint ( ?? )
Why would the goverment look into it if they stand firm they won't use it?? Who told them to check it out for proper operation. Turn on your e'mail, or are you afraid??

To All..Thanks for your comments. It is clear some chose to read the part they want, this is why I Included the ENTIRE article. 1 democrat, unsupported, suggests a draft resolution, yet no one read between the lines. WHY TEST SOMETHING that was never broken in the first place? We used the draft for decades, yet NOW we need a test?? Be Afraid. It doesn't matter the article says 2009. the thought is being put forward, and the president is the only person who can start the machine without a vote. ANYONE HEAR ABOUT A VOTE???

Answer 1

He should have done it years ago, just proves how incompetent he is...again! Now here we are late in the third quarter and now e wants to institute a draft. This man is always late to the fight. He was late on Katrina, He was late admitting the insurgency in iraq, he was late sending additional troops and now he's late with a draft.
What ever happened to we can't have a draft because that would destroy our professioanl army? LMAO! One crock o crap after another.

Answer 2

There is absolutely no evidence that Bush wants the draft nor the Republicans. According to your own article, the test would not occur until 2009. The test is a good thing, because it's proactive should the draft ever have to occur. Wish FEMA had run a few proactive tests. Also in the article, you will notice that the only people talking specifically about the draft were Democrats. I have no worries about the draft coming back, even though I'm already in the Guard. All of the top, middle and lower ranks realize that you don't want people in there who do not want to be in there. My life is a bit too important to have some disgruntled draftee not covering my back. My only support for the draft would be the worst case scenario - we are overrun in our country and we need every man possible, but I don't ever see that happening. Be afraid of the Democrats who support the draft not W.

Answer 3

Its funny, The Democrat who is the House Ways and Means Chairmen, submits a draft bill on January 11th, 2007.

But now they are trying to say Bush is gonna bring back the draft.

The left must think we don't remember them swearing Bush would start the draft before both the 2004 Presidential election and the 2006 Congressional election.

Answer 4

Your blaming Bush, yet it has always has been and STILL is a Democrat trying to get the draft reinstated.

The test won't happen until 2009 IF it happens at all, but the proposal will come up AGAIN, by Rangel (D. NY) in 2008.

Bush won't even be in office. If a Democrat takes office, you still going to blame Bush?

It's sad that some people are so blinded by their political affiliation they can't see the truth for what it is.

Answer 5

i say burn this bridge when you come to it...the american people spend so much time worrying what's GOING TO/MIGHT happen....I say forget about it until it comes...life is too short...what happens if the draft is reinstated in '09 and one of these people that have answered dies tomorrow, well i guess you got all red for nothing then huh? If it happens in '09 then worry about it in '09...I doubt it will though, because those of us in the military don't want some dumbass whose never held a gun before out there with us, swingin it around all crazy like. No thanks, if I get shot it will be in the line of duty....not by my newb wingman.

Answer 6

You did see this part: "The administration has for years forcefully opposed bringing back the draft, and the White House said Thursday that policy has not changed and no proposal to reinstate the draft is being considered."

didn't you?

The Dems have been the only ones seriously talking about a draft, in case you hadn't noticed.

Answer 7

Too long but, they test the recall system every couple of years. There was a news cast about it not two months ago.

This isn't the first time its been tested......its the first time the press decided it was news worthy.

Answer 8

The article you posted is information FROM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER of 2006. (note "Speaker-ELECT Nancy Pelosi)

I won't even point out the facts that others have listed...

Stop being a fear-monger !! That's our job you leftist

Answer 9

because not enough americans are brave enough to defend themselves. I'm in the military but personally i think its a bad decision because I don't want some coward on the front line with me. I don't want people who are too afriad to point a gun at a terrorist and pull the trigger in the military with me...it would put too many more lives at risk than if we had more people who truly are dedicated to their country and WANT to fight.

Answer 10

That is good. I believe in the draft. I had to sign up when I turned 18 and would have been proud if I were called. As to your first answer, Yea lets all refuse. I wish that they still executed people for treason. You are guilty of that.
Well I can see no one is reading my answer correctly. My treason comment is applied to the first person to answer this question with the comment of "lets not go"