Does the U.S. need the Draft?

Question

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1645734,00.html

Answer 1

Yes, it will give all the flag waving rich kids an opportunity to be Americans

Answer 2

I don't think so (not yet) but I do have an idea. In Roman times, you had to serve in the military to actually be considered a citizen of Rome (this much like being an American citizen today, offered Carte Blanche across the known world). I suggest that we have a 2 tier citizenship and that only those who served their country in the Armed Forces could access the second tier. This tier would include voting rights, access to public service and more.

Of course, I expect wide-spread resistance to such an idea but wouldn't it be nice if those most vocal about continuing the war had some reason to actually fight in it? After all, these are among the most privileged people who talk about "fighting the terrorists over there" but never actually fight anything.

Answer 3

I think a draft is not needed..unless it is focused on Americans serving..in a manner to provide Homeland Security..and allow the National Guard to do it's consigned purpose..

From the article:
"Bringing back mandatory service has been the refrain of many who want to put the brakes on the Iraq war; if every young man is suddenly a potential grunt on his way to Baghdad, the thinking goes, the war would end rather quickly. It's also an argument made by those who are uneasy that the burden of this war is being unfairly shouldered by the 1.4-million-strong U.S. military and no one else."
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that sounded like what Hillary alluded to when she said we would not have the ability to send our troops into the Sudan
last night.
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these guys don't realize it..but Congress had all draft offices
restaffed and reopened closed ones last year...this wasn't
our Commander in Chief's mandate..it was Congress

Answer 4

Need one, or could use one!

I don't want to see another draft where kids have no choice of whether to be killed or not, even in a war that 80% of the people in the latest poll do not believe in!

We have for years been ignoring the people who do the actual fighting for high tech expensive items which many do not work!

If it comes down to defending our freedom then yes! That however is not what Iraq is about. It is greed and oil! Not worth dieing over!

And it really helps the cause when your own president cuts VA hospitals by 100 Billion in 2006 and is being sued by vets who are not getting the treatment they deserve! I do not understand those who wrap themselves in the flag for corporate welfare but cannot take care of our wounded. That is despicable!

The major war being fought by Bush is against his own people and the constitution! It is strange that many other countries, like Britain, Spain and Italy, can arrest people who have plans to carry out attacks, and try them! We seem to only be able to attack countries that had nothing to do with 9/11 or terrorist!

They can want all they want to, but I hope a draft will never be supported in a war like this one, which is a civil war because Bush failed to send in the appropriate troops and nip this sectarian violence in the bud!

I feel bad for our military who have not been allowed to get out when their contract is up and are used as a quasi draft to be sent back for another tour in Iraq! Then when many of them get home they are thrown out of the service with a "pre-existing Personality disorder"! Then why did the send them to Iraq, and why do many have Purple Hearts, and why have many been within 20 feet of an explosion? You know why! They dumped 22,000 out of the Army so they would not have to pay them!

I am sick of the way we have treated our troops, and the bottom line is you don't deserve them! Not you specifically! I think you know to whom i refer!

Answer 5

No that would be the worst thing for us to put people in such a technical need as the military, waste money on training them and then have them leave when there two or three year commitment was up. This would also lower the moral of those who do volunteer and want to make the military a career.

Answer 6

not unless they send the rich boys, too. If they ship off the sons of Bush's buddies, then they should consider it. Overall I say no, get us the hell out of Iraq. Poor and middle class boys are dying for another rich man's game. The saddest and sickest part of it all is how dumb most Americans are - "golly, gee, Gomer, lookee here, ain't I patriotic cuz I fly my flag and put a big ol' sticker on my truck here" - if their butts were on the line, I bet they would be screaming for an end to the war in Iraq so yea, maybe a draft might be a good idea. Drag the college boys and the boys in their Hummers and the ghetto boys dealing on the corners who are so apathetic into Iraq and watch the response of America then!

Answer 7

My whole arguement to this is FIRST, there are plenty of republicans in this country who claim to support Bush's war.
We shouldnt truly have a soldiers delemna if these people would stand up for what they say they believe in.

Second, since republicans who support this path, wont give up their own, by them enactinglegislation forcing others to go, would be political suicide..especially when we are fighting in the wrong country.

Answer 8

I think all young people should serve for two years in the military. That way, they have a greater sense of belonging to a nation, and they have a greater sense of civic duty. THEN, you're only 20, you go to college a bit more relaxed, more mature, and you're 24, you get out, start your life. Sounds like a plan.

Answer 9

I dont think so. I think that is something the left has started to churn up more dislike for the current administration.
.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, the majority of America's youth are already enlisted with al-qaida.