Are You Feeling A Draft?

[elek_trik]

Alex Mauldin was kind enough to let me borrow his blog entry on May 25th (http://radio.weblogs.com/0117496/2004/05/25.html) to use as a forum topic. You can visit his site here (http://alex.mauldin.com/).

Are You Feeling A Draft?

Unbeknownst to many, the Bush administration has gotten the ball rolling on instituting the military draft. For those who don't know what the draft is, it's basically Uncle Sam's random way of chosing people to go to war, whether you've got other plans or not.

The draft was a huge issue three decades ago during the Vietnam War. Since that era, the draft has been dormant, lying in wait for our military to get stretched so thin that volunteers just aren't enough. Listen carefully and you can hear that stretching sound. It's the same sound of a size 12 trying to get into a size 6 pair of pants.

From sources following this development, the first military draft since the 1970s could happen as soon as June 2005. The way it is being set-up, going to college won't be a way out like it was during the Vietnam War. Also, women will be eligible for the draft alongside men. If selected, you might get a notice like this one (http://www.landscaper.net/images/drftnote.gif) used over thirty year ago. Wouldn't that be just about the ultimate spam?

So basically, it boils down to this: if you're going to be between 18-26 years of age come next summer, and you don't plan on being in the military, you might want to be a little more flexible with your plans. For all you know, 2005 might be the year you get to meet up close and personal some of those Iraqi folks you've only gotten to see on TV.

Related links:
Pending Draft Legislation Targeted for Spring 2005 (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=5834001&content_dir=ua_congressorg): could happen as soon as June 2005 (original article)
What happens during a draft? (http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/bldraft.htm): step-by-step what happens
As war goes, so does talk of a draft (https://registration.realcities.com/reg/toolbar.do?dispatch=login&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mercurynews.com%2Fmld%2Fmercurynews%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F8740595.htm): it's more than just talk now
The Selective Service System (http://www.sss.gov/): official site
End the Selective Service (http://www.endselectiveservice.org/): for those who don't want the draft

[Eagletx21]

A draft Yikes? Kind of makes you think if our country does not have enough Military Men and Women to fight in the Iraqi War against No Army just groups of terrorist then we are in Big Trouble. What would happen if war where to start with North Korea?

The USA Should not rely to heavily on their Allies. Just look at what happened with France and Russia and Germany they all turned their backs on U.S even though we still have our British Friends to Help I don't think British and U.S. can fight a large Army like North Korea has.

Speaking of Allies is Mexico an Allie of the U.S.? I think it is yet what does the U.S. Benefit from them? I see so much on the news about Fox and Bush on how they meet so often yet I don't see any troops from the Mexican Army in Iraq. Even though there are 30 countries helping out the U.S. still no sign of Mexico. An after all the U.S. does to help them out every year.

[HEBclient]

Mexico is allie to the United States. There is even a treaty that was signed in which the United Stated would defend Mexico's borders from any and all alien aggressors(ion). This was needed to insure any take-over from neighboring countries in which access to THIS nation's security would be compromised.

Considering United States backing, Mexico's military forces are limited. Yet, Mexico did not feel compelled to back the United States in the Iraq war. President Fox was not convinced that the United States had sufficient reason to attack Iraq.

[ojosclaros]

Mexico is an ally of the United States only when its convenient to Mexico. Even with treaties signed, Mexico does not adhere to the treaties. Mexico has not commited troops to the war on terror (a treaty signed between our countries said that if either was attacked, the other country would assist in their defense, was 9-11 not an attack on the U.S.??) Mexico does not adhere to the water usage treaty that deals with the amount of water taken from the Rio Grande River. Mexico does nothing to stop the flow of illegal immigration (why, because it is estimated that illegal aliens send nearly $20 billion U. S. dollars, not pesos, to Mexico each year) and they do very little to stop the flow of illegal drugs. Mexico has done nothing to help with the price of oil (they have very large oil reserves). Mexico makes it very difficult to extradite criminals that flee there after commiting crimes in the U.S. Who needs allies like this?? Mexico is a liability as an ally, not an asset. And, if you don't like the idea of a military draft in the U.S., you always have the option to MOVE TO MEXICO!! I'm sure they'd love to have you (but only if you bring your U.S. $$).

[Eagletx21]

The U.S spends Millions of Dollars every year in helping Mexico out in many ways. Not including the Millions they spend on Customs and Border Patrol. Mexico is just a waste of money. What the U.S. should do is have their Military Protecting our Borders. Border Patrol cannot do it alone this is too big of a border to cover. If the U.S. Military would send a few thousand men no more then 5,000 to protect our borders it would help stop illegal aliens cross over to the U.S. side and help on the war against drugs. Believe it or not we are almost at war with Mexico in some ways. Border Patrol is constantly getting into gun battles with drug dealers that are caught crossing Drugs over. Illegal aliens have to be approached with caution who knows what kind of weapon they are caring. An Mexico is really just some big haven for Terrorist. An who faces the biggest threat to this? We do the U.S. citizens that are living on the Border.

[Rapunzel]

You young people need to get ready. The draft is coming. Bush says no. In BushSpeak, that means "Of course, you fool. There will be a draft of people whose daddy's aren't rich and powerful enough to get them out of it."

So all you rich kids can just relax. The rest of your make plans for your trip abroad.

Your only hope to avoid that is to vote for Kerry.

[mena]

What do you think Kerry would do if he was voted for President?

[Rapunzel]

To begin with, I think Kerry would build a real coalition to fight terrorists and help with the reconstruction of Iraq. I think he would set about bringing our troops home from the illegal war in Iraq. I think he would spend money rebuilding Iraq instead of doing like Bush and getting the money and not spending it.

And I think if our country was ever under attack again, Kerry would act immediately and not sit thunderstruck for seven minutes while kids read a little story.

I think that Kerry would not stay on vacation like Bush does.

I think that Kerry would not run a secretive government like Bush does.

I think Kerry would restore the good name of the United States around the world.

If Bush is elected, we will have more wars and a draft. The United States will become more hated. The world will become even more dangerous than it is now. And it is more dangerous after four years of Bush. Even the good Republicans agree that Bush has made a mess of things.

[esescamil]

I feel that the draft if used correctly would serve as a great patriotic tool for the country. Race, gender, class, party affiliation... lets make everyone physically able eligiable for the draft. This way... everyone will make the government accountable for its actions in any domestic or foriegn issue.

[pesqueso]

Fatten up the military ranks of all branches.

[torrito_04]

Uggh....I shall live in disappointment of my fellow americans for many years to come. Why did we give the presidency to that nut???!!!! :S

[kurtmasur]

Uggh....I shall live in disappointment of my fellow americans for many years to come. Why did we give the presidency to that nut???!!!! :S
Considering that he stole both the 2000 and 2004 elections, I think a more appropiate question would be, "Why did we let that nut take the presidency???"

(And why are we letting him keep the presidency knowing that he LIED to start a war?)

[esescamil]

We need to deal with the situation that we have a republican administration. We need to keep the administration accountable for its actions. My comment about the draft came from the lack of political involvement in this country. The American public gets bias information from pundits and spinners. The public is also very detached from the reality of the issues that face this country.



In other countries with very high political involvement and voter turnout, citizens are required to serve a year or 2 years. If the draft will become a reality, we must be prepared that everyone who is physically able be eligible. NO EXCEPTIONS… going to college… to bad… my father is a senator… to bad… my father is Bill Gates or one of the Buffet’s… to bad… my father is Pastor Farwell or Hagee… to bad…

[joey777]

hey you wake up! It sounds like you hate Mexico and have nothing good to say about it. Are you ashamed of your culture? Are you Latino?

Do you not remember recently that Piedras Negras extradited Pitonyak, the guy who killed a girl here in Austin and dismembered her body. Mexico threw that chump back to the states. No country wants criminals like him.

Remember Ojosclaros what it says in the Bible, "Love thy neighbor".

Oh and you think Mexico is not increasing the flow of oil to the United States, of course it is. And besides Mexico is not a member of OPEC. You seem to portray Mexico as some villianous country like North Korea or Iran. Mexico has a right to set the price of its own oil. But usually it's not up to the individual country to set the price of oil. It is usually the market that does.

[maria torres]

you hear nothing but negativity form eagletx 21 and ojosclaros and from a whole bunch of other people when it comes down to talk about mexico oil mexican people instead of worrying about other important issues rather than those poor illegal aliens and oil . why you all wanna be nothing but haters have you forgotten where your roots come from theres other countries with illegal aliens like honduras, guatemala,el salvador, colombia , peru and i can go on and on why only focus on mexicans always about the mexicans are you racist or what have you thought about what it would be like for united states to have no mexicans working here doing all the labor that lazy ass white and black folks don't want to do , because the mexican people are the ones working on nice buildings , all those nice rich houses freeways etccc.. and i can go on i sit hear and read what some of you have to say about those mexicans and it makes me angry. because some of you seem so racist and it's always raza contra tu propia raza. i hadn't wanted to say anything but i'm glad i did all i hear from eagletx 21 is negativity for the mexicans mexico . what if it was you who lived in mexico and were poor i'm sure you would find a way to come in the u.s