Draft...

[YRABNNRM]

I'm not sure if there's already a thread on this forum having to do with this but on some other message boards(usually non-political) there all people who are crying that if GWB is re-elected he will bring back the draft, I think Senator Kerry has also said in some way he believes that GWB would(which is probably scare tactics;which are used on both sides and probably every election). I'm curious to see what the opinions of the draft are here.

I am against the draft, not because I wouldn't want to go to war, hell I've been considered joining the military once I'm the legal age. My beliefs are that in a free country we shouldn't force civilians to fight; sometimes fight in a war they don't even agree with. I think it limits freedoms of the individuals(uh oh am I sounding like a libertarian now ?). I also think that having a draft would result in less expierienced troops fighting, which I think was one of the problems in Vietnam.

I believe that we will not have a draft again(or in the near future). I don't think it would be able pass through congress(I can always be wrong though). I also think that if Iraq was to get so bad to the point where we would need a draft I think we would pull out but I don't think that will be necessary.

I'd like to hear everyone elses opinions on this matter.

[Akno21]

I'm against it. It infringes on our freedoms. However, if we keep sending our armed forces to the middle east, we will need more troops. I think it could be brought back, but it would done very slowly over a long time, by quietly changing a few laws and military operations. I don't think the Senate would ever vote on a bill that basically says, "The draft shall be re-instated in two years."

[AuH2O]

There's no reason for a draft.

If the army needs more people, it can just increase the sign-on bonus. Money works just fine...

[YRABNNRM]

If you've voted it would be appreciated if you posted why you voted the way you did

[PBrunsel]

Although I oppose drafts, I think that if we get involved in a major war in the Middle East the draft will be reinstated.

[John Dibble]

I'd rather we keep it volunteer. People who willingly join the army are willing to fight - I don't want people who aren't willing to fight drafted into our military.

[PBrunsel]

The last thing I want to happen durring a war is people singing about how they were "Grafted into the Army."

[A18]

If there's a draft, I'll dodge. I'm sick of unconstitutional mandates.

[John Dibble]

I'd rather we keep it volunteer. People who willingly join the army are willing to fight - I don't want people who aren't willing to fight drafted into our military.

You mean like "slaves make lousy defenders of freedom"? (That came from a 1980 LP Clark/Koch campaign piece.)

Kind of. Good quote. Never heard that.

But really - do you want someone who would prefer to dodge the draft fighting to defend you? I know that people who volunteer for the military have what it takes to defend the country, and I don't want those willing to fight slowing our good troops down.

We have the most elite fighting force on the planet and it is entirely volunteer. Israel can compete in quality, but even though service is mandatory they grow up in an environment where it could become a battlefield easily, so they are pretty much conditioned from birth to be willing to fight. Our country on the other hand enjoys a great deal of peace, so most of our people aren't conditioned to have a willingness to fight.

[© tweed]

No/No

Although many politicans wouldn't mind bringing the draft back, the political backlash would be huge.

I would dodge if drafted.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

If drafted, I will dodge.

[NYGOP]

A draft won't be instituted. We have more than enough troops at the moment.

The only people saying there will be a draft are the democrat attack dogs scare-mongering before the election. They realize thier boy is going to lose and they're freaking out.

[Defarge]

I oppose a draft and don't think it will come back if Bush is reelected.  However, should I be called to the colors even for a war I don't believe in, I shall go.

[PBrunsel]

However, should I be called to the colors even for a war I don't believe in, I shall go.

Your a good man. If I was drafted I would also go.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I don't think that a draft is a good idea and I don't think that it will occur.  Soldiering has advanced to the point where using mass numbers of poorly trained troops is not particularly effective.  We could easily double the size of our military without the need for a draft, if we're willing to spend the money to keep a military that large in place.

[Citizen James]

no/probably not/4-F.

I consider conscription to be both immoral and impractical (as many have pointed out - draftees tend to have morale problems and are often far from enthusiastc nor professional.  

I doubt that a draft will be reinstated, but I would prefer it if they would get rid of that registration bit once and for all.   Our millitary is curently overextended (hence the over-reliance of reserves), but authorizing slightly increasing the size of the regular army could deal with that problem - recuiters are not sitting in empty offices after all).

I don't think service would agree with me.  I'm not a morning person and I don't adapt well to strict disipline.  (I'm not sure I could bring myself to kill someone either).   In any case, I likely wouldn't qualify due to a disability.

[Gabu]

A dodge won't be instituted.

Bandit seems to disagree with you...

Regarding the topic, I went with no/no.  I don't believe a draft is either the right thing to do or the smart thing to do.  People should not be forced into fighting a war that they don't support and the morale among draftees would likely be rock bottom.  Plus, if absolutely nobody will sign on to the war, you really should be asking yourself whether the war is worthwhile, not simply forcing people into it.

[NYGOP]

A dodge won't be instituted.

Bandit seems to disagree with you...

Hehe, I need to learn to read my statements before I post.

[Dr. Cynic]

My uncle was drafted into Vietnam because some State Congressman's kid didn't wanna go. I have not nor will I EVER supprot the draft.

[badnarikin04]

No/Yes.

Those republicrat fascists are going to send me a draft card. And that'll be the last straw. I'll be burning it and moving to Uzbekistan where I can enjoy a privatized free market.

[weallbleed]

no/no

it'd be political suicide for any party to bring it back.

[The Dowager Mod]

[zachman]

No/no. Its a rule that is hard to ban in peace time because its just not that much of a priority then. If it doesn't get removed in the next year or two (I can't imagine it will), it will sit around for another decade or so. I just don't see modern warfare as being a situation for a draft (Iraq may prove me wrong.

[dazzleman]

I have mixed feeling about a possible draft.

On the one hand, I think it's better militarily to have all volunteer, assuming that they can attracted in sufficient numbers.

On the other hand, I think it is unfair that the burden of defending the country effectively falls to those who are less well off economically.  I also think that in one way or another, we all have an obligation to defend the freedom that we enjoy and loudly proclaim.

In the post-Vietnam era, through the end of the Cold War, we maintained an all-volunteer military of about 2.2 million people, with a smaller population base.  I have to admit that I find it hard to understand why we have difficulty recruiting to the current level of 1.4 million people.

The whole issue of war is inherently unfair, however necessary it may be.  There can be no comparing the sacrifice of somebody who contributes to the war by paying for it with the person who contributes to the war by giving his life.

[A18]

It's unconstitutional