Get ready for the draft in 2005 guys.

[Manuel_Hung]

This is the buzz in DC....no matter who gets in office the draft has to be reisnstated to win this war.......If u are between the ages of 18 and 26 stock up on sun screen!

WASHINGTON—A call from the U.S. Defense Department for volunteers to sit on local draft boards has sparked debate here about whether a nationwide military draft could ultimately be needed to complete Washington's Iraq mission.

A number of analysts said yesterday that while any public suggestion of a draft would be politically suicidal for U.S. President George W. Bush in an election year, he could find himself with few other options if he is returned for a second term and the fighting in Iraq is still raging.Bush, touring fire-ravaged regions of California yesterday, again vowed troops will never cut and run in Iraq, even as attacks on Americans escalate.

The draft was abolished here three decades ago as the Vietnam War wound down, and the Defense department notice about draft boards is on an obscure link on its Web site.

But as debate swirls about the capabilities of the beleaguered U.S. military, the Pentagon is calling for volunteers to "Serve Your Community and the Nation." It says the Selective Service System "wants to hear from men and women in the community who might be willing to serve as members of a local draft board."

If conscription becomes necessary, it says, 2,000 local and appeal boards would need volunteers. The boards would decide who would go to war and who could defer their service in the event of a national call-up to boost the currently all-volunteer military.

"This is significant," said Ned Lebow, a presidential scholar at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and former professor of strategy at the National War College in Washington.

"What the department of Defense is doing is creating the infrastructure to make the draft a viable option should the administration wish to go this route."

He said it is the first public call to reconstitute draft boards since the compulsory draft was abolished in 1973.

Pentagon officials did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.

"I don't think a presidential candidate would seriously propose a draft," said Charles Pena, a senior analyst with the Washington-based Cato Institute. "But an incumbent, safely in for a second term — that might be a different story.

"When you crunch the numbers, you understand why you hear talk about a draft. You only have to look at troop levels to realize we don't have the numbers to do the job in Iraq properly."

The U.S. now has 130,000 troops in Iraq and Pentagon officials, from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on down, have maintained they do not want or need more troops there.

But with Turkey being the latest country to decline to send troops and even staunch U.S. allies such as Australia and Spain pulling their nationals out of increasingly dangerous Baghdad, the prospect for international help is dim.

When the U.S. fought the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, it had 10 army divisions ready to deploy at home as reinforcements.

Today, there is a single division remaining in the U.S. that could be deployed to Iraq.

The U.S. reserves are stretched thin, and the Pentagon doesn't want to extend the stay for troops already being asked to serve the longest unbroken war stints since Vietnam.

A return to the draft would take a vote by Congress and a presidential signature and even with a second-term president barred by the constitution from seeking a third term, it is questionable whether a Congress would be willing to take such a politically risky step.

At present, the preferred route publicly being espoused by the Bush White House is known as "Iraqification," a speeded-up transfer of security and political power to local Iraqi authorities.

But following a speech to a forum on nation-building here yesterday, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz refused to be specific on an exit strategy for U.S. troops.

"I think we're on a good course," he said. "I don't want to sort of predict dates.

"I think we have to measure progress by what's actually the situation on the ground."

That, according to Wolfowitz, means providing a secure environment, providing the daily essentials such as electricity to Iraqis and the creation of a constitution that leads to elections.

"I believe we are winning the peace," Wolfowitz said. "I believe we're also winning the war. But let's understand: the war continues. And that's what makes this a difficult challenge."

Pena said the window for any exit strategy, no matter what the administration calls it, is fast closing before it looks blatantly political and a bid to win the president re-election.

Rumsfeld is a strong supporter of the all-volunteer army. In September he called it "a booming success ... (with) a remarkable sense of mission," and most military analysts agree that a volunteer military is more professional because it is comprised of people who have chosen to serve in uniform.

[garyzilla]

I am betting that the person that wrote this artical is a Kerry suporter, and wrote this artical to scare the American people into thinking that if Bush is reelected there will be a draft. The more the newspapers and media can get the American people to think that Iraq is a another Vietnam, the worse it gets for Bush. It is far from Vietnam.

-Garyzilla

[Manuel_Hung]

Kerry will do the same thing....there are not enough people to secure I raque.....Dangle the black congrss man fron NY is supporting it....it is coming guys. Dem or rep....it will be here

[Bob Smith]

If its between 18-26, then I'd be fine by the time this garbage passes.

[Manuel_Hung]

Originally Posted by Bob Smith

If its between 18-26, then I'd be fine by the time this garbage passes.

Me to Bob....but Jesus can u imagine working making good money raising and loving a family and within 6 months put in that hell hole??? What a fucked up situation....I have family over there and he says it is utter kaos.

[Mark Kerr]

Originally Posted by Manuel_Hung

"I don't think a presidential candidate would seriously propose a draft," said Charles Pena, a senior analyst with the Washington-based Cato Institute. "But an incumbent, safely in for a second term — that might be a different story.

This is clearly aimed towards the Bush Administration. (It is the Cato Institute for God's Sakes!) Besides, no politican is so stupid as to support the draft. If they did, I would promise that Bush, the Republican Party and any other Congressman who supports the re-institution of the draft is guaranteed to be virtually thrown out of office.

Garyzilla is right, this is no Vietnam. Militarily, we could easily defeat the Iraqis (unlike the China-backed Vietnamese). The only reason there is a perception of impotency is because we are no longer in the "warfare" phase, we are in the "rebuilding" phase. And just like post-WWII Japan and Germany, there are going to be casualties during the rebuilding phase. Unfortunately, we never made it to the "rebuilding" phase in Vietnam.

[thick]

i agree with MK and gary, this is political and is just trying to sway more votes. Congress will not pass a draft just for iraq. Congressman vote for themselves first and us last.

[Rod]

The far left love would love to reinstate the draft. Rangel (sp?) form NY supports it. His motive is to make this military effort a political quagmire like Vietnam. I will tell you it will never happen; it’s clearly not needed. The whole threat is obviously a scare tactic to turn the public against the war.

[AnimalMass]

Haha - the draft...yeah right - like that would ever happen - Especially over Iraq.

AM

[Hogg]

I was 21 or so when the first Gulf War began and they talked about reinstating the draft. It never happened.

Edit - the reason I posted this is because this guy has done two tours in the middle east as well as quite a bit of time protecting airports post 9/11.
A former co-worker of mine has wasted the past 12 years of his life in the national guard, serving uncle sam when the call comes, and to this date, the guy cant get a real career going because he is called to serve every couple of months. I think that it is partially voluntary because he drills far more than 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year.....sorry bastard, 31, still living at home, no gf, no wife, not a pot to piss in.

In the same token, we all filled out our selective service card and agreed to become cannon fodder for uncle sam if need be. I'd still go if the letter came in the mail....at my age and with my background, I'd probably get a sweet deal.

[eleven11]

Dangle only supports a draft because he thinks the only people in the military are poor minorities..............11

[musclebobbuffpants]

Where are those weapons of mass destruction again? There were supposed to be WMD's. I was told they definitely had WMD's!

OH wait, they don't HAVE WMD's, they were only planning on making them.

Way to go Bush, you're really on the ball. (Shitdick)

MBBP

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by musclebobbuffpants

Where are those weapons of mass destruction again? There were supposed to be WMD's. I was told they definitely had WMD's!

OH wait, they don't HAVE WMD's, they were only planning on making them.

Way to go Bush, you're really on the ball. (Shitdick)

MBBP

Let me ask you this. If the cops called your house and told you were going to raid you in about a yr or 2 do you think you'd have time to clean house ?

They had them. there either under some underground warehouse we haven't found yet or there in Syria.............11

[AirBorne]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Let me ask you this. If the cops called your house and told you were going to raid you in about a yr or 2 do you think you'd have time to clean house ?

They had them. there either under some underground warehouse we haven't found yet or there in Syria.............11

Yes, they did have them! And yes, they are either burried or over the border. They had them in the Gulf War.....so where did they all go? They didnt frickin dissappear. Again, another one of those bumper sticker slogans that cannot be backed up!

[Bob Smith]

Originally Posted by AirBorne

Yes, they did have them! And yes, they are either burried or over the border. They had them in the Gulf War.....so where did they all go? They didnt frickin dissappear. Again, another one of those bumper sticker slogans that cannot be backed up!

And if they did destroy them (not likely) there would be evidence of that, whether residues or paperwork or something else detailing the destruction of WMDs.