posted on February 17, 2004 07:46:38 AM new
US Preparing for Military Draft in Spring 2005
by Adam Stutz • Wednesday January 28, 2004 at 09:50 AM
The current agenda of the US federal government is to reinstate the draft in order to staff up for a protracted war on "terrorism." Pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills S 89 and HR 163) would time the program so the draft could begin at early as Spring 2005 -- conveniently just after the 2004 presidential election!
Reinstatement of the draft
Dear Friends and Family,
I urge you to read the article below on the current agenda of the federal government to reinstate the draft in order to staff up for a protracted war on "terrorism."
Pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills S 89 and HR 163) would time the program so the draft could begin at early as Spring 2005 -- conveniently just after the 2004 presidential election! But the administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed NOW, so our action is needed immediately. Details and links follow.
If voters who currently support U.S. aggression abroad were confronted with the possibility that their own children or grandchildren might not have a say about whether to fight, many of these same voters might have a change of mind. (Not that it should make a difference, but this plan would among other things eliminate higher education as a shelter and would not exclude women -- and Canada is no longer an option.)
Please send this on to all the parents and teachers you know, and all the aunts and uncles, grandparents, godparents.... And let your children know -- it's their future, and they can be a powerful voice for change! Please also write to your representatives to ask them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills -- and write to newspapers and other media outlets to ask them why they're not covering this important story.
The Draft*
$28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. SSS must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. Please see website: http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the SSS Annual Performance Plan - Fiscal Year 2004.
The Pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide.. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan [and a permanent state of war on "terrorism"] proves accurate, the U.S. may have no choice but to draft.
Congress brought twin bills, S. 89 and H.R. 163 forward this year, entitled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, "To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons [age 18--26] in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes." These active bills currently sit in the Committee on Armed Services.
Dodging the draft will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era remember. College and Canada will not be options. In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "Smart Border Declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Manley, and US Homeland Security Director, Gov. Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their cur-rent semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year.
*This article by Adam Stutz is from the "What's Hot Off the Press" column of the newsletter of Project Censored, a media research group at Sonoma State University that tracks the news published in independent journals and newsletters. From these, Project Censored compiles an annual list (more than 20 years running) of 25 news stories of social significance that have been overlooked, under-reported, or self-censored by the country's major national news media. The mission of Project Censored is "to educate people about the role of independent journalism in a democratic society and to tell The News That Didn't Make the News and why."
posted on February 17, 2004 08:44:55 AM new
The character of young people is so different from the 60s and 70s when my school mates just obediantly went off for the most part to be slaughtered.
I suspect the selfishness and lack of trust young people have in authority will make a new draft subject to a level of resistance they are not anticipating.
posted on February 17, 2004 09:53:01 AM new
One would hope so, Gravid. Cheney's been out stumping, delivering the same speech to a variety of audiences. His message? The terrorist threat grows stronger each day. The Bush administration plans to expand our military forces, with some FIFTY new deployments around the world, so that we can engage in war - wherever it might spring up - quickly. He also said this would be a decades-long matter, and that the Bush administration is laying the groundwork for future presidents.
posted on February 17, 2004 11:27:46 AM new
bear is full of B#llsh#t
he serves a group of chickenhawks who never ever were in a war,below is the military records of all the bush gang, actually zip military records cause they were rich and exempted themselves from any wars
posted on February 17, 2004 11:45:15 AM new
It's so unfortunate that mainstream media fails to publish news such as this. Some Americans will be voting for Bush while thinking that the war is over, Iraq is becoming a Democracy, and all is well with the world -- when in fact, war for at least a decade is in the works and reinstating the draft is under consideration right now.
posted on February 17, 2004 12:15:43 PM new
There's an Austin-based organization that watches who gives how much to whom, among other things. It's called Texans for Public Justice.
"Welcome to Texans for Public Justice. We're an Austin-based non-profit that organized in 1997 to take on political corruption and corporate abuses in Texas. Through intensive research and public advocacy we hope to add a clear voice to debates on political reform, consumer protection, civil justice and corporate accountability."
The organization has posted up-to-date information on Bush's donors. It's 'interesting' reading when one goes a-Googling with the names...
posted on February 17, 2004 12:40:15 PM new
According the the US Senate site S-89 was introduced by Mr. Hollings, a democrat.
According to the Washington Times 8-5-03:
Sen. Ernest F. Hollings will retire next year after 38 years as a senator from South Carolina, ending an era in Southern politics.
The 81-year-old Democrat made his announcement yesterday, further damaging his party's efforts to win a Senate majority in the 2004 elections.
AND according to the US. House of Representatives site...Representative Charles B. Rangel
Democrat, New York was the one who introduced this bill in the House.
Re-elect President Bush!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Feb 17, 2004 12:58 PM ]
posted on February 17, 2004 01:24:41 PM new
if anyone out there has draftable kids or grandkids, get a passport fast, and ship them out of north america, someplace where they will accept your children, this US government is going on the warpath for your kids
Also i would be screaming why the rich kids aren't being drafted..........
[ edited by skylite on Feb 17, 2004 01:25 PM ]
This one is dated 2003....maybe when Rangel was on Fox News saying he felt this type of program should be set up because our military, the way it is, encourages too many black/minority young people to sign-up. He felt this way all men and women would serve their country.
We had a discussion on this issue quite a while ago. It's called the Universal National Servce Act.
Re-elect President Bush!!
posted on February 17, 2004 01:31:14 PM new
Guess anyone interested in the wording of these bills will have to go directly to the Senate and House sites themselves.....as those links won't hold for some reason. sorry.
edited to add just the first couple paragraphs...
Universal National Service Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)
HR 163 IH
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 163
To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 7, 2003
Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. STARK, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act of 2003'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. National service obligation.
Sec. 3. Two-year period of national service.
Sec. 4. Implementation by the President.
Sec. 5. Induction.
Sec. 6. Deferments and postponements.
Sec. 7. Induction exemptions.
Sec. 8. Conscientious objection.
Sec. 9. Discharge following national service.
Sec. 10. Registration of females under the Military Selective Service Act.
Sec. 11. Relation of Act to registration and induction authority of Military Selective Service Act.
Sec. 12. Definitions.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.
(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG PERSONS- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.
(b) FORM OF NATIONAL SERVICE- National service under this Act shall be performed either--
(1) as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; or
(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security.
(c) INDUCTION REQUIREMENTS- The President shall provide for the induction of persons covered by subsection (a) to perform national service under this Act.
(d) SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE- Based upon the needs of the uniformed services, the President shall--
(1) determine the number of persons covered by subsection (a) whose service is to be performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; and
(2) select the individuals among those persons who are to be inducted for military service under this Act.
(e) CIVILIAN SERVICE- Persons covered by subsection (a) who are not selected for military service under subsection (d) shall perform their national service obligation under this Act in a civilian capacity pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.
(a) GENERAL RULE- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this Act shall be two years.
(b) GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this Act may be extended--
(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or
(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.
(c) EARLY TERMINATION- The period of national service for a person under this Act shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:
(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reverse component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.
(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve
on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.
(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.
SEC. 4.
IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
(a) IN GENERAL- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) MATTER TO BE COVERED BY REGULATIONS- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:
Re-elect President Bush!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Feb 17, 2004 01:42 PM ]
posted on February 17, 2004 02:34:26 PM new
How upbeat! So, by the sounds of things, the U.S. will never NOT be at war, all because of Osama. Looks like he's accomplishing what he set out to do, and makes you wonder whos side the government is on.
posted on February 17, 2004 02:50:40 PM new
KD - The number one responsibility our government has, by law, is the protection of its citizens. And anyone who thinks binladen isn't going to continue to do something again, even worse than 9-11, has their head in the sand, imo.
That said...I'd be surprised if either of these bills passess.
Rangel's the one that started all this. He was harping for months how we have more minorities/poor in our military and I guess this is his way to make it all equal.
posted on February 17, 2004 03:16:32 PM new
" ...the U.S. will never NOT be at war, all because of Osama. Looks like he's accomplishing what he set out to do, and makes you wonder whos side the government is on."
Well, Krafty, who's done what for whom gets even more dicey, more spicy, when one recalls that Osama was on our payroll for a number of years, and that 'his' attacks on American soil in 2001 enabled Bush & Co. to go forth with not only wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but a Master Plan for The Whole Freaking World called 'the war on terrorism'.
Osama's the Oswald of the Bush administration's intention to dominate the globe.
If that's too much for you, or your gut reaction is to balk at some "POS Canadian" economist's research, try this link from mainstream American-as-apple-pie MSNBC:
The ties our own government formed with Osama bin-Laden ought to be the number one subject of an investigation of our past 'intelligence' failures. What happened with bin-Laden has happened before and will happen again, because our 'intelligence' agencies have an uncanny knack for training and arming tyrants who ultimately turn the very weapons we give them on us.
