So here is a new one for ya

[GovermentCheese]

After I listened to Greenspan talk about the state of the economy this morning, there was another story brewing in the wind concerning two senators calling for "National Service", falling short of calling for a draft. Now here is the thing, earlier this year two Democratic Senators Charles Rangle of NY and the other escapes me, called for a reinsatement of the National Draft. This of course was quickly brushed aside. However I do believe that these two Senators today calling for some kind of "National Service" remember stopping short of calling it a draft seemed very insistant on pushing this.

Now here are my concerns.

Let me give you *Their* reasonings for "National Service" first.

Reasons stemmed from the war on terror would take 20 years and not enough people are joining the services

To: The youth of today have little respect for the freedoms that they have today.
(Here it comes)

And other reasons.

Now here is the thing. I can't be touched becaue one I am too old, and if I were not I have already given for King and Country (With little complaint). So I guess I am looking for feed back from every elegable male between the ages of 18 and 32 (or is 35, and 39 in the time of war).

SPEAK!

[GovermentCheese]

Oh I did leave out a important point. The two Senators are this time around Republican, earlier this year they were Democrats. Sounds like political rangling to me, but this could be a sign of the times to come.

[[AK]Clay]

If they institute a draft to fight in Iraq Bush is toast.

Aside from that, I like the motto "Service Guarentee's Citizenship". 'Course, I never searched and I'm now 32, so talk is cheap.

-Clay

[[AK]Squidly]

Actually one is Republican, the other is a Democrat (Charlie Rangel).

Anyway, it's a complex issue. Part of the reason for the excellence of our current military is the fact that it's a volunteer force. The level of training is greater as is the level of specialzation.

It's been so effective that many military leaders would oppose the draft for that reason alone.

Another fact is that recruitment is actually on target or even a little higher than expected right now.

But the threat of Iran going nuclear is VERY real. We cannot allow that to happen, because it would virtually guarantee a nuclear exchange between Israel and Iran. There are some very dire times ahead in the middle east. The entire region must be reshaped politically to ensure our safety.

So the draft is not necessary now - but I can certainly see a scenario where it would be.

This is a real war, people. Folks need to wake up to the very real possibility that a terrorist strike in the US is inevitable, and their goals are greater than 9-11. And they won't stop until we stop them.

The arguments regarding rich vs poor are bull and not worth discussing, IMO.

I'll be 39 in September, but I'd serve in an instant if called upon to do so.

[[AK]Hylander]

Without hearing the facts or reading about this particular situation, I know compulsory military service has been discussed several times in the past, even prior to 9/11. Many European countries have this. It is not the same thing as "The Draft" however.

[[AK]Squidly]

Here's an interesting article that will provide a little background for why I wrote what I did.

[[AK]Squidly]

Here's the other, just as grim.

So yeah, in certain circumstances, I can see a draft becoming necessary.

[GovermentCheese]

Sqiud and Hylander

Thanks for your corrections.

[GovermentCheese]

I have read Squids and Hylanders posts and the links that thye have posted, they are both informative yet do not relly cut to the point that I am trying to make here. So Now let me be CRYSTAL CLEAR in my sentiments.


I was born in 1966
I am a child of not the baby-boom era
Yet I am not one of Vietnam

But you know what
All I wanted to do when I was a kid
Was to ride submarines
I wanted "In" into the submarine service
To me this was the of the greatest heralded honors
that a man could want

I wanted this at 8 years of age

Ok so

Circa 1980

The world then knew it's place

Reagen
Helmut Kohl
The Iron Lady
Mitterand
Bhotto (Benizenir)
Terdeau (of Canada)

It seemed that the world knew it's place.

Ok

Now Circa 1990
Collapse of the soviet union
Collapse of the U.S Submarine force
Because the no longer "Soviet Threat"
That I lived under is no longer of IMPORTANCE

So now what?

For all that we fought for
Well that I was in included in the fight for
Should now be given up

Has tirrany been so "taylored for"
Where can no longer see right from wrong

All right it comes to this
I had a choice to join the militatry
and I am glad that I did
It made me the man that I am today
Yes it was a decision

Yet is not that what I (and many others)
Fought for?
So that our kids could have a chioce
and now that they do
The polilticians say

"THEY HAVE NO UNDESRTANDING OF THEIR FREEDOMS"

I thought that is what I was fighting for
when I was beeing chased by
Alfa's in the black sea


How did such things get so
convoluted so quickly
because we can not
see from all ends

Yeah, I guess it comes back to
WWI
Wars to end all wars.

Bullsh**
We are powerless to get over oursleves.

[[AK]Squidly]

I don't think I understand...

[[AK]Hylander]

Just let me re-iterate that I was just commenting on the difference between compulsary service and "The Draft".

I'm not saying I'm "for" compulsary service, but if there were circumstances that warranted it, I would support it 100% without question.

[[AK]Squidly]

I'm not in favor of "compulsory service". I think our professional military is the finest in the world and one of the reasons is that its made up of people who made the decision to be there.

If you want to get the "social benefit" of compulsory service - the idea that doing it makes you better appreciate your community and the people in it - then make it compulsory community service.

Even something as little as 1 month's accumulated time over your high school career.

[GovermentCheese]

Sqiud, that is what I am saying, That is what makes out military the greatest on the planet. I love the service that I gave, becaause I made the choice to give it. In doing so I was actaully hoping that in future days others would not be forced to have to "give" in ways that I was so willing to just go "ok", I'M.

The thing that uspsets me the most when the Words "national service" or "draft "come up again is that I thought "we" as a country learend our lesson on that issue so long ago. Now here it is rearing it's ugly head again.

See that is what I fought for, what a lot of old schoolers fought for, so our younger folkes would not have to make that type of choice. But yet once again here are world events shaping political outcomes, and who is going to have to pay for that?

[[AK]Hylander]

GC,

In my opinion, I believe it is just political banter. I do not believe any kind of compulsory service or Draft will happen. That is not to say we should take a blind eye to it when it is brought up, but I find it extremely unlikely that it will happen anytime soon unless there was an outbreak of major proportions in terms of a war and there was no other choice.

As I mentioned, I'm against compulsory service and I think the fact that our military is "volunteer" if you will is what makes our country distinct, and for most Americans makes us proud of our service people. The term sacrifice is even more appropriate when the soldiers decided to serve our country under their own influence and not that of a government.

[[AK]Squidly]

For purely political reasons, I don't think we'll see a military draft or compulsory military service until/unless the situation is dire. The folks who are talking about it now have an agenda completely unrelated to the topic.

That said - I think it's going to get DIRE in fairly short order, and not in Iraq. That's just my reading of the situation.