How far can we stretch our military ... in either numbers or in individual duties? George Bush's handlers had him read that, starting with Afghanistan -- a 'war' still-in-process just not being reported on ... we were facing "the first war of the 21st Century" ... there are spots in the world, like Columbia, where we have military presence and Dyncorp mercenaries ... Iraq's mission, a year later, is hardly accomplished ... a 'first war' implies many to follow ... it's only 2004 in this century ... even if this 'first war' doctrine is defeated, despite that (est.) 80% of the vote will be conducted on Diebold-type voting machines, come November ... the future of draft is still a real possibility ...
IIRC, a Bill had been introduced in Congress ... I want to say it was introduced by Sen. Hagel ... sitting there to be moved at the whim of the Party-in-control's floor leadership ... but, it's been over-shadowed by the one introduced by Congressman Rangel, mirrored in the Senate by Sen. Hollings. Congressman Rangel wants to make sure that if the draft returns, it will be not like Vietnam revisited ... it'll be eglatarian ...
Rangel: 'For those who say the poor fight better, I say give the rich a chance.'
CNN article
There are signs that things are being done to avoid bringing a Draft forward until after November ... a couple of recent examples:
- Rare Reserve Call Up
- Army May Tap Training Units for Iraq Duty
Those are the topics of the articles below:
PARAMILITARY FORCES AND RESERVES: Rare Reserve Call Up
May 24, 2004: The U.S. Armed Forces are calling to active duty the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). These are soldiers in the reserve who are not assigned to a unit (and are thus not paid), but are still serving out there remaining time (that they signed up for) in the reserves or active duty. Until their time is expired, they are liable to call up. Some are going to be called up. This is rarely done.
~snip~
Rare Reserve Call Up
Army May Tap Training Units for Iraq Duty
May 25, 2004 05:07 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - In a sign of the Iraq war's strain on the U.S. military, the Army is planning to send into combat thousands of soldiers whose normal job is to play the role of the "enemy" at training ranges in California and Louisiana, defense officials said Tuesday.
The Pentagon also is considering adding yet another National Guard brigade, the 155th Separate Armored Brigade from Mississippi, to the mix of active-duty and reserve units designated for the next rotation of ground forces into Iraq this year and in early 2005, other Army officials said.
With nearly every other major combat unit either committed to or just returned from Iraq or Afghanistan, the Army is planning to call on two battalions and one engineer company - about 2,500 soldiers - from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which serves as a professional enemy force at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The regiment last saw combat in the Vietnam War.
The Army boasts of the "tough and uncompromising standards" of the 11th Armored Cavalry, which it says makes it the premier maneuver unit in the Army and "the yardstick against which the rest of the Army measures itself."
Similarly, the 1st Battalion of the 509th Infantry, which acts as the Opfor, or opposition force, for light infantry and special operations training at Fort Polk, La., is being called to Iraq, according to two Army officials who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity.
The 509th Infantry has not seen combat since World War II, although five members of the unit served as "pathfinders," or advance scouts, during the 1991 Gulf War; two were killed and one was taken prisoner.
Both the National Training Center and Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Center will remain open, the officials said, with National Guard soldiers expected to fill in for the units going to Iraq.
~snip~
Training Units May be Called
An independent press editorial:
It's Spring. Can You Feel the Draft, Yet? - A BuzzFlash Editorial
BuzzFlash
Reply to Topic
