Why have our government leaders buried the idea of a military draft?
374215
Because imposing a draft on the citizens of the US would be political suicide for any politician who supported it. Heck, the barest mention that some obscure Pentagon report mentioned it sent thousands of people into a tizzy. Actually trying to enfore such a move would be difficult at best.
1050433
When we get so over-extended that bringing back the draft becomes a real possibility. This war or police action is a mess. I would not want my son ( he is nine) risking for a military venture that is this badly planned. I am not sure If George W.  would go to Iraq. Do they serve Jack Daniels there?
377225
If things keep going the way they are, there will be no choice but to have a draft.  Especially if our idiot president goes after Iran.  Military recruiting is at its all time lowest and with good reason.  There are barely enough people to cover where we are.  We'd never be able to occupy Iraq, Afghanistan AND Iran all at the same time.  Add to that the rumblings in Korea?  Yeah, a draft would be imminent.  And no, i would never in a million years send myself, my lover, or a child to this war or Iran.  I support our troops, but I know how miserable they are and how mad they are at the government for putting them were they shouldn't be.  My loved ones will not fight for Bushs money or his ego.  \n\nThere is a difference between fighting for freedom and whats right versus what we are doing now.  Its so sad. =(
813252
Actually, most everyone is against the draft, including the general populace, the military, the pentagon, the majority of congress, and the white house.\n\nThe idea, advocated by Rep. Rangle, is to slow Congress in going to war, by making the populace of the US as a whole have a vested interest in the soldiers. Since the draft would be random, this (in Rep. Rangle's mind) would widen the base of people concerned for the troops, thus create political pressure to not to go to war unless the US was threatened, thus slow down the Congress and the President.\n\nThe argument against the draft is advocated by the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The draft, phased out after Vietnam, was creating a host of problems. The chief one among them was the erosion of troop morale and overall fighting effectiveness. Most people who are drafted do not want to be there, and as such, are less effective than volunteers. Thus, currently, the US Armed Forces are an all volunteer force, and a highly effective one at that. The Pentagon and Joint Chiefs have no interest in instating a draft which, in their opinion, will lower the overall readiness of US Armed Forces.
1014219
Troups are disposable, the only thing that matters is that the megalomaniacs get richer\n\nIt's no coincidence that the people in power don't send their children to war, and of course dodge the draft themselves
788962
The way this draft would be set up would be for men AND women. It's not necessarily all combat jobs, especially if you claim conscientious objector status.\n\nThe likelihood of it happening are slim to none. It would be political suicide. People would riot in the streets. History has shown us that conscription is not the way.\n\nAnd history would repeat itself.
803447
Unfortunately, Bush, Rumsfeld, and Rice have so mismanaged the use of our forces and our efforts at diplomacy around the world (or lack thereof) that, even if he does not publicly advocate for a draft, if we were to go to war with Iran and/or North Korea, they would have to institute a draft in order to conduct war on two more fronts.\n\nAlso, the reason Charlie Rangle has been advocating for a draft has nothing to do with a desire for war, etc...he is simply pointing out the extreme disparities between the number of young poor people who are dying in Iraq as compared to kids of the affluent.
955877
The libs are right - he avoided the draft.  They just neglect to mention that he avoided the draft by joining the military voluntarily.  This also explains their disdain for our current troops - they are the same kind of draft dodgers.
839088
This was nothing but scare tactics on the part of the Democrats.  They feel that if they can frighten you with talk of a draft they will get more votes.\n\nAnd the really sad thing is that a draft would hurt the poor because the the upper and middle classes are actually over-represented in the military.  The idea that the military is for the poor and uneducated is nothing more than more BS from the Democrats.\n\n"Recruits from poorer families are actually underrepresented in the military"\n\n"the number of recruits from wealthier families is increasing"
782192
1)  They won't bring back the draft.\n2)  If you have to be coerced to do your duty, we don't want you anyway.
880205
A draft is sometimes a necessary evil. It seems that these days, more than at any time in the past, people have forgotten that freedom is not without cost. In order for a society such as ours to continue, sacrifice must be made. Those who came before us made such sacrifices. A sense of entitlement does not guarantee you get what you want out of life. This society depends on the efforts and sacrifices of it's citizens.\n\nI did my hitch as did many other in years past. And like many of those who did serve in past wars on foreign soil, I would gladly go again. I find it hard to understand the mindset of those who incessantly complain about the possibility that they will have to go do their part. Do you enjoy your freedom to vote? Freedom to travel from state to state without having to show papers to cross the border to another state? Enjoy being able to speak freely your opinions loudly and without fear of being whisked away in the night never to be seen again? It does not come free just because you were hatched. Someone, somewhere in the past did what was necessary to make certain you have these freedoms. \n\nPut up or shut up? Absolutely. Time to suck it up and grow a pair.
825039
I'm not so sure that it would be a benefit to our soldiers who are currently training, fighting and giving their lives for this country.  If there is a draft you would get people who don't want to be there, who don't want to be fighting for our country and that may decrease morale of the thousands of guys and gals who have volunteered to do this.  There is no shortage of enlistees right now and I think we should go with the ones who have the courage to sign up without being drafted.  I'd feel much safer for my husband knowing that the guys who are backing him up, want to be there backing him up.\n\nYes, there are people who would do great job if they were drafted.  It wouldn't be because they wanted to but because they wanted to get back home as soon as possible.\n\nEither way, we need to support what they are doing.  \n\nHate war not wars, hate fighters not the soldiers who fight!
838576
we veered off path when we stopped listening to the generals... and didn't have a plan to rebuild the nation...\n\nthat's a start...
893785
The draft is a good thing. If our country needs soldiers then damnit you should serve when called upon. ITS LOYALTY. If you don't like it, then get the hell out and move to pakistan.\n\nWomen always biiitch about being equal if not better then men. If thats so true then they should be drafted as well.
770194
You're right...if Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld could avoid service back in the day, their kids will now even with a draft.
319112
We will always keep selective service system in case of another major theater war but unless we get into another large scale maneuver war (land war with China, Europe, India) we will not institute the draft.  \n\nIf you think the American people have no political will now just wait until there is a draft!\n\nThe military has several ways to keep it's numbers up if necessary.  Inactive/ Ready/ and Retired Reserve if the military called up all of these people they could double there numbers overnight (for a short period of time)\n\nOther than that the military will do exactly what companies have to do to get employees improve pay and bonuses.
648998
Much as I appreciate the sentiment it is really not practical.\n\nWhen you put your cross on the paper (or whatever system you use) that is when you are deciding who makes the big calls - this is the essence of democracy.  The impliction is that you would need a leader and a military leader - unless the suggestion that every leader must be ex military.\n\nNotwithstanding this, I wish folks would distinguish between the politicians and the soldiers when complaining about war and how/why it is fought.\n\nPeace (hopefully) out