posted
Have you heard anything about the draft being reinstated?
My housemate's mom called this morning and told him to go home (to Germany) because of the draft. We're in California, and we just started a new quarter in school. According to her, the selective service is starting with people born in 1985, and my housemate is one of those people..
I checked the forum, my local newspaper, cnn, and the Guardian online. I got nothing. This sounds pretty serious and I can't find any information.
Posts: 1056 | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
This is a very frequent urban legend lately sent through email. Look on snopes.com (search using "the draft" or something).
I'm not saying it couldn't happen, National Guard recruitment is waaaaay down (as one might imagine), as is application to the U.S. Military Academy; but I am skeptical regarding the draft.
(I am a military spouse)
Posts: 1545 | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
The President of the United States swore to the country that "No Draft would be enacted" less than 3 months ago.
Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and every politician in power has sworn there will be no draft.
So yeah, you can expect one soon.
JUST KIDDING. The rumors of a draft are mostly started by liberal fearmongers trying to make people more immiediately concerned about the war in Iraq.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
Liberal politician who truly cares about the common person notices that proportionally more lower class, minorities, and immigrants join the military than the children of wealth and power.
These are the people dieing for a war pushed by people of wealth and power.
So if we go to a draft, one that was truly fair and impartial, then enough rich kids would be dieing that the war would be quickly cancelled.
That thinking has little to do with the realities of the military, the needs of our soldiers, or the desires of anyone other than this liberal "fairness" freak.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:On October 5, 2004, the House of Representatives voted 402 - 2 to defeat H.R. 163, the bill cited as proof that the Selective Service was preparing to reinstate a military draft. The vote made official what has been a reality since January 7, 2003, when H.R. 163 was introduced despite nearly total opposition in Congress to restoring the draft. Without Congressional support, the draft cannot be reinstated. A similar bill languishes in the Senate.
Both President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry have stated for the record that they oppose a draft. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also has opposed the draft on numerous occasions.
Since 1980, the Selective Service System has discharged its mission of preparing to manage a draft if and when Congress and the President so direct. The House action proves that the Selective Service has gotten no such direction. That being the case, the Agency will maintain its readiness as required by law, and to register young men between the ages of 18 and 25. That mission has been reaffirmed frequently by successive Administrations and by Congress under the leadership of both parties.
posted
Indeed. In the last Congress a bill reinstating the draft was brought to the floor by a bunch of Democrats in the hopes they could pin it on the Republicans. That's where part of the rumor comes from. (at least that's what I heard, on NPR, no less )
Also, if you're friends is a German citizen, could he be drafted? I don't think he could.
It doesn't look like it's going to happen. On the other hand, I have no personal stake in it. If it does happen, there's nothing I can do to stop it. I won't abandon my country by going to Canada (or something like that) just because they demand that I fight. *shrug*
posted
Meh. I don't see a draft happening anytime soon. If they do, and it starts in 1985, I wouldn't mind even more, cause I just missed the cut (84 baby yeah!)
But either way, if I were drafted I'd file concioncious (spelling) objector status. It's one thing to report for duty for your country when you are being attacked, or when an ally like France or England are under attack, it's quite another to go fight for a war I not only believe is useless, but is also harmful. But I wouldn't run to Canada either.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for all the reassurances. Do you have any idea how my housemate's (let's call him John) mother would have heard this rumor then? I've only met her once so I don't know her very well, but it seems over-the-top to call her son home. Also, I think John has dual citizenship in Germany and the US.
I am also not a 1985 baby so if that part ends up to be true I'm not too worried. Part of what John's mom said is that women would be drafted too. I am not opposed to that idea, but I don't know what I would do were I drafted.
Posts: 1056 | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
She could have read it anywhere, especially if she lives in Germany there are probably different rumors running rampant over there too. And dual German/US citizenship I think still assures he is safe, and at any rate he could leave for Germany if he was drafted.
As far as women in the Selective Service go, I say draft them, it's only fair.
Kind of a moot point either way, I don't see a draft happening anytime soon.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
)![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
