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Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

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from: Bonnie Goldstein

Posted Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, at 2:42 PM ET

The hugely unpopular draft was discontinued in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War, and today the Army recruits soldiers for its all-volunteer force—10,000 in July, with a goal of 80,000 new soldiers this year—with offers ranging from a chance to win an iPod to a $20,000 bonus to sign-ups who can start basic training before October. But incentives might not be enough to supply soldiers for the increasingly unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last week, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute—President Bush's "war czar"—told NPR that the draft has "always been an option on the table" and that it "makes sense to certainly consider it."

Re-implementing the draft would be the job of Selective Service System, which already aggressively enforces registration by all young men between 18 and 25. With no current risk of being called up and the relative ease of adding one's name to the roles, compliance is high, but newly eligible teenagers, lax in follow-through skills, are gently reminded that "[r]efusal to register is a federal crime" punishable by a fine of $250,000 and "up to 5 years imprisonment." The form letter (below) from SSS director William Chatfield persuasively tells one 18-year old, "our objective is to register you, not to have you prosecuted."

It may be of some comfort to the recipients of such correspondence and their parents, many of whom themselves were wary of the draft during the 1960s and early 1970s, that if the draft is reinstated, it will be "more fair and equitable" than it was during most of the Vietnam War. "There would be fewer reasons to excuse a man from service."

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hot document
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from: Bonnie Goldstein

Posted Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, at 2:42 PM ET
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Bonnie Goldstein is a former special investigator to the U.S. Senate and investigative producer for ABC News.
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Remarks from the Fray:

As a proud veteran and a female, yes, I believe that the draft needs to be re-started. However, it must not be the draft of the Vietnam Era. There should be no way to avoid the call up of the draft. Your family name, family status or bank account level should not in any way be a factor in the decision to draft an individual. In addition, the draft needs to be changed to include the females.

In the alternative, perhaps the United States needs to consider mandatory service. Several other countries make four years of service mandatory, for male and female alike.

Is that so much to require from every citizen who enjoys the freedoms that the military ensures? The military is a fantastic opportunity for the members of our younger generation to receive training, discipline and many other needed life lessons that are lacking in them today.

--ProudVet

(To reply, click here.)

Anyone who has followed the Gulf wars and the war in Afghanistan knows that our military is stretched too thin. In addition we are having to use the National Guard to fight wars, something that was only viewed as a last resort in the past. Given the current situation in the world we need a much larger military and the only fair way to build it is with a draft that is evenly applied. Our current professional military does a fine job. However, it needs a break. Too many redeployments too close together totally destroy their family lives and put an unfair burden on their capable shoulders. If we were honest and were willing to put politics aside we would come to the conclusion that a draft would enable us to rebuild our fighting forces at a much lower cost than would otherwise be the case. What is wrong in asking our young men and women to give something back to the country they live in? I joined and served proudly many years ago and I suggest others do so as well.

--dreamworld

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If we had a draft, or at least a serious possibility there would be a draft, then the country would pay more attention to the stupid things the government does. People should be outraged at the things this government does in its' name, but for the most part the populace is opiated by fast food, electronic gadgets, and a flood of entertainment. If there was a draft, there would be resistance, and that would lead to increased scrutiny of the government. If a draft was on the table, there would be protests and higher voter participation and maybe even accountability. Well, two out of three wouldn't be bad.

--kgsbca

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(8/14)

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