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| Talk of Reinstating the Draft in US Senate | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 21 2004, 08:47 AM (912 Views) | |
| doctortobe | Apr 21 2004, 08:56 PM Post #16 |
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Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
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Actually, I believe it was for 2 years. I never was a fan of forced service. I kind of think of it as a kind of patriotic rape. Service to your country is a thing to be proud of. If you have it forced on you when you don't want it, it can be terrible. The draft was bad enough, the blanket conscription by Kerry is downright totalitarian. You gotta wonder though Bill. If Kerry put that plan into effect, wouldn't the nation's fat problem go away? Diabetes would plumet along with heart disease and obesity. People would have a lot more self confidence. A big plus for Republicans would be the fact that not only would the conservative indoctrination of the Army pump out more... well, conservatives, but the fact that a liberal instituted the program will probably turn off a number of liberals. However, being forced to go in the military is one of the reasons why my biological family left the Soviet Union in the first place. |
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| 24thcenstfan | Apr 21 2004, 09:06 PM Post #17 |
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
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I read that a couple of months ago, and it disturbed me deeply (it smacked of extremism). I think national service should always be voluntary...and only mandatory if you enter a national service/college tuition exchange program. Kerry originally didn't give you that option. As you mention, it was a straight forward mandatory 2 years of national service.
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| doctortobe | Apr 21 2004, 09:23 PM Post #18 |
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Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
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I'm trying to remember which Soviet premier started the forced service in the Soviet Union. Who was it?![]() Oh, yeah. Well, at least Kerry is styling himself after a man that can sport a mean mustache. |
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| 24thcenstfan | Apr 21 2004, 09:28 PM Post #19 |
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
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Kerry wasn't referring to military service...but national service (AmeriCorps type programs). Which are excellent programs...it just shouldn't be mandatory to participate in them (those like them). |
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| Admiralbill_gomec | Apr 21 2004, 09:44 PM Post #20 |
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UberAdmiral
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Not necessarily. I know people who served for years, but once they got out of the military "lifestyle" they went to seed. I had a shipmate named Steve. He left the Navy in '96, having gotten his 20 years in. I ran into him a year later while shopping. It looked like HE was carrying the baby, not his wife Carla. The military does tend to create more conservatives, but I look back at all the social experimentation the Clintons tried to do to all four branches. "It ain't necessarily so!" |
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| doctortobe | Apr 21 2004, 09:47 PM Post #21 |
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Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
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But they'll have the self-esteem, you HAVE to give me the self-esteem. |
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| somerled | Apr 21 2004, 11:50 PM Post #22 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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I heard about this through a current affairs program a few nights ago (7:30 Report ?) on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) which was discussing the deteriorating situation in Iraq, they were interviewing some 4 star general in the Pentagon at the time and he was very evasive when he was asked about plans to reintroduce the draft. I had the impression that if Bush Jr is reelected it's good bet next year. Which means it's a good bet here in Australia too next year if Howard's cronnies are reelected too. This is disturbing and sounds like Viet Nam all over again. |
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| Admiralbill_gomec | Apr 22 2004, 12:10 AM Post #23 |
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UberAdmiral
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Your impressions don't mesh well with previously-established FACT... as usual. |
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| somerled | Apr 22 2004, 01:43 AM Post #24 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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So Bill, polish up your crystal ball and tell us all what you see in it then. What FACTS are you referring to ? I think they were following up on the following Senator says US may need compulsory service to boost Iraq force (20 April 2004) We all know the draft is involuntary active military service. The Bush Jr administration would never admit to plans to reintroduce the draft with an election coming at the end of the year as such an admission would be nothing less than electoral suicide. However, once reelected , it's a different story as you'd be stuck with them for another 4 years. |
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| Admiralbill_gomec | Apr 22 2004, 07:37 AM Post #25 |
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UberAdmiral
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No Einstein, the FACTS are that recruitment goals are being met (actually, those are being exceeded) and that re-enlistment goals are being met. There is no need for a draft. Take your opinions somewhere else and come back when you have fact. As has been said in this thread, the draft is discussed in EVERY Congress. Just because it is being brought up again (originally by a New York congressman) does NOT mean it will happen. So, nice try. |
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| doctortobe | Apr 22 2004, 08:42 AM Post #26 |
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Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
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Actually, as a cadet the concept of more enlisted people should be appealing. There are so many Lieutenants coming out of the various academies and ROTC programs, that they are separated into 3 equal categories. Only the top third will have a 100% chance of making it to active duty. The middle third might make it, but may also be assigned to various guard positions. The bottom third are almost assured of a reserve position and that all their training will probably go to waste unless they are activated. However, I would not support a draft even if it meant giving more of my peers a chance at an active position. |
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| Admiralbill_gomec | Apr 22 2004, 08:55 AM Post #27 |
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UberAdmiral
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Would you, as say a newly-minted 2nd Lt, want to command a company of conscripts who don't want to be there in the first place? I know I wouldn't. You mentioned the former Soviet Union earlier. They do have conscription, and their military (army especially) has terrible morale problems. Israel is different because they are surrounded by enemies. If Israel did away with conscription, they would have no problem meeting recruitment goals. Whatever you wind up doing after commissioning (whether active, guard, or reserves), the point is that you did it to serve your country, not just to get trained and waste your time. Military service is ALWAYS honorable, whether you are a deck sweeper or a fleet admiral. |
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| doctortobe | Apr 22 2004, 09:17 AM Post #28 |
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Speak softly, and carry a 57 megaton stick!
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Yes Bill, but from the standpoint of those wanting to make a career out of the military, being told to go home except for one weekend a month is pretty disappointing. Honor and duty aside, this means that they are going to have to find a civilian career because Guard and Reserve pay is just not enough to put food on the table. We're all young and eager to devote our lives to the military life. Even though some of us won't stay the full 20 years, we still actually want to be full time soldiers. |
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| somerled | Apr 22 2004, 09:23 AM Post #29 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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Bill - despite your views (you are entitled to them) - and I hope you are right - it has not been completely discounted as a total non-starter (and never to be even concidered) by Bush Jr or his executive has it ? |
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| Admiralbill_gomec | Apr 22 2004, 09:49 AM Post #30 |
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UberAdmiral
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It has not even been DISCUSSED by the Bush Administration. Congress is a completely different branch of the government. Now go away. |
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