Kerry says: OUT OF IRAQ! NO BACKDOOR DRAFT, NO FRONTDOOR DRAFT!!

[Dems Will Win]

Q: To change topics here - there's been a real drop in re-enlistment among soldiers at Fort Carson recently.

A: And it's understandable. Because this administration is creating a hollow army again as a result of their policies in Iraq. They've basically put in place a backdoor draft. They've turned the volunteer military, and particularly the Guard and Reserve, into a backdoor draft by overextending the armed forces of the United States.

-snip-

Q: So do we need a "front-door" draft, then, to reinstate the draft?

A: No, I don't think we need a front-door draft. I don't think we need any kind of draft. I think we need a president who puts a foreign policy in place that doesn't overextend our troops, that brings other countries to the table to share the burden of what's happening in Iraq, and I believe I have a plan and the leadership skills to get America out of Iraq in a way that's honorable and responsible. . . . A change in leadership will have a profound impact on restoring America's credibility in the world.

Q: Would a change in leadership alone be enough to affect re-enlistments?

A: Well, no. You've got to have policies that are responsible so that young Americans believe that there's an administration there that isn't going to recklessly and arrogantly deploy them to places inappropriately. And I think that's critical, obviously.

You also have to make sure that you keep faith with people when they come home. This administration has cut the VA budget. They've reduced veterans' benefits. They've made it very difficult for people to feel, gee, if I go serve and I come back, I'm gonna get all the things that I'm supposed to get.

-snip-

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_2972641,00.html

Kerry, BTW, has a NO-DRAFT PLAN that doubles Special Ops and adds 40,000 active duty troops (the Congress just added 20,000 yesterday) that makes it possible to turn Iraq over to an International Force and avoid reinstating the DRAFT.

Bush is spending $28 million to reactive the draft machinery this year, reducing activation time from the current 193 days to just 75 days by March 31, 2005.

Read this doc for the hidden bombshells:
http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

[truthspeaker]

1. Yep. Kerry may not be as liberal as we like but HE SURE AS HELL AINT BUSH!

[Justice]

2. These are great answers

I like this one particularly --

"Keep faith with people when they come home" Great.

[pocket]

3. i thought he was for 'staying the course'

these are great new answers, but i don't trust that he really means them.

[Andy_Stephenson]

4. I don't trust Kerry at all.

I will vote for him...but expect nothing! Same old same old.

[pocket]

7. same here, basically

[newyawker99]

12. Hi pocket!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[pocket]

15. thanks!

n/t

[mzmolly]

24. Wher'd ya get the name "pocket" .. kinda reminds me of "blanket"

Michael Jacksons nicname for his son? ;)

[redqueen]

5. Could it be that Kerry is throwing a bone to the anti-war left?

I hope we don't hear any cries of "not good enough". If so, they should just cut to the chase and hand him a script.

:eyes:

[jpgray]

6. Kerry will never be 'good enough' in the minds of some

It helps to just realize that and move on. And you know, there is nothing I will say to claim that point of view is wrong--I can only say I don't agree with it. In my view, Kerry will always be open to legitimate attack from left or right, no matter what he does or says. For example he recently favored raising the minimum wage and made these very sensible statements on the military--these are objectively good things for progressives to see, but it isn't everything we want, and therefore one can easily focus on just how short he falls.

[redqueen]

10. I agree about the fact that it's an opinion

and one which many of us will disagree on.

I have no problem with criticism of Kerry or his plans with respect to Iraq. However, I think that some are not just criticizing his plans, but implying that it doesn't matter if Kerry or Bush wins. To me, that's ridiculous.

It's one thing to say "I don't think that's a good plan and here's why...", it's completely another to say "It doesn't matter if Kerry or Bush is elected because blah blah blah blah blah". The former is completely acceptable constructive criticism. The latter is self-destructive nonsense. At least that's how I see it, anyways. :)

[mzmolly]

16. There isn't ONE human being on this planet who has ever served in office

who wouldn't *fall short* somewhere.

I supported Wellstone in Minnesota, and even he had his regrets.

[jpgray]

17. This Minnesotan did as well - he had the Patriot Act

Kucinich has the flag amendment, his past abortion stances - I too am of the opinion that no one will be perfect, and that we should take every baby step we can so long as we can't make the big leap.

[mzmolly]

18. You are exactly right.

:hi:

[Still_Loves_John]

9. What's wrong with you people?

Don't you realize how irresponsible it would be to just pull completely out of Iraq? You can definatly argue that we should not have gone in in the first place, but now that we have created such a huge mess, we have a responsibility to help clean it up. I would lose so much respect for Kerry if he kowtowed to the virulently anti-war crowd by calling for us to completely leave Iraq. Kerry's plan may not be too popular among some people here, but he is doing the responsible thing by calling for us to fix the mess we made.

[redqueen]

11. Please

It would be irresponsible for Kerry to SAY he's going to pull out. It would not be irresponsible to do so once elected, PROVIDED that there are international forces sufficient to fill the 'power vacuum' (GAWD I hate stupid buzzwords).

To think that our military forces and OUR military forces alone can do this job is nonsense. In fact if flies in the face of reason. How well are the troops doing so far, eh? They're not trained in nation building, you know. They're trained to fight. Little surprise at the results of bush's massive bungle.

But hey, at least Halliburton and Cheney are making a killing. Pun intended.

[Still_Loves_John]

19. But..

"It would be irresponsible for Kerry to SAY he's going to pull out. It would not be irresponsible to do so once elected, PROVIDED that there are international forces sufficient to fill the 'power vacuum' (GAWD I hate stupid buzzwords)."

In a perfect world, that would be great, but how do you think that would play out? "Hey, UN, why don't you take over Iraq for us, while we pull all of our troops out. Thanks a bundle, we owe you one."

While I agree that we should try to bring in international forces, no one would agree to send their own troops while we were pulling out all of ours.

[JayS]

22. The majority of international forces would be...

...U.S. troops, just wearing different hats, so to speak. If we just walked off we could never count on having a dependable ally in that part of the world again...or maybe any ally period.

If Kerry tried to just pull out after the election, the results of the 2006 elections will make 1994 look like a smashing success.

[Sugarbleus]

13. I agree with you Tex and Second...

I HATE the idea that we've gone into Iraq. I hate the idea that so many of our dems voted for going there in the first place.

But, there we are--alone and in jeopardy. Iraq is a mess, Bush's war has stirred up a hornet's nest (as we all predicted)and some sort of plan has to be formed to get us out of there that will not come back to bite us in the ass later on.

I don't quite get what Bush's plan is on "handing over soverienty" this month........... I wonder what Kerry's position will be on this when he's in office? Do we actually need more troops in there now or do we just need outside help? Maybe Kerry will find a way to stablize the situation and then get us the hell outta there!

Unfortunately, I fear that the horse is already out of the stable. We've already made so many enemies in the radical Islamic sections that time will not soon erase the memories of. I don't see an end to terrorist/retaliatory activities any time soon. I hope Kerry is up to the challenge.

I'm elated that Kerry is not talking DRAFT. I'm raising my teenage grandson and the draft possibility is anathema to me right now. For that reason alone I will vote for Him.

I'm not anti-war. War will always be a possibility in our time. If we are attacked, we have the right, by nature, to respond. I just don't support Imperialist wars. Additionally, I dispise the idea of sending our military out to fight under Lousy leadership with Generals et al who have their heads up their asses. On the other hand, there are ways to negotiate and deal with adversaries to AVOID wars. I would much prefer taking that route first.

[nightperson]

8. I'm glad to see Kerry talking about the "stop-loss policy",

otherwise known as the "backdoor draft". It seems like a big story to me. Why so little about it, even from those (supposedly) to Kerry's "left"? Methinks demographics may have a bit to do with it, i.e. Kerry's veteran status. Why are Kerry and the Times leading the way on this story :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: ?

[mzmolly]

14. You said it baby!

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

Great to see these issue clarified so clearly from Mr. Kerry Thanks! :toast:

[Dems Will Win]

20. kick

[mzmolly]

25. Ouch!

:P :kick:

[Jose Diablo]

21. My opinion of Kerry has

just gone-up. He's not a progressive, true. However, on the deal about Iraq, he is on the mark.

[K-W]

23. Great work Kerry, now lets spread the word.

Kerry has ideas, Kerry has good ideas. Bush is a weasel who runs the country horribly and then runs to the middle for the election. He promised moderate, socially liberal policies 4 years ago, and then he ran the country as a conservative extremist.