The draft isn't a question of "if", it's a question of "when"

[LibertyorDeath]

By Patrick Resta, Specialist/E4 Interviewed by Derek Seidman
Jan 20, 2005,

The draft isn't a question of "if", it's a question of "when". We passed the "if" time frame a long time ago.

Patrick Resta, Specialist/E4, served as an Army medic in Iraq with the 30th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He was stationed in Iraq for eight months in 2004, returning home just about two months ago.

The thing that is most troubling to me about what is going on in Iraq is the public's reaction, or lack thereof, to it. It seems to me that the public is a little too accepting of whatever the media feeds them and unwilling to research things for themselves. I think the misconceptions harbored by the public about how things are going in Iraq are dangerous. By this I refer to the following ideas: that the Iraqi people want us there, that we are rebuilding the country, that we are helping the Iraqi people, that the Iraqi security forces are anywhere near capable of taking over, and the list goes on and on.

more http://www.axisoflogic.com/cgi-bin/exec/view.pl?archive=85&num=15171

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. DRAFT YOUNG REPUBLICANS!

They aren't getting my son. I didn't vote for the SOB.

The public's reaction is because of the Pravda media we have. PURE PROPAGANDA and they're too damn lazy to care about anyone outside their tiny little world. The yellow ribbon magnets seem to suffice for them. :grr:

[LibertyorDeath]

Things are not looking good

I hope Specialist Patrick Resta is wrong but I fear he is right.

"DRAFT YOUNG REPUBLICANS!" if it were only that easy :)

[FreedomAngel82]

32. To me

it's not quite that easy. A lot of republicans did vote for John Kerry this time around so you can't just draft them all without knowing who they voted for and you can't know that because they can easily lie. I do think a draft will come. Maybe not this year but it will. Bush won't publically say it will happen because he made a "promise" that it won't. To me if he does have a draft it will probably happen quietly and people won't know about it unless they watch CSPAN, come here and read about it or it happens to them and it's too late to leave. Bush knows if he does a draft he will turn a lot of people against him. I wonder what he'll do though.

[whistle]

2. The when is August 2005, the who will be all men and women....

...between 18 and 35, except those who are rich enough to avoid the draft as the rich families have been able to protect their children in the past. Fake 4F status exemptions will be become a growing cottage industry and by 2007, Bush will be able to mobilize a minimum of four major armies of 2.5 million each for wars in the middle east, Asia and Latin America with a full 2.5 million person army to keep the domestic population of the U.S. totally under control.

In 2008, elections will be suspended and Bush will be appointed dictator of The United States of America for life.

[kliljedahl]

4. That's wrong

It's 18 to 39, they raised the upper limit. Did you miss the memo?


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[whistle]

8. Yes, I must have, I stand corrected ....I suppose at 39 I might have

...survived basic training/boot camp, but only barely!

[kliljedahl]

12. Didn't get much attention on MSM

What with Terri, The Poop, Michael Jackson & all the other "important" stuff.


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[LibertyorDeath]

5. Well I'm not sure about all the specifics but I do think they will

Attack Iran & there will be a Draft. It may not be called a Draft
Rove will have his media guru's think up some shit name for it
like "Patriotic Service Initiative"

[icymist]

3. The draft needs to be presented to public as 'when' not 'if'....

"Public reaction, or lack thereof" The public is still asleep, man. It needs to be woke up. The MSM isn't going to do this. Do you know that there is now only six persons in the USA that own all media channels? No the MSN isn't going to help. I hope you don't have to return to service again. You could claim that you are gay and have the 'don;t ask, don't tell' law kick in. I hope that works in war-time for it is, uhumm. a LAW. I heard you would get an honorable discharge for this. Anyway, I don't see the beginning of the draft as more as the end of 'Don't ask, don't tell'!

[LibertyorDeath]

7. "Do you know that there is now only six persons in the USA that own all

media"

yes I know it's Orwellian here they are.


http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/chart.shtml

[Melynn]

23. Thanks for the link.........then again, maybe not.

That's scary but so true. Thank god for independent voices on the "internets" like DU.

[sportndandy]

6. Never Happen.

Unless the heads of state are prepared to deal with full-scale rebellion. A draft would push all the mods to the left. The anti-war movement would explode.

A limited draft focused on critical skills has more of a chance. Medical techs, computer techs, techie techs. Highly specific skills that would fill essential needs without pissing off the general public by a general draft. Who is going to really notice if 20,000 freshly minted medics get drafted? It is almost like drafting republicans, and the numbers are small enough to escape notice. (Hell, everything escapes the notice of the MSM...)

[LibertyorDeath]

9. I've learned after 40 years to never say "Never"

I agree this is more likely to begin with

"A limited draft focused on critical skills has more of a chance. Medical techs, computer techs, techie techs. Highly specific skills that would fill essential needs without pissing off the general public by a general draft. Who is going to really notice if 20,000 freshly minted medics get drafted?"

then they will ratchet it up.

[HeeBGBz]

10. I will, if one of them is my daughter

She got out of the air force last year as a medical tech. I suppose the Army could draft her? Even though she's in nursing school.

[AndyTiedye]

15. Can You Say BRAIN DRAIN?

> Who is going to really notice if 20,000 freshly minted medics get drafted?

Every doctor, nurse, intern, and medical student would notice.
You would see them lined up at foreign consulates for immigration papers.
Every other country in the world would be happy to take our doctors!

Same for our engineers and technicians.

They could very well be foolish enough to do it anyway.
It's not enough that they outsource our jobs,
eventually they want to enslave us.

[Desertrose]

26. eventually enslave us??

I hate to break it to you but we are, for all intents and purposes, already enslaved...to the almighty dollar and simple survival. We just haven't really woken up to that fact yet...but it will happen eventually....

[AndyTiedye]

28. Wage Slavery != Real Slavery

we are, for all intents and purposes, already enslaved...to the almighty dollar and simple survival.

That's not quite the same as being literally enslaved,
the way you are if you get drafted.

GeeDubYa** said he wanted to be a dictator.
Once you're drafted, he's got his wish.
Every move you make, every word you say, every breath you take,
is ultimately under **'s orders.

Why does a special skills draft of computer people keep coming up?
They talk about it not only for the military, but also for Homeland
Security and other government departments as well. Those are civilian
jobs that they would displace with conscripted labor (presumably at
vastly reduced wages).
Of course, the threat of bringing in draftees to replace regular workers
could then be used to extract concessions from workers anywhere in the
govermnent -- possibly government contractors as well.

#4994

[FreedomAngel82]

33. Only thing I wonder with that

is how are they going to do war with Iran and Venezuela and whoever else without an army?

[KharmaTrain]

11. Interesting Radio Discusion

Not sure which station it was, but recently I scanned across a discusion about the posibility of a draft on a local college station with a man who sounded very well-versed in the military and this particular issue.

His take is the Pentagon brass don't want a draft as it would create a ton of headaches that plagued the system in Vietnam. Not only is there the need to chase down those who don't show up for their inductions or call-ups, there's all the additional training and so on that would create an ever short-term cramp in the military as many would be pulled away from other stretech jobs to supervise all the new draftees.

Also, that draftees don't make the best soldiers. The military isn't like it was during WWII where they gave a guy a rifle and 6 weeks of basic then onto the front lines. Many of the weapon systems used require a lot training and the brass aren't too eager to turn these toys over to reluctant recruits.

His last point was the more interesting. The military is a closed-knit culture. Through the all-volunteer system, they've pretty much created a monolithic world and a draft would invade this "space"...like it did in Vietnam. Many of the draftees would be black and hispanic...those who won't easily assimilate into the "good old boy" culture of the military.

He said the military is pushing for the economy to continue to get worse...this will create a pool of people who will go into the military rather than sit unemployed. It's the reverse concept of what happened in the 90's when many career veterans opted out of the military and into the commercial world since the money was better. If this regime continues to squeeze the middle class and poor, more young men and women will take a chance on the military rather than stay in the growing crime and poverty that will occur in the poorer regions of the country.

Interesting thoughts on the subject.

[LibertyorDeath]

14. I'm sure the Pentagon brass would love to stay with a all-volunteer system

but it's not their decision they have input thats all.


Recruitment is down across the board
Retention rates are down. Stop loss is leaving many currently serving with no desire to re-enlist.

This is interesting

"He said the military is pushing for the economy to continue to get worse...this will create a pool of people who will go into the military rather than sit unemployed"

This would help them but it won't give them the numbers they need

They need hundreds of thousands more boots on the ground
They want to gain & maintain control of 60% of the Worlds Oil
They really don't give a shit what it takes this is their goal
and they will do whatever is necessary. imo

[KharmaTrain]

18. Very Valid Points

I'm not sure the Pentagon or this regime still wants to face reality as to the forces that is needed to play the world domination games they want or that they're just plain greedy and couldn't care less. I tend to believe the later.

Yep, stop loss is falling apart and recruitment numbers are down, but there's also provisions for backdoor drafts that will grab specific types of recruits without them actually being considered drafted. It'd fit this regime's MO nicely since they can never be above board on many of their scams.

The other scenario is hoping their commercial contractors make the pot so sweet that even more of the military is "privatized"...and a way the top honchos of this regime can continue to profiteer for years after they stop plundering the federal coffers.

The thought of making 100 or 150 grand tax free is pretty attractive for many. Even 50 to 75 looks good when you're stuck in debt and have mouths to feed.

I haven't heard any recent count of the number of contractors in Iraq and on the Pentagon payroll, but I know another appropriation is coming up and another 60 or more billion will go out the door. The plundering will go on.

Thanks for your thoughts...cheers

[FreedomAngel82]

34. Interesting

That makes sense on Bush's budget plan and all he was cutting. He wants to make us poor so people will join so he doesn't have to have a draft.

[MADem]

35. I've said this before, I'll say it again

If they do go to a draft, they'll dust the old draft off, and modify it. They will emphasize the SELECTIVE aspect of "selective service."

No need for a lottery, where everyone gathers around the tv waiting for your birthday to be matched with a number. Instead, they'll send everyone who has registered for the draft a form to fill out to determine individual abilities and talents (education, affiliations--like say, gun clubs--and of course, special skills, like languages or medical training). Penalty for perjury will of course, involve substantial jail time and a massive fine, and if you fail to notify them of your current address, they'll put you on a wanted list. They will cherrypick only the skillsets they need.

They won't round up everyone who could barely pass the physical like last time. because it is political suicide. A "draft lite" won't be fair at all, but it will plug the holes. Best of all from their perspective, it won't be EVERYONE. People will sit back and say, well, I'M SAFE. But if this crap keeps up, eventually they'll start reaching deeper and deeper...

[purr]

13. Any ideas on how

to get out of it? Would I as a mother of 2 soon to be 3, have back problems due to a horse riding accident be a likely candidate? I do have college degrees in computer technology, but I'm changing that to a BA in business management. I am freaked about this.. I didnt vote for him why should I have to go is how I look at it. :scared: I'm not going off to die leaving my kids behind... no way no shape no how..

Dear ol hubby voted for him (repub).. being 32.. overweight, bad back/knees I dont think he'll get drafted, but who knows.. he says theres not a chance in hell theres going to be a draft.

[LibertyorDeath]

16. Try here

http://100777.com/node/1154

"he says theres not a chance in hell theres going to be a draft."

I hope he's right but people more knowledgeable than him or me are saying otherwise.

Always err on the side of caution is what I was taught & it has served me well.

[purr]

17. I hope hes wrong as well..

I take your stand as well.. err on the side of caution. who knows whats coming to us next. I'm not the type that likes surprises.

Of course, he's the type that listens to Hannity & the local RW radio stations.

[Liberal In The West]

19. Too Bad

I pity those who voted for Kerry but for those who voted for Ze Fuhrer WALLOW IN YOUR SQUALOR!! You brought this on yourself and you will suffer the consequences, enjoy.:nuke:

[purr]

30. You saying I voted for shrub?

Nope. I didnt bring it on myself since I didnt vote for him. If you read my original post I said in there I didnt vote for him so why the negative remarks to me?

[RedCappedBandit]

20. I was not old enough to vote

this election. Yet, it still is going to have a severe impact on my life, especially if (when) the draft is enacted.
Fair?

[lostinacause]

22. Welcome to democracy... My advice is get use to it.

Even when you vote for the person who is making those decisions you still will get decisions that you did not sign up for.

[laylah]

27. As I have instructed my kids

to do, bone up on Contientious Objector conditions, if all else fails, take your "girl/boyfriend" to the recruiters office.

They will NOT get my daughters, no way, no how! :mad:

And, btw, welcome RCB :toast:

Jenn

[LynnTheDem]

21. "realized rather quickly what my life was worth to this administration and

to the American public."

"Support the troops" means letting them die for lies and lack of protective gear. Pointing out the lies & lack of gear is only done by America-haters wanting to make bush look bad.

[enid602]

24. draft

I heard that this administruction is trying to change immigration lows to offer citizenship to would-be immigrants (and their families) who volunteer for military service. This option might be attractive to desperate third worlders, and would give * an unlimited supply of willing, uncomplaining combatants for future conquests. Sort of like outsourcing the military.

[enid602]

25. draft

I heard that this administruction is trying to change immigration lows to offer citizenship to would-be immigrants (and their families) who volunteer for military service. This option might be attractive to desperate third worlders, and would give * an unlimited supply of willing, uncomplaining combatants for future conquests. Sort of like outsourcing the military.

[Disturbed]

29. Mercs

Maybe the Bush Junta will start hiring merc grunts from 3rd world nations.

[LibertyorDeath]

31. yes I think they will do that and what enid602 says also

It's going to take one hell of a lot of people to gain & keep control of 60% of the Worlds oil. imo