Do You Believe The Draft Will Start Around June 15th

[dogday]

The Selective Service System, the Bush Administration, and the Pentagon have been quietly moving to fill draft board vacancies nationwide in order to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. In preparation several million dollars have been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget. The SSS Administration must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. The Pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide. An unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld’s prediction of a “long, hard slog” in Iraq and Afghanistan (and a permanent state of war on “terrorism”) proves accurate, the U.S. may have no choice but to draft.

Congress brought twin bills, S. 89 and H.R. 163 forward in 2003, introduced by Democratic Representative Charles Rangel and Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings. Entitled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, their aim is “To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons (age 18-26) in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.”


http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/24.html

[ck4829]

1. Bolton's appointment has led me down the road of Revolution

Of course, he is not nominated yet, but I am reading up on certain things just in case.

In the case of a Draft, I will definitely speed up my training amd learning.

[livinginphotographs]

2. "furtherance of the national defense and homeland security"

Well, since the war in Iraq is neither, we should be safe then, right? :eyes:

[whistle]

3. That would be a likely date to start as the recruiting offices...

...have been ordered to stand down.

<snip>
What Happens During a Draft?
From Rod Powers,

Sequence of Events
Here is a brief overview of what would occur if the United States returned to a draft:

1. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZE A DRAFT. A crisis occurs which requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply. Congress passes and the President signs legislation which starts a draft. It should be noted that the President cannot initiate a draft on his own. Congress would first have to pass legislation (both the House and Senate), and the President would have to sign the bill into law.

2. THE LOTTERY. A lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th birthday falls during that year, followed, if needed, by those aged 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 18-year-olds and those turning 19 would probably not be drafted.

3. ALL PARTS OF SELECTIVE SERVICE ARE ACTIVATED. The Agency activates and orders its State Directors and Reserve Forces Officers to report for duty.

4. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL EVALUATION OF REGISTRANTS. Registrants with low lottery numbers are ordered to report for a physical, mental, and moral evaluation at a Military Entrance Processing Station to determine whether they are fit for military service. Once he is notified of the results of the evaluation, a registrant will be given 10 days to file a claim for exemption, postponement, or deferment. For details, see Military Enlistment Standards. It is possible that Congress could decide to lessen the standards during a draft. However, Congress would have to do so by either including the changed standards in the draft legislation, or by separate legislative action.

5. LOCAL AND APPEAL BOARDS ACTIVATED AND INDUCTION NOTICES SENT. Local and Appeal Boards will process registrant claims. Those who pass the military evaluation will receive induction orders. An inductee will have 10 days to report to a local Military Entrance Processing Station for induction.

6. FIRST DRAFTEES ARE INDUCTED. According to current plans, Selective Service must deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days from the effective date of draft legislation.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/a/draftprocess.htm

This will be followed by draft evaders fleeing the country and the privileged receiving special treatment and cushy assignments.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. No, because...

the draft board assignments are simply because draft board appointments are for a fixed term and the normal vacancies had to be filled. Happens every few years (but I don't remember how long the terms are). Nothing suspicious about that at all.

Same with the money. A few million bucks is chump change and just the usual administrative costs for bringing all those new members in.

And, the same with the June Date. The new draft boards are required by law to issue readiness statements, so no big deal.

Rangel's bill was simply a ploy to get publicity and "schock and awe" the warmongers into realizing thatthey are setting up a"poverty draft" by killing off social funding and replacing much of it with military bennies-- if you want to go to college, join the Marines.

Reinstating the draft is a simple up or down vote in Congress, but right now it's too hot for them to consider without a major crisis. If Shrub wants to invade Iran, we can't do it without a draft, but there will be hell to pay to have another war AND a draft. Even the warmongers would have a hard time running for reelection next year with that one dragging their ases around.

Edit-- The board terms are fixed at a maximum of 20 years, and the boards were full of 20 year members, thus the rush to get new ones.

[Telly Savalas]

7. Let's not let facts and reason get in the way of speculation.

Talking about things like the imminent invasion of Iran, the inevitability of a draft, and how Bush will stage a fake terrorist attack so he declare martial law and cancel the election, are much more fun than boring non-issues like Iraq and health care.

[Cleita]

5. I believe the coup will start then. n/t

[theboss]

6. I still don't think there will be a draft

No one in Congress is going to want to run in 2006 on that vote.