To stop the war, start the draft.

[johncoby2]

Most American families have not felt the pain of the Iraq war. We haven't paid a single cent for the war. Most of us haven't lost a family member, and most have not felt the financial and mental hardship of sending a family member to multiple tours in Iraq.

Our Reserve forces have dwindled. Our National Guard is struggling to meet recruitment goals. Our soldiers in Iraq are worn thin many on multiple tours.

Because of this, Congress should give every single American family the opportunity to defend our country against the terrorist, serve their country with honor, and feel the pain of war, by immediately instituting the draft for all able men and women.

This draft should include absolutely no defferments. If you are in college, complete your semester, then join your fellow American Patriots to replenish our troops in Iraq and allow those who have served multiple tours to return home to their families.

With a draft and no defferments, all of the fist pumping, chest thumping, "Bring em On!", so-called "patriots" would be the first in line to call for an end to the war in Iraq.

To stop the war, start the draft.

[Oceansaway]

1. Excellent Idea !!!

[johncoby2]

34. thank you.

This is an issue that should be pressed. Of course a draft with no deferrments would NEVER pass, but the fact that the Republicnas would fight tooth and nail against it would show their true colors.

And while this is being debated the fist pumping and chest thumping by the so called patriots would stop and they would start calling for an end to the war.

[skipos]

2. While nothing makes Americans hate war more than

when they have to go and fight it themselves, I am sure republicans are well aware of this phenomenon. They wouldn't ever risk starting up the draft.

[Murdock]

3. nope..

Not going to happen, and even if it did do you honestly think that with a Republican congress and White house they'd actually have a *fair* draft?

We've already seen how dangerous Bush is with a blank check, to think he'd wield a conscript military wisely would be pure folly

[fudge stripe cookays]

23. It would be impossible to enforce if EVERYONE

who opposed the war and got called up refused to fight. They don't have that much room in the jails for that many conscientious objectors.

fsc

[shraby]

4. I disagree...once a draft is instituted, we'll

have it so far into the future you won't be able to see the end of it. Young people should be able to make their own plans for their future and not have to worry about starting college or a career and have Uncle Sam say..sorry you have to report for duty, and then plans are put on hold for 2 years or more..depending on how many they decide to draft someone for.
It's better now with no draft. When there aren't enough soldiers to fight a war, maybe they can call the war off and think twice about starting another one.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

5. While I hate this so-called war and the idea of a draft...

I do agree that there is no shared expense for it. The only ones feeling the pain of the war are the families with someone to lose. I hate that we are told we are involved in a multi-generational war and are told to go shopping and spend money. I hate that those with the most money are getting more and more tax breaks. I hate that those comapanies with a stake in Iraq (KBR, etc) are achieving more wealth. These aren't realistic actions if this is such a war. Their actions (low troop levels, poor supplies, no civilian sacrifice) tell me that they aren't serious. Why are they acting and what for?
You are correct about troop numbers. How in the hell can they sustain what they want to achieve using low troop numbers when they are recycled again and again. There's only so much a human being can take.
Those who are of age to serve and support the war should put up or shut up.

[noahmijo]

6. You know I hear this alot and all I can say is

Fuck That. Look it's a great idea in the principle of the matter; you're right an action like this would totally get the attention of the rich dumbasses out there who support the war yet know their kids will never have to join up to pay for college or make just below living wages, but at the same time I'm 24 I'm in the prime age group that would be targeted and as far as I'm concerned I refuse to be cannon fodder to prove a point just the same as I would refuse to fight Dubya's pet war.

Maybe if the draft calls for taking people over the age of 40 as well I mean it draft the 80 somethings who voted for Bush too let them go out and fight I'm serious I refuse to respect anyone who voted for Bush for any reason; that's MY future those fucking coots screwed up I will say whatever the hell I want to their goddamned withered old faces don't give a shit what generation they came from this is MY generation that they have completely fucked up and I won't stand for it not now not ever.

[johncoby2]

8. You are missing the point.....

If you start a draft there will be so many people in the street calling for the end to the war, the war will end and the draft unnessessary.

I say this because even my fist pumping sister in law has been sending out the "sign the petition" emails to stop the fictiional draft (I didnt tell her it was a hoax) Her two worthless kids would be perfect draftees.

Think about it.

[No Exit]

18. Is he really missing the point? Would YOU gamble with YOUR life

to make that point?

When we watched the election being stolen, we hoped against hope that maybe people had had enough, that maybe at long last they'd take to the streets. They didn't--at least, not enough of them did.

Furthermore, thousands have repeatedly taken to the streets to oppose this war ALREADY, and has it helped to stop the evil Bush/Cheney juggernaut? No. (But I'm still grateful to all the anti-war protesters.)

I wouldn't gamble MY life on whether or not Americans would take to the streets. In the last 3 decades, people in this country have grown far too fat and complacent to do any such thing. It's disappointing, but it's true.

And it's immoral to force people like that poster above to be the guinea pigs for this plan.

[noahmijo]

24. I'm not missing the point you're missing the point

I completely stated the argument you just repeated. I know the point is that if a draft was instated supposedly the people would rebel to the point where the war would end and nobody would have to go.

Thing is I've met middle America and I have talked to parents GROWN UPS who said they would sacrifice their sons or daughters or bush.

AGAIN THEY WOULD SACRIFICE THEIR SONS OR DAUGHTERS FOR THE IRAQ WAR IF ASKED.

Now were they were full of shit? No Doubt. When push comes to shove I doubt they would have the courage of their convictions.

But you see they would ship their kids off to Switzerland. Meantime kids like me who can't afford to do that would wind up cannon fodder to prove the point that a draft would stop the war.

Look man I know you mean well and we're on the same side here in the scheme of things, I just don't take kindly to be an experimental subject when life and death is involved especially for shit that I never supported in the first place.

Maybe what we could do is have the Army recruiters go around and ask people "Do you support this war and your president?"

If they say yes then immediately have them put on the list to be shipped out.

[understandinglife]

7. NO. Don't mess with this. The Neoconsters are cold blooded killers and ...

.... they'd like nothing more than to sweep up ever person in this country under the age of 40 who doesn't have a rich daddy or mommy and ship'um some place to get killed.

I'm 58. I was drafted. I know of what I speak. Do not mess with this.

OK.


Peace.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. Exactly. It was hell to get rid of it.

Bringing it back - even if it would even up the score, which it wouldn't - is just one more knife wound from the right's attempt to completely undo the 60's and the 30's.

[No Exit]

19. Thank you!

Thank you for telling it like it is!

[fed-up]

9. As the mother of a 17 YO son I say "bite me", better yet have a draft only

for the children of the legislators (and president) that voted for this ^%$^%$ War.

You can also include the offspring of anyone that works for the Oil companies, defense contractors, and anyone else in the military industrial complex that is making a profit off this war. Don't forget to include any toy companies that sell military toys and games.

LEAVE MY CHILD ALONE

edited to add-How old are you and do you have any draft age children or relatives???

Doesn't having my brother serve in the first Gulf War count as an exemption??

[noahmijo]

26. Thanks ma my thoughts exactly

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5409127&mesg_id=5409229
Democratic Underground - You know I hear this alot and all I can say is

If you ever need to add a foul mouthed brat to your litter you can adopt me anytime!! :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I think it is a great idea but

the Neocons are nuts. If we had some sane people in Washington, it could work. But these lunatics would run with this draft and try to conquer the world.

[DanCa]

11. Interesting idea what's the opposite of pulling out? Send em more.

I mean if were going "to support the troops," lets really support the troops. To bad it couldn't be applied only to the pro war republicans who started this mess.

[No Exit]

12. No--you would be killing innocent anti-war people

in order to try to end the war.

Like, for example, my children and my friends' children.

It's bad enough that we are already killing innocent kids who were hapless enough to volunteer.

PUBLIC OPINION IS ALREADY AGAINST THE WAR. Therefore, there's no need to rub the chickenhawks' noses in it in order to force them to change. The chickenhawks are already outnumbered, and they are fast becoming irrelevant.

Now all that's left is for us to agonize over every soldier's needless death, as the very slow ship of state turns and changes course. I wish to God this ship had more speed.

[No Exit]

14. Oh, and I'm SURE congress would be glad to institute the draft right now!

They would dearly love to be causing people to be pulled into the war against their will just as they are coming up for re-election.

If they did any such thing, people (such as myself) would finally have to start heading for Washington carrying pitchforks. While that would be a satisfying experience, I'd prefer that the damn congress just NOT do what they know is NOT moral. A draft is immoral slavery.

[bluestateguy]

15. No, won't work

Try as you might, and I know you mean well, the well-to-do will worm their way out. Write the law however you want, the rich will find ways through their money and connections to avoid serving. Worse case scenario, the rich kids will get to be officers with desk jobs stateside.

Most kids in this country are not politically conscious. A draft will not necessarily change that. So many young people are raised to obey authority, rather than question it. You put a draft in place, and a lot of those kids will just go because the government says they have to go. You can't honestly expect that a draft will suddenly result in millions of kids reading up on the finer points of the Downing Street Memo. It won't work that way. A draft only results in more poor and minority kids becoming the property of the state.

[Hamlette]

16. added advantage is the troops will not all be Kool Aid drinkers. n/t

[LeftyMom]

17. The american people are already against the war

so I'm not sure what difference this would make, except to provide new cannon fodder and prolong the agony.

[RC]

20. "To stop the war, start the draft."???

The mortar must have let go and a few of your bricks fell out of your chimney.

Start a draft and the war criminals in the white House would have an endless supply of canon fodder. There would still be no rich republican kids drafted.

My kids are draft age. I want them to die of old age in 60 to 70 years. Not by being blown to bits in a tin hummer in someone else's country.

[Fescue4u]

29. "to put out the fire, drown it with Gasolene" n/t

[No Exit]

21. Hey--whatever happened to the Commander In Chief leading his troops

into battle?

Caesar led his troops in numerous battles, and went on to rule Rome.

Napoleon led his troops in battles, and went on to rule France and beyond.

George Washington led his troops in battles, and became President.

Many kings of England led troops in battles. Richard III died on the battlefield.

HOW THE FUCK COME OUR LEADERS AREN'T OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE, INSPIRING THE TROOPS WITH THEIR GREAT LEADERSHIP?? THEY WANNA PLAY SOLDIER, OKAY, LET'S SEE THEM REALLY PLAY SOLDIER! GENERAL CHENEY! GENERAL BUSH! GENERAL RUMSFELD! GENERAL FUCKING ROVE!

[OhioChick]

22. The ONLY way

they'll get my kid is out of my cold, dead hands........

[SheilaT]

25. I have two draft age sons.

How about you? Are you of draft age? Then enlist. Do you have sons or daughters that age? Encourage them to enlist. BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE MY SONS.

I'm so sick of hearing this proposed, invariably by people who themselves will not be personally affected.

The way to end the war is. . . end the war. NOT draft and kill more young people.

[Fescue4u]

27. Yea, lets give'm kids to kill.

Lets kill some unwilling innocent kids so that everyone will see that killing innocent people is wrong.

[Fescue4u]

28. Or it would just enlarge the army for more wars

SO that now we can REALLY have a war!

Lets draft enough so that we can invade Iran and Syria to.

If we can get 4 wars started, everyone will see how bad starting wars are!

[tritsofme]

30. You're cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Why would the GOP self inflict this massive wound on itself?

If the Democrats initiated or somehow became associated with the draft, we would be out of power for decades.

[NMMNG]

31. I strongly disagree

If a draft is implemented it will primarily be the poor and minorities who are affected. The rich, privileged neocons will find dozens of ways to get deferrals so they do not have to risk their lives in Chimpy's war. Anything from "chronic health problems" to college deferrals so they can get their MBAs and run daddy's mega corporations. They will find a way. Is that what you want?

What needs to be done is to educate our young people so they realize that this war is wrong, and that the promises the military feeds them in recruiting ads are bogus. Eventually military recruiters may have nobody coming into their offices because no young people are buying their lines. Faced with twin threats of overwhelming opposition to the war and no soldiers to fight it, Chimpy may be forced to finally pull out.

[Charlie Brown]

32. May I ask if you have served? n/t

[NNN0LHI]

33. No n/t

[H2O Man]

35. "We haven't paid

a single cent for the war." I think that places you in the minority. The rest of your post, however, is thought-provoking. Misguided, in my opinion, but certainly interesting.

[DanCa]

36. But heres my thinking on this. The very notion of a draft

will have the repukes wanting to cut and run before anyone gets into combat. Its a costly gamble though i dont think it would be worth the cost on restrospect.