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----==Recommendations==
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"The Army's refusal to release tens of thousands of soldiers who have completed their terms of service amounts to drafting them on the very day they fulfill their obligations. These men and women have already risked their lives. They should not have to risk them a second time through involuntary service, through being forced to stay in Iraq. This is a draft. A draft forces people to serve involuntarily." --[[Dennis Kucinich]], [http://www.denniskucinich.us/article.php?story=20031231172324235 31 December 2003] == Related SourceWatch Resources ==
*[http://causenet.commoncause.org/afr/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.163&congress=108&size=full Universal National Service Act of 2003], introduced to the 108th Congress on 7 January 2003 as H.R.163 to [http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5252.htm reinstate the draft] Websites===
tidy, update
'''[[The Draft]]''': "A military draft is the practice of a government forcibly conscripting members of the population into the armed forces."[http://solohq.com/Objectivism101/Bloody_MilitaryDraft.shtml]
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=="Locked on Course to Wider War"==Paul Craig Roberts wrote for ''antiwar.com'' on April 22, 2004, that we're [http://www.antiwar.com/roberts/?articleid=2365 "Locked wrote] April 22, 2004, for ''antiwar.com'' that the U.S. is locked on Course course to Wider War."] a wider war: "The American public," he says, "has been deceived and locked on a course toward conscription and a wider war."
Roberts pointed directly at senior Republican Nebraska Senator [[Chuck Hagel]] who said on April 20, 2004, that "deteriorating security in Iraq may force the United States to reintroduce the military draft." [http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040420154719.soi8dhtt.html]
Hagel told "a [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee ]] [that] 'There's not an American ... that doesn't understand what we are engaged in today and what the prospects are for the future ... [Adding, if] that's the case, why shouldn't we ask all of our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?' Hagel said, arguing that restoring compulsory military service would force 'our citizens to understand the intensity and depth of challenges we face.'" [http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040420154719.soi8dhtt.html]
Hagel added "that a draft, which was ended in the early 1970s, would spread the burden of military service in Iraq more equitably among various social strata. ... 'Those who are serving today and dying today are the middle class and lower middle class,' he observed."
Drafted soldiers are far more likely to die in combat than long-service professionals. Military leaders know from painful experience that it takes years to produce a fully competent combat soldier. They also know that older soldiers live longer in combat. Drafting teenagers and committing them to combat within only a year of enlistment will create an Army of amateurs. Our Army in particular has a sad history of committing to battle men who are too young and inexperienced to have much hope of surviving against a hardened and skillful enemy.
Drafted units can be kept together for only a short time and invariably march to war as random collections of strangers. Our soldiers performed so superbly in Iraq because they were seasoned. Good soldiers, like good wine, can be produced only with careful cultivation and patient aging. Unfortunately, amateur armies learn to fight only by fighting. Inevitably, the cost of that education is too horrific for the American people to bear. </blockquote>[http://www.time.com/time/personoftheyear/2003/poyforum.html]</blockquote>
Because of Sen. Kerry's (D-MA) recurring claims that a draft under President Bush was imminent--based on a bill introduced by two Democrats--the House voted on that bill, defeating it 402-2. Democrats, such as Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), who voted against the Iraq War, "criticized this week's draft-killing vote as a Republican effort to manipulate public opinion in favor of President Bush just weeks before voters head to the polls." [http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/Stories/0,1413,91~3089~2460561,00.html]
The May 3, 2004, [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1083535813785&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724 ''Toronto Star''] reported that [[Lewis Brodsky]], acting director of the U.S. Selective Service System, "proposed registering women for the military draft and requiring that young Americans regularly inform the government about whether they have training in niche specialties needed in the armed services.
Also see Eric Rosenberg's May 1, 2004, [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/171522_draft01.html "Selective Service eyes women's draft. The proposal would also require registration of critical skills,"] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''.
Writing on March 31, 2003, the Federal Citizen Information's National Contact Center stated: "Although there is currently no military draft, men who are American citizens (regardless of country of residence) or aliens who are permanent residents of the United States are required to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Within the U.S., registration forms should be available at any Post Office. On-line registration is also available. To find out more about registration and related issues, you may visit the [[Selective Service System]]'s web site." [http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/draft.htm accessed 8 December 2003].
== Refusal to Discharge Is an Involuntary Draft ==
"The Army's refusal to release tens of thousands of soldiers who have completed their terms of service amounts to drafting them on the very day they fulfill their obligations. These men and women have already risked their lives. They should not have to risk them a second time through involuntary service, through being forced to stay in Iraq. This is a draft. A draft forces people to serve involuntarily."—[[Dennis Kucinich]], [http://www.denniskucinich.us/article.php?story=20031231172324235 December 31, 2003].
*[[Coalition Provisional Authority]]
*[[Conscientious Objector]]
*[[Iraq Coalition Casualty Statistics]]
*[[Military-industrial complex]]
*[[Operation Iraqi Freedom: Year Four]]
*[[Operation Iraqi Freedom II]]
*[[Post-war Iraq/U.S. military readiness]]
*[[Selective Service System]]
*[[The Long War]]
*[[U.S. Central Command]]
*[[War on terrorism]]
== External Links ==
===Legislation===
*[http://causenet.commoncause.org/afr/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.163&congress=108&size=full Universal National Service Act of 2003], introduced to the 108th Congress on January 7, 2003, as H.R.163 to [http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5252.htm reinstate the draft].
*[http://www.comdsd.org/ Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft] web site.
*[http://www.draftresistance.org/index.php draftresistance.org] web site.
===Articles & Commentary===
====2001====*[http://www.s-t.com/daily/09-01/09-20-01/a02wn008.htm 20 September 2001]: "White House rules out new military draft in anti-terror campaign", AP] Associated Press, September 20, 2001.*[http:====2002====*Rep. [[Ron Paul]], [http://www.counterpunch.org/paul0520.html 20 May 2002]: "Say No to Conscription," by Rep. [[Ron Paul]], ''] ''CounterPunch'', May 20, 2002. ====2003====*[http://www.talkleft.com/archives/001773.html 1 January 2003]: "Opposing "Opposing Rangel's Military Draft Proposal", ] ''talkleft'', January 1, 2003.*[http://hollings.senate.gov/~hollings/press/2003108C06.html 8 January 2003]: "Hollings Sponsors Bill to Reinstate Military Draft. Senator cites current heavy use of reserves and national guard, need for shared sacrifice," ] from the Office of U.S. Senator [[Ernest F. Hollings]] (R-SC), January 8, 2003.*James S. Robbins, [http://www.nationalreview.com/robbins/robbins010903.asp 9 January 2003]: ""Neo-Conscription. Military by lottery," by James S. Robbins, ] ''National ReviewOnline'', January 9, 2003.*Sen. [[Chuck Grassley]], [http://grassley.senate.gov/won/2003/won02-01-10.htm 10 January 2003]: "The "The Word On: Military Draft," by U.S. Senator [[] from the Office of Chuck Grassley]], January 10, 2003.*Joel Miller, [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30576 21 January 2003]: "Rangling the draft," by Joel Miller, ] ''[[WorldNetDaily]]'', January 21, 2003.*[http://www.senate.gov/~hollings/press/2003124C22.html 24 January 2003]: "Hollings and Rangel to Launch Bicameral Effort to Reinstate Military Draft," ] (U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings and U.S. Representative [[Charles B. Rangel]] (D-NY)); from the Online Office of Fritz Hollings., January 24, 2003.*[http://www.senate.gov/~hollings/press/2003127851.html 27 January 2003]: "Hollings, Rangel Launch. Bi-Cameral Effort to Reinstate Draft. Both cite need for shared sacrifice, current heavy use of reserves and national guard", ] from the Online Office of Fritz Hollings, January 27, 2003.*[http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-01-31-powell-opposes-draft_x.htm 31 January 2003]: "Secretary of State ([[Colin L. Powell]]) opposes military draft," ] ''USATodayUSA TODAY'', January 31, 2003.*Carl Hulse, [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0209-04.htm 9 February 2003]: "A New Tactic Against War: Renew Talk About Draft," by Carl Hulse, ] ''New York Times''(''Common Dreams''), February 9, 2003.*Doug Gavel, [http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2003/02.13/10-draft.html 13 February 2003]: ""Rangel argues for military draft at Kennedy School appearance: Congressman says Americans 'must think seriously' about 'who will be doing the fighting and who will be doing the dying'," by Doug Gavel, ] ''Harvard Gazette'', February 13, 2003.*Nicoletta Ratto, [http://pioneer.csuhayward.edu/PioneerWeb/PioneerNews2-20-03/PioneerNews2-20-03-page1.pdf 20 February 2003]: "Military Draft Question Just Won't Go Away," by Nicoletta Ratto', ] ''Pioneer News'', February 20, 2003: "The contemporary military requires a high level of technical skill that cannot be met by short-term personnel." (Also see [[Bush's Rangers]] for context on ''Pioneers''.)*Rep. [[Phil English]], [http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa03_english/Opposedraft0303.html 12 March 2003]: U"Opposes Military Draft.S. Representative [[Phil English]] "Opposes Military Draft. Conscription Unnecessary, Conscription Unnecessary, Threatens Military's Readiness,"] from the Office of Phil English, March 12, 2003."*Jon Dougherty, [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33754 21 July 2003]: "Medical workers face military draft. Pentagon plan calls up medics, nurses, doctors in national emergencies," by Jon Dougherty, ] ''WorldNetDaily'', July 21, 2003.*Carter M. Yang, [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/WTC_draft010918.html 18 September 2003]: "Over There? Military Draft Unlikely for 'War' On Terrorism," by Carter M. Yang] ABCNews, September 18, ''ABCNews''2003.*Doug Bandow, [http://www.cato.org/dailys/10-21-02.html 21 October 2003]: "Draft Would Cast a Chill Over the Military," by Doug Bandow, ] [[Cato Institute]], October 21, 2003.*[http://www.senate.gov/~hollings/opinion/2003A23C41.html 22 October 2003]: "Feeling a Draft? Military can't meet obligations without one," ] from the Online Office of Fritz Hollings, published in the ''Dallas Morning News'', October 22, 2003.*Rick Jahnkow, [http://www.comdsd.org/article_archive/draft.htm November/December 2003]: "Will a Draft Be on the Government's Agenda in 2004?" by Rick Jahnkow, '] ''Draft NOtices'', November/December 2003.*Dave Lindorff, [http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/11/03/draft/index_np.html 4 November 2003]: "Oiling up the draft machine? The Pentagon is quietly moving to fill draft board vacancies nationwide. While officials say there's no cause to worry, some experts aren't so sure," by Dave Lindorff, ] ''Salon.com'', November 4, 2003. Preview or subscription required.*Tim Harper, [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1105-01.htm 4 November 2003]: "Will U.S. Bring Back the Draft? Defense Web Site Seeks Volunteers. Conscription Abolished in '73," by Tim Harper, ] ''Toronto Star''(''Common Dreams''), November 4, 2003.*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3242923.stm 5 November 2003]: "US raises spectre of conscription. The American defence department has begun a recruitment drive for local draft boards, raising questions about a possible revival of conscription," ''] BBC/UK'', November 4, 2003.*Charles Pope, [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1108-05.htm 8 November 2003]: "Talk of a Draft Grows Despite Denials by White House," by Charles Pope, ] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''.*(''Common Dreams''), November 8, 2003.*Charles Pope, [http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/2003/11/10/news/nation/7218918.htm 9 November 2003]: "Talk of military draft heats up. Idea slowly gains steam as questions persist about Iraq operations," by Charles Pope, ] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''.(''The State''), November 9, 2003.*[http://www.propagandamatrix.com/121103wolfowitzdraft.html 11 November 2003"We need this and we are going to get it."]: [[Paul Dundes Wolfowitz]] "on Reinstating Draft": "We need this and we are going to get it," , ''propagandamatrix'', November 9, 2003. [http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a708.htm Frequently quoted online].*Maureen Farrell, [http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/03/11/far03001.html 11 November 2003]: "Would a Second Bush Term Mean a Return to Conscription? Why Dodging the Draft Would Be Trickier Than You Think ," by Maureen Farrell, ] ''Buzzflash'', November 11, 2003.*[http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr112103.htm 21 November 2003]: Before the House of Representatives, November 21, 2003]: Hon. Ron Paul of Texas: "...plans are being made to drastically expand the human cost by forcing '''conscription''' on the young men (and maybe women) who have no ax to grind with the Iraqi people and want no part of this fight. ... '''the draft''' will likely be reinstated."*Sabrina Kippur, [http://www.uwire.com/content/topnews112603002.html 26 November 2003]: "Military considers reinstating conscription," by Sabrina Kippur, ] ''The Stanford Daily'' ([[Stanford University]])., November 26, 2003.*Marianne Means, [http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1204-06.htm 4 December 2003]: "Hint of Draft Blowing in the Wind," by Marianne Means, ] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''(''Common Dreams''), December 4, 2003. ====2004====*Mitch Mosvick, [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4760088/ 16 April 2004]: "Draft Me Not. At the University of Minnesota, the D word is slipping into anxious conversations about Iraq," by Mitch Mosvick, ] ''Newsweek'', April 16, 2004.*Eric Schmitt, [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/international/middleeast/24GENE.html 24 April 2004]: "General Says He May Ask for More Troops," by Eric Schmitt, ] ''New York Times'', April 24, 2004. ====2006====*Rhonda Schwartz, [http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/08/is_the_next_ste.html "Is the Next Step a Draft?"] ''The Blotter''/ABC News, August 22, 2006. [[category:war in Iraq]]
