On Friday, President Bush’s top military adviser on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, shocked members of America’s political, business and cultural elite when he said the following in an interview with the National Public Radio program All Things Considered:the Draft has always been an option on the table and that it makes sense to certainly consider it.
Indeed, it is a reflection of their cloistered presumptuousness that so many of them were shocked, if not outraged, by the mere suggestion of a Draft. After all, there have been almost daily news reports in recent months about the Army dumbing down mental and physical requirements, raising the enlistment age to 42 (phew…) and offering signing bonuses of $20,000 – all in a desperate, though alas, futile effort to meet recruitment goals.
(Incidentally, this cash inducement is especially ironic considering that Bush cited the fact that Saddam Hussein was offering similar signing bonuses to poor Palestinians – who were prepared to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Palestinian statehood – as one of his reasons for attacking Iraq.)
Meanwhile, anyone who thinks Lute raised the specter of the Draft in this very public forum without Bush’s approval is naïve. Because here’s why he did it, and why White House attempts to deny any association with his statement are so implausible:
The repeated deployments affect not only the troops but their families, who can influence whether a service member decides to stay in the military. And ultimately, the health of the all- volunteer force is going to rest on those sorts of personal family decisions.
After all, it was painfully clear from day one that poor Americans were bearing the unfair, unjust and unequal burdens of these wars. And it was conscientious objection to this fact that compelled some of us to sound clarion calls for the Draft years ago. In fact, I reiterated the political, military and moral justification for Lute’s remarks as recently as 14 March of this year – in an article entitled Support the draft to prevent stupid wars!
But, given the seriousness of this debate, I urge you to read this article again, or for the first time, by clicking here. Because, after doing so, I hope that you’ll be as convinced as I am that no candidate should be elected US president next year unless he or she pledges to reinstate the Draft – regardless of politically-correct and patently-unsustainable plans to withdraw or redeploy the troops.
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Why the Draft is a Bad Idea
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the Draft
Rick says
I say no to a compulsory draft although I have no say in the US.
Isn’t that just another form of slavery Anthony?
ALH ipinions says
On the contrary Rick, it constitutes de facto indentured servitude when poor Americans are lured into military service “to protect the freedoms (rich) Americans enjoy” so disproportionately. Whereas, the draft would ensure that the all Americans, regardless of wealth or race, have an equal opportunity (to be called upon) to share this noble burden.
Moreover, don’t you agree that Bush and his neo-con advisors would never have orchestrated the march of folly into Iraq if their kids were among those being “ALL [they] could be in the US Army”? (I invite you to read my article “Support the Draft to prevent stupid wars” for further edification in this respect.)
ALH ipinions says
p.s. I don’t think Sen. John Kerry or anyone who was drafted to serve in Vietnam felt like a slave. Instead, most draftees became disillusioned once they realised that no one knew what the hell they were fighting for in Vietnam. Sadly, in this sense, history is repeating itself today in Iraq.
Scott Kohlhaas says
Luckily over 70% of America disagrees with the draft!
Would you be willing to spread the word about http://www.draftresistance.org? It’s a site dedicated to shattering the myths surrounding the selective slavery system and building mass civil disobedience to stop the draft before it starts!
Our banner on a website, printing and posting the anti-draft flyer or just telling friends would help.
Thanks!
Scott Kohlhaas
PS. When it comes to conscription, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!