UPDATED: A Return To The Military Draft Is Worth Considering — How many more Americans have to die because the Supreme Court elected Bush????
Posted by Catherine Morgan on August 10, 2007
image from Altermedia News
This is what I heard on the news today…
Bush’s War Adviser Says a Return To The Military Draft Is Worth Considering
WASHINGTON: Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President George W. Bush’s new war adviser said Friday. – read full article
This is what I have been afraid of since the very start of this war. As a mother the possibility that my son (16) could be drafted (when I didn’t even let him play with water guns as a child), is both frightening and appalling to me. For years, all we have heard is “no draft needed”. Well the trouble with words is that they don’t mean *shit*, even when they are coming out of the mouth of our wonderful President (disrespect intended). The truth is, if a decision is made to draft our children, our children will be drafted, and killed, PERIOD.
If it was up to me…They would gather Bush, his advisers, and anyone in our government that supports this war (republican or democrat), and air drop them out of a military plane into the middle of Iraq, and leave them there until this war is over.
My anger over this is not even measurable.
How many Americans have to die just because the Supreme Court decided to elect Bush????? Really, I want to know.
UPDATED:
Tony Blankley
Hard Ball
Keith Olberman
Democracy Now
WHAT OTHER BLOGGERS ARE SAYING:
Yankee CowGirl — Women Drafted?
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criminyjicket said
I agree with most of what you say. I disagree with the supreme court elected Bush. All data post election shows that he would’ve won Florida. The supreme court merely curtailed an eillegal practice. We, the voters, in our never ending quest for absolute stupidity re-elected Bush, and then when our self loathing wasn’t satisfied RE-Elected him. Society needs to own the fact that George Bush is who the majority wanted, and blaming the court let’s the ignorant electorate off the hook.
Morra said
Catherine-
Do you believe that even creating a draft will fail to wake the American people, our Congress, and even Bush to the failure of Iraq?
I don’t. I think a draft will get us out right quick. But again, I don’t have any children. I’m so sorry we even have to think this way.
Morra
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Morra -
I wish I thought a draft would get us out, but I don’t believe it will. I hope I’m wrong, but this is what I think…
Most Republicans believe we (the U.S.) should have a “mandatory military”, and that is what they will call this new “draft”.
Our government has mastered the art of calling something bad for our children something good. (ie: No Child Left Behind – If it was called “Decrease Funding To The Schools and Children That Need It Most”, this would be unpopular…But, slap a name on it that if you appose it you sound like you are against the children, and now you have a successful policy.) If you ask most people (especially republicans) should the U.S. have a mandatory military? They will say something like, “Why shouldn’t everyone have to share in the protection of our country?” – Hard to argue with, right?
Even if they do use the word draft, it will only be done after we have been sufficiently “scared” with reports and/or actual terrorists attacks to our country. We are only in Iraq because of the “threat” of them coming to “us”, or “fear”. Fear trumps draft.
Did you notice the same day this report came out “yesterday”, that most talk on the national news is about a “possible” threat to U.S. cities, very little on the talk of a draft? Even the threat of a “radioactive” truck (since we all already know that is code for “dirty-bomb” they don’t even need to say it), they can “sugar-coat” a threat now and look like they are trying not to scare the American people. But, what they are doing is still scaring the American people, right? It’s like a choreographed dance to “fear based politics”, or at least the continued use of “fear based politics”.
So, to answer your question. I think by the time a draft is an actual reality (and it seems obvious now that it will be), we (the country) will all be sufficiently terrified to not fight it…And the few that do protest, will just be held-up as “unpatriotic”.
Let me just say again…As a mother, I hope and pray that I am wrong about this.
Andy said
His adviser may be suggesting this, but Bush isn’t likely to support it. Part of his defense of remaining there is that we are using an all volunteer army. When the country has to start forcing people to go, he knows that public opinion will completely crumble.
It will be discussed, but I doubt it’s happening.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Andy. I hope you are right. But, it seems to me Bush doesn’t really care much about public opinion.
Paul said
Exactly. Public opinion means nothing to this administration. (It doesn’t appear to mean much to Congress either.)
fitnessfortheoccasion said
Public opinion would mean something with a draft. As much as I oppose it (and I fully oppose it), a draft would galvanize the public against Bush and the war. We’d have no choice but to fight it.
He wouldn’t risk losing just public opinion. He’d risk his office.
Catherine Morgan said
I have to disagree, it’s too late to impeach him. Even so…What are we going to do have Cheney be our president? I also don’t think people (at least enough to make a difference) will be “galvanized” against it, most people see themselves as powerless when it comes to the government.
fitnessfortheoccasion said
It isn’t too late to begin impeachment hearings for both of them. As Kucinich has offered, let’s start with Cheney.
I think a draft would make such a brute necessity of participation that the illusion of powerlessness would have less hold over many people.
Catherine Morgan said
Well, for what it’s worth…I hope you are right and I am wrong.