How long can the US fight terrorism without a draft?

kittcat · #1 Postby **kittcat** » Mon May 31, 2004 9:48 am

I feel pretty strongly that if Bush wins, talk of a draft will be the main topic after Bush is reelected and sworn in. No talk now. That would be political suicide. But how long can these same troops be rotated around and sent to these foreign countries to fight terrorism? This war is being fought by the sons and daughters of American's heartland. I read where only one child of a senator is enlisted. Most of these kids went in the military to escape an environment where they felt trapped or as a means to get the funds for the education they had no other means to obtain.

I am 47 years old and I can't imagine my kid's generation being drafted into the military. These kids are generally a spoiled lot, not like the WWII generation where most grew up in the depression and had nothing. Can you imagine these kids being rounded up out of their ivy league schools, sent to bootcamp and then shipped over to Iraq? It's almost laughable.

#2 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 31, 2004 10:00 am

Here is my take on this... from a 20 year old who would probably be drafted...

I think that the draft would be a bad thing because of some of the reasons you mentioned, even though I believe that you overgeneralized MY generation. I don't think I am spoiled, nor have I been to an Ivy League school, but I digress...

I would think that a war on terror would be best fought with soldiers who are willing to fight, rather than those forced to fight. In addition, the number of so-called "traitors" would increase... could you imagine AL Qaeda recruiting 20 year olds to infiltrate our army? That would be something. That is a little extreme, but when you open up a can of worms like the draft then you open yourself up to the possibility of things like that happening.

kittcat · #3 Postby **kittcat** » Mon May 31, 2004 10:22 am

You're right that an all volunteer army is the best solution, but recruitment is way down and people aren't reenlisting. Anyone who signs up for the service now must know where they're going to wind up. These men and women are fighting an unknown enemy, suspecting everyone and anybody that may do them harm. How many 19-20 years old do you think want to sign up for that? Do you?

#4 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 31, 2004 10:48 am

kittcat wrote:You're right that an all volunteer army is the best solution, but recruitment is way down and people aren't reenlisting. Anyone who signs up for the service now must know where they're going to wind up. These men and women are fighting an unknown enemy, suspecting everyone and anybody that may do them harm. How many 19-20 years old do you think want to sign up for that? Do you?

I personally do not. I consider myself unworthy of the position, if you want to get right down to it. If I was drafted, I would serve, but I don't think that I am as capable as some. I actually know 12-15 of my classmates that are overseas as we speak.

PTrackerLA · #5 Postby **PTrackerLA** » Mon May 31, 2004 11:44 am

I don't think the draft should be reinstated either. If someone is not willing to fight, why force them to a war they might totally be unprepared for?

Lindaloo · #6 Postby **Lindaloo** » Mon May 31, 2004 11:53 am

Bush is not going to reinstate the draft. This is a ploy by the poster to bash Bush yet again.

#7 Postby **USAwx1** » Mon May 31, 2004 11:57 am

Lindaloo wrote:Bush is not going to reinstate the draft.

i agreee, ESPECIALLY IF he wants to keep his job.

Josephine96 · #8 Postby **Josephine96** » Mon May 31, 2004 12:01 pm

Bush needs a lot of help if he wants to keep his job.. IMHO

thundercat · #9 Postby **thundercat** » Mon May 31, 2004 1:43 pm

WHOA!!! time out peoples!!!! :eek:

the stuff I read about this "draft" talk makes two years of public service manditory ...meaning any position "volunteering" to help the public/community, not just the military

>>recruitment is way down and people aren't reenlisting.<<

actually, the military's meeting and/or exceeding all of their recruitment/retention goals :p

#10 Postby **Jack8631** » Mon May 31, 2004 1:51 pm

wx247 wrote: I consider myself unworthy of the position, if you want to get right down to it. If I was drafted, I would serve, but I don't think that I am as capable as some. I actually know 12-15 of my classmates that are overseas as we speak.

None of my business, but just curious as to why the word "unworthy". All you need is to be able to pass a medical exam, a HS diploma or GED, and the desire to serve. They're always looking for another good mind..

As for the draft, I wouldn't look for it to reinstated anytime soon. But as the war on terrorism continues, there may be no other options down the road.

JQ Public · #11 Postby **JQ Public** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:21 pm

I just personally think the draft is a bad move.

#12 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:24 pm

Jack8631 wrote:
wx247 wrote: I consider myself unworthy of the position, if you want to get right down to it. If I was drafted, I would serve, but I don't think that I am as capable as some. I actually know 12-15 of my classmates that are overseas as we speak.

None of my business, but just curious as to why the word "unworthy". All you need is to be able to pass a medical exam, a HS diploma or GED, and the desire to serve. They're always looking for another good mind..

As for the draft, I wouldn't look for it to reinstated anytime soon. But as the war on terrorism continues, there may be no other options down the road.

Unworthy as in I don't believe that I would be able to do as good of a job as those who are doing it. I don't think I have the guts, heart, or determination. I admire those who do. I am willing to do anything for my country if necessary, but feel I could serve them better doing something else. Make sense? I hope. Sometimes I ramble.

Rainband · #13 Postby **Rainband** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:25 pm

Makes perfect sense, Garrett :wink:

#14 Postby **Jack8631** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:43 pm

Rainband wrote:Makes perfect sense, Garrett

Agreed. Sorry to put you on the spot like that.

#15 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:48 pm

Jack8631 wrote:
Rainband wrote:Makes perfect sense, Garrett

Agreed. Sorry to put you on the spot like that.

You didn't. No problem.

#16 Postby **streetsoldier** » Mon May 31, 2004 6:27 pm

Uh...recruitment is at an all-time high level, and all of our Armed Services are meeting or exceeding goals.

Besides which, the pay is a helluva lot better than it was when I served, the Montgomery G.I. Bill is alive and thriving (plus one can earn a Community College degree while in service); the base housing is improving, we have the BEST and latest personal protection and weapons systems on Earth...who needs a draft?

#17 Postby **azskyman** » Mon May 31, 2004 9:28 pm

I believe that there will be more talk of the draft this year, but that recruitment will remain high and as more Iraqi troops come home to a warm welcome and share the REAL need they feel to be there...our sons and daughters will heed that calling and continue enlisting.

SolarQuestions · #18 Postby **SolarQuestions** » Mon May 31, 2004 10:02 pm

I feel pretty strongly that if Bush wins, talk of a draft will be the main topic after Bush is reelected and sworn in. No talk now. That would be political suicide. But how long can these same troops be rotated around and sent to these foreign countries to fight terrorism? This war is being fought by the sons and daughters of American's heartland. I read where only one child of a senator is enlisted. Most of these kids went in the military to escape an environment where they felt trapped or as a means to get the funds for the education they had no other means to obtain.

I am 47 years old and I can't imagine my kid's generation being drafted into the military. These kids are generally a spoiled lot, not like the WWII generation where most grew up in the depression and had nothing. Can you imagine these kids being rounded up out of their ivy league schools, sent to bootcamp and then shipped over to Iraq? It's almost laughable
..........................
They are "a spoiled lot" because WE spoiled them ...we sold them on the idea that THINGS will make the world a better place...hence thats why there is so many cars....and things and bigger houses ......That is what we told them america was about. We never emphasized the spiritual path like we should have ....we never emphasized love like we should have ...NOPE it was always the job you had, the title you had, the car you drove, the school you went to, the neighborhood you lived in, the clothes you wore, the hair style, the furniture...always something material....always something of status and title. ...What else could we expect them to be ...but exactly what we told them was right and good. A material world over that of a spiritual world of kindness, understanding, humility, compassion, gentleness, love, empathy, trust, honesty, truth.....As long as they were good little money makers that is all that was important...as long as they understood the "value of a dollar" ...well heckkkkk They know the value of money ...they just dont know the value of goodness and virtue and morality anymore...but again how could they? Its a race of cheap calculators.

#19 Postby **streetsoldier** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:12 am

SQ..."spoiled"? Is that why coppertop has been discussing enlistment with the local Air Force recruiter?

How long can the US fight terrorism without a draft?

How long can the US fight terrorism without a draft?

they are spoiled because....

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