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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cary Salsberg who wrote (70495)	7/17/2003 3:03:28 PM
From: zonder	Respond to of 70976

Amen.

To: Cary Salsberg who wrote (70495)	7/17/2003 9:37:01 PM
From: runes	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

<<I hope that ... the volunteer army concept fails and that a return to the draft is required.>> I understand your desire to have the decision makers have a personal stake in the consequences of their decisions. But I strongly disagree with the idea of subjecting the general population to a draft in a vain attempt to try and snare a few of the elite. ...(lest you have forgotten, GWB did his 'duty' in the Texas Air National Guard. Think that that will change in the future?) I still have the memories of my family and friends anxiously watching the TV and worrying about what their position in the lottery will be. And the anguish and despair of those who were likely to be called up. And the heated family arguments about evading the draft and how it will screw up their lives. ...And all of that before they ever get to camp. Add in the dehumanization of basic training followed by a quick trip to the battle front where the unwilling combatant comes face to face with the horror of war and a simple choice - kill or be killed. ...Is it any wonder that Vietnam created so many emotionally scarred young men? Compare that to the volunteer army where recruits go in of their own accord. Are they pumped up on patriotism? Yes. Are they there because it is their best way out of poverty? Sure. Are they still scared out on the battlefield? Of course. ...But still they are there because they made the choice rather than having it forced upon them. And that one fact dramatically improves their ability to withstand the horrors of war. And the fact that their comrades are also volunteers further improves their survivability - both physical and psychological. I would never want to have to send anyone to war. But if I did, I would only want to send those who have the best chance of coming back whole.