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Politics : High Tolerance Plasticity -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: kodiak_bull who wrote (21835)	10/12/2004 3:03:32 PM
From: cnyndwllr	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23153

Yes Kodiak, the Republican majority has NEVER said it would institute a draft. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't ask when, and under what circumstances, that might suddenly change. And when we see those circumstances begin to take shape we should pay attention. It's true that there are only a few warning signs on the horizon but they are, nonetheless, on the horizon. The Republicans control both houses and the presidency and if Bush wins that will probably not change. That places enormous political power in one party. Our military and reserves are severely overtaxed in terms of available manpower. The country will not tolerate the use of reserves as a permanent active military force for much longer. The sign-ups for reserve and active duty are not sufficient to increase the active duty components of the armed forces. They may not even be enough to sustain the current numbers in the midst of a dangerous and dirty war in Iraq. As it stands the military has decreased it's HS diploma and test score requirements in order to secure enough warm bodies. If Iraq does not settle down and we stay, if another hot spot opens up, if the sustained, heavy use of reserves becomes politically untenable, or if our active duty forces cannot increase or maintain their numbers, what then? The facts are pointing to the potential need for a draft despite the fact that the pre-election denials are strident. I'm not comfortably certain there won't be a draft. If you are, then maybe you don't recall other election year promises that changed 180 degrees with changes in circumstances?