Reba

U.S. Readies for Draft
Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.com
Friday, June 25, 2004
Despite denials that the U.S. plans to re-institute the draft, the Pentagon has stepped up preparations for a new Selective Service System that could allow for a full-blown draft by next year.

(for the full story)
http://www.newsmax.com/printer.cfm?p...4/104815.shtml

How do you feel about the draft? Should it be re-instated?

Deafness

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kuifje75

I feel that everyone, including men and women at the age of 18, should be required to serve their country for about 3 years. They should be given the choice to serve in the armed forces, or to serve in community services.

Nowadays, I feel that college-bound students are too young and immature to decide on what to do with their lives, so they should take this service to "grow up" then take college seriously.

I don't think that deaf people should be excluded from the Armed Forces. Granted, they cant go to war, but they can still provide useful services in the office, on the base, or whereever.

VamPyroX

Looks like you're asking to be put #1 on the list for their next draft?

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Beowulf

I knew for a long time about this.
Let me pose another question---
If you are a soldier, and you are ordered to fire upon protesters, would you do it?
That is coming too.

Banjo

Personally, I don't believe in drafting people, especially the ones that are against the war they are being drafted for.

People should not be forced to die for their country. A government is a government, there's nothing to take pride in it. It is their job to take care of the Americans because they pay them to through taxes. The country is not a human being, it is a landmass, nothing more. Only it's governed by people.

Plus, if this draft is for real, you can expect a lot of young Americans to dodge the draft by escaping to Canada. This happened in the 60s, during the Vietnam war. I wouldn't be surprised if it happen once again. It is up to the people to make the decision to join the army or not, I'm not going to force the others to. I think it would be crazy if this is a way of teaching people how to grow up, because there's a chance that some of them may die.

World War II was a different matter, people were really needed.

America is supposed to be the land of freedom, but if people are being forced to join the army, then it is not freedom. Freedom did have a price tag, and it was paid off in the past, but must they pay more?

But only the problem is, this time... it's for Iraq!

No, not for this war. But for a future war, who knows?

Anyway, I do have my doubts that the draft may happen. I personally think it would kill the Bush admin if they did this.

Kalista

I agreed with you. It is totally disgusted to forcefully young men and women as they are not interesting in the military.

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kuifje75

You all misread me:

I said, give the person a choice to serve in the army or serve for the community by doing community services. If I was "drafted," I would take the latter, of course. This is done in Germany, because of the Nazi times, men were forced to be in the Army and do awful things. Now in present-day Germany, men are given choices to serve in the Army, or call themselves conscientious objectors and serve in the community instead. There are some men who would be more than willing to serve their countries, and others who would rather serve more humane causes.

VamPyroX

If they drafted me, I'd accept it. I wouldn't mind working in the army.









Ten-hut!

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Reba

Deaf people can perform many useful services to their country as civilians. Unfortunately, they cannot serve in the military. There are no 100% office jobs in the military. Even "office workers" have to be ready to serve in combat areas. Everyone in the military rotates their assignments, so no one serves permanently in a combat zone or office.

Reba

If it is "government's job" to "take care of" America (I presume you mean "protect" America from enemies), how is the "government" supposed to do that without a military force?

Freedom did have a price tag, and it still does. It was not "paid off in the past." It is an ongoing price. Yes, we must pay more, as long as an enemy threatens us.

WhoCare

I'm wondering how many people will draft?
If if over 20,000, Its good news for all deafs people, they can get a job when hearing people join soliders. Am I right or wrong?

Same as during WWII. Many deaf people got an advantage to get job in 1940's. I read it somewhere books.
Also in Canada, many deaf people worked in Goodyear when Canada soliders away to Europe in 1940's

Banjo

I'm referring to the draft, not the people who enlisted themselves into the military.

The USA has prevented several terrorist plots that could had happened in the USA, but must they go over and invade countries with weak evidences?

I can not see why Saddam is a threat to the USA, but I can see that he is a threat to his own people. But not the Americans, and after all these years, he still haven't attacked the USA.

If people want to protect the USA from nutcases, go ahead. But don't expect everybody to get involved. Some people would rather live their dreams. But they can also help America if they want to, for example, Walt Disney helped the army with making animated shorts about wars, and stuff like that in WWII.

Walt Disney contributed so much to the USA in the past, believe it or not. Unlikely the Disney corporation today.

No, it is not an ongoing price, you have the freedom right now. But less than you had prior to 9/11. The USA took some of your rights away in order to fight the terrorists.

People are working to protect the USA and they are getting paid for it. For example, the FBI and CIA, they're responsible for foiling many terrorist plots, and more. That's what we pay the government to do.

The military should only go and protect the USA when they are needed. But now, they are needed to protect the other countries instead of the USA.

But now, the Iraq war, the Americans are PAYING the price tag to give them freedom, and the Americans are getting nothing out of it. With the exceptions of some Americans getting jobs to fix up Iraq, but some are getting killed too as well.

Iraq is going to take a long time to fix up, and turn it into a great country, that is if they succeed. It will also cost a lot more American and Iraqi lives too as well.

Americans shouldn't be drafted and forced into the military, it's up to them if they want to fight for the country.

Now, people don't need to be drafted, and shouldn't be anytime soon unless a real threat is brewing up.

Angel

Why because they can't hear?

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Reba

Yes, deafness is one prohibition to enlisting in military service.

Some other examples are:
blindness
lack of mobility
failure to pass the physical fitness test
failure to pass the written exam
too old
too fat
lack of education (no high school diploma)
criminal background
lack of English language skills
terminal disease
too many dependents
security risk

Angel

Wow, I thought that was unfair......

I believe that anyone has the right to serve in the military no matter what kind of disablity they have.....

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"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is brought in our life, OR in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller

kuifje75

Reba, I am curious: are you in the military right now, or working for the military? You seem to be taking an interest in the draft discussions. What's your background, if you don't mind my asking you? :-)

Reba

It is not a matter of fairness but of mission. The mission (goal) of the military is to protect our country and to defeat the enemy by force or the threat of force. That only succeeds if the military is strong. That means, strong in manpower and strong in equipment. The manpower has to be physically, mentally, and morally strong. Weakness doesn't win wars. I know it sounds "unfair" but that's the way it must be.

For example, if you are in combat and your buddy gets shot in the legs, you must have the physical strength to carry your buddy to safety. You must have good vision to aim a weapon, read a map or computer screen, or see the enemy in low light. People's lives depend on you. You need to have reading skills adequate to understand technical manuals. If your ship is sinking, you need to know how to swim. If the enemy is chasing you, you need to be able to run fast. In combat, on ships, or in planes, there are no TTYs or interpreters. When someone behind you yells, "get down!", you need to hear the warning. During general quarters on shipboard, every sailor is combat ready; that includes the clerical workers, the cooks, and the chaplain.

That doesn't mean d/Deaf people can't serve their country. There are many opportunities thru civil service, medical services, USO, defense industry, etc.

Reba

No, I don't mind at all. I am retired military.

kuifje75

And are you deaf or hard of hearing? What was your experience in the military? Or is that confidential?

Reba

Hearing, interpreter.
Navy Journalist, 1970-1995.

Reba

This article might encourage you. It is about a deaf anthropologist, Dr. C. E. Moore, who searches for the remains of MIAs in Vietnam and Cambodia.
http://www.charleston.net/cgi-bin/printme.pl

grrr...I checked the link and it doesn't work.
I hate to post a long story, so here are excerpts. Maybe you can find out more about Dr. Moore on a web search.


'Hoss' scours Asia sites for MIA remains

C. Elliott Moore often last hope for families seeking fate of loved ones lost in Vietnam
Associated Press

KHONG TROI MOUNTAIN, VIETNAM--For the past 12 years, C. Elliott Moore II has camped in mosquito-, leech- and snake-infested sites across Southeast Asia, searching for a sliver of bone, a tooth, a dog tag -- anything left of U.S. soldiers still missing nearly 30 years after the Vietnam War.
A forensic anthropologist with the military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Moore decides where to dig and for how long in conditions plagued by erosion, scavenging and even bone-eating acidic soil. . .

"Vietnam was the war of my generation. So many paid the ultimate sacrifice to come over here and wage war for American policy of that time and, of course, it wasn't a very happy ending," says Moore, 53. . .
"This is just one way I can pay my dues."

With a draft number high, Moore volunteered to fight in Vietnam in 1968. But he was turned down when doctors realized he had only 10 percent of his hearing -- his deafness the result of experimental antibiotics used to treat pneumonia as a baby.

The son of a doctor and a nurse, Moore yearned to do medical work. But he was rejected by medical schools, and forensic anthropology became the answer.

In 1992, after earning his doctorate, Moore joined the Hawaii-based team, which sends men and women from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines in search of remains from as far back as World War II. Anything recovered is sent to Oahu where experts, including Moore, work to match DNA to lost soldiers.

..."They always give the tough sites to Hoss," said Army Capt. Octave "Mac" MacDonald, the recovery team's leader from Baton Rouge, La., referring to Moore by his nickname. "I think that's pretty much because he's the best."

At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Moore, of Stilwell, Kan., is a source of curiosity.
With his can of Copenhagen snuff, Cambodian scarf and wide-brimmed straw hat, he has been described as a cross between Indiana Jones and the Marlboro Man. . .

Still, he admits the months away from his wife, Ginny, their three children and six grandchildren aren't easy -- especially since he's lucky to get home twice a year.

"It does get lonely, but then you've got to improvise, adapt and overcome," he says. "I never went to a deaf school. I went to public schools all my life -- it wasn't easy."

His experience, sense of humor and tough-as-nails attitude have created easy bonds with team members who are often less than half his age. They quickly learn the only way to communicate with Moore is to talk while looking him in the eye -- his hearing aid is useless in the jungle's soupy humidity.

http://charleston.net/stories/062504/wor_25mia.shtml

Angel

Yeah, I understand and it sure makes alot of sense now....Thank you for the information!!

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"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is brought in our life, OR in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller

whodatshroom

I personally think, it should be a person's choice to fight or something. I dunno, that's just my opinion. If they try to draft someone who doesn't want to fight, they won't give their all and it'd be for nothing.

thunderlionman

thats true in saying also i feel that we waste our usa money spending over seas to them as to help them, troops etc...and wonder will all the money ever return to us like will they ever pay us back?

Kalista

WASHINGTON - John Kerry (news - web sites) said Friday there is a "great potential" for a new military draft to replace overextended U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites) if President Bush (news - web sites) wins a second term, despite Bush's repeated pledges to maintain the all-volunteer service. Republicans rejected the suggestion as "fear mongering."


Bush and his Democratic challenger also sparred over jobs and other domestic issues as they campaigned through battleground states in the Midwest.


At a rally in Milwaukee, Kerry said Bush was "out of ideas, out of touch and unwilling to change" and accused him of mishandling the economy. Bush, campaigning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, called his rival an unrepentant liberal seeking to hide his record.


Kerry raised the draft issue in an interview in The Des Moines Register published Friday.


"With George Bush (news - web sites), the plan for Iraq is more of the same and the great potential of a draft. Because if we go it alone, I don't know how you do it with the current overextension" of the military, Kerry said.


Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt dismissed Kerry's comments as "fear mongering" and suggested the Massachusetts senator was spreading "false Internet rumors."


Kerry has suggested that Bush's heavy use of National Guard and Reserve troops has created a "backdoor draft." But his latest comments went further.


Bush did not directly respond, but he said in Cedar Rapids that he was "modernizing and transforming our United States military to keep the all-volunteer army an all-volunteer army."


In the second presidential debate, Bush said, "We're not going to have a draft, period." Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has made similar statements.


The latest dispute over the draft came as a survey indicated that military families trust Bush over Kerry as commander in chief by 69 percent to 21 percent. Some 43 percent of the military sample said they were Republicans, 19 percent said they were Democrats and 27 percent independents.


The margin for Bush was smaller, 50-41, among all Americans questioned by the National Annenberg Election Survey.


Kerry focused on the economy as he began a bus tour of Wisconsin, telling a Milwaukee audience that Bush was "out of touch with the average American family" and that his policies on jobs and taxes favor the wealthiest Americans and special interests.


After leaving Iowa, Bush too went to Wisconsin, speaking at a rally in Oshkosh.


Iowa and Wisconsin are among a dozen or so states that both sides deem still in play. Others are Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Maine and Michigan.


Both campaigns are polling in those and other states to detect any shift in the post-debate landscape — any opportunity to add or subtract from the battleground. Intrigued by public surveys showing Arkansas and Arizona close, Kerry's pollsters are calling voters in those two GOP-leaning states to see if they merit attention in the homestretch.


Bush has virtually stopped advertising in Washington state and advisers privately concede that Oregon has moved comfortably to Kerry's side of the ledger. The Republican National Committee (news - web sites) was considering whether to begin advertising in New York City, one of the nation's most expensive media markets, to reach voters in surprisingly close New Jersey, a Democratic bastion.


Bush's advisers say GOP polling since the debate has shown him gaining ground in key states. Kerry's advisers say their surveys have shown no change, though polls suggest that voters believe he won the three debates.





Meanwhile, Kerry defended his reference to the sexual orientation of Mary Cheney during Wednesday's presidential debate. "It was meant as a very constructive comment, in a positive way," he told CNN.

Both Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and his wife Lynne have rebuked Kerry for referring to their openly gay daughter, and White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday the president also "does not believe it was appropriate."

Asked how his comment was constructive, Kerry told CNN, "It's respectful of who she is. And they've embraced her and they love her. I have great respect for them for that. And it seems to me that was the point I was trying to make."

In Milwaukee, Kerry said that Bush "either just doesn't understand...or just doesn't care" about the job losses during his term. Some 821,000 non-farm jobs have disappeared since Bush took office in January 2001, making him the first president since Herbert Hoover to see a net loss of jobs.

"The bottom line is this: This economy has a bad case of the flu and we need a new medicine," Kerry said.

Bush also focused on domestic issues in Iowa, claiming his tax-cuts were fueling a strong recovery and accusing Kerry of favoring "more centralized control and more government...There's a word for that. It's called liberalism."

Polls show Bush and Kerry in close races in both Iowa and Wisconsin, two states that Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) won narrowly four years ago.

Bush and Kerry will launch fresh attacks in coming days. Bush will mock Kerry on his approach to terrorism, particularly his statement that he wants to reduce terrorism to a "nuisance," said Bush campaign communications director Nicolle Devenish. On Thursday, Bush will attack Kerry's health care plans, and throughout his travels, Bush will hammer Kerry's economic agenda, she said.

Kerry will deliver speeches during the next week as his "closing argument" for the campaign. Topics will include Bush's "wrong choices" on the economy, the war on terror and health care, Kerry adviser Mike McCurry said. "You look at President Bush and you see nothing but wrong choices and mistakes that he refuses to acknowledge," McCurry told reporters. "You have to start wondering whether or not there's risk that he will repeat those mistakes over the next four years."

___

Associated Press writers Scott Lindlaw and Nedra Pickler contributed to this report from Iowa and Wisconsin.

___

On the Net:

Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com

Bush campaign: http://www.georgewbush.com

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Beowulf

It's very OBVIOUS there is going to be a draft if Bush stays in power.
http://www.bushdraft.com/proof.html