Bush War Adviser Says Draft Worth a Look
WASHINGTON (AP)
Breitbart.com
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 Bush’s new war adviser said Friday.
“I think it makes sense to certainly consider it,” Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”
“And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation’s security by one means or another,” Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.
President Nixon abolished the draft in 1973. Restoring it, Lute said, would be a “major policy shift” and Bush has made it clear that he doesn’t think it’s necessary.
The repeated deployments affect not only the troops but their families, who can influence whether a service member decides to stay in the military, Lute said.
“There’s both a personal dimension of this, where this kind of stress plays out across dinner tables and in living room conversations within these families,” he said. “And ultimately, the health of the all- volunteer force is going to rest on those sorts of personal family decisions.”
The military conducted a draft during the Civil War and both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. The Selective Service System, re- established in 1980, maintains a registry of 18-year-old men.
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., has called for reinstating the draft as a way to end the Iraq war.
Bush picked Lute in mid-May as a deputy national security adviser with responsibility for ensuring efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are coordinated with policymakers in Washington. Lute, an active-duty general, was chosen after several retired generals turned down the job.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
No a draft is a bad idea. And Gen. Lute shouldn’t have suggested that it was even being considered. The MSM vultures and the Dems will go after this like fresh meat.
And Hillary does become President, oh I hate to even type that, but if she was President and we had the draft. Can you imagine a draft.
… So this Army general would be quartered in Iraq’s Green Zone with a fully stocked mini-bar and Direct TV comforts of home? The Clintonistas down-sized our ACTIVE DUTY military forces bigtime after the Somalia bust in the mid 90’s!
Not to worry. If a President Hillary Clinton (yes, the thought makes one nauseous) wanted to wage war or to deploy troops and use military force I am sure that she would first submit irrefutable proof to the American people that force was necessary and that she wasn’t lying. In addition, she would request Congress to declare war after publicly documenting all tactical war plans, troop strength to be deployed, expected number of deaths and other casualties, military readiness, costs, how the costs would be paid for, strategic objectives with timetables and measures of success, and an exit strategy. Of course, a President Hillary Clinton would then go to the UN for unanimous approval and authorization to take military action.
She would do all the things that the Democrats, liberals, and drive-by media criticized President Bush for not doing. So, it is clear that a draft won’t be necessary as the United States will not be going to war again even to defend itself. We will all be chanting Allahu Akbar!
A draft is a horrible idea!
We pride ourselves on having an all volunteer military.
It’s not something that should be pushed onto us and something that we’re made to do just because of our birthday.
And yes, Hitlery would put us under the UN again and we all know what a BIG fiasco that was when her idiot husband did that.
Both Bosnia and Somalia were horrendous failures.
I nearly lost a much loved family member in Somalia when they bombed the ammo dump on the runway. Thank God he wasn’t there that day.
And I don’t want my daughters freedoms taken away. Us women worked too hard to get them!
My veteran, libertarian soul rebels at the thought of a draft. Maybe a society like Heinlein’s STARSHIP TROOPERS, where 2 years’ service allows you the vote.
Their’s enough troops to fight any war if only the beaurecrats would get rid of these ridiculous Rules of Engagement and let the troops fight. We just need to “unleash the dogs”.
What Army Lt. Gen. numbnuts Douglas Lute is saying is the left needs a draft to furnish bodies for the UN takover that is ongoing and sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel and his Communist co-congressmen. Back to the dugout General. The volunteer military is one of the only free thinking institutions left in this country, it takes thought, courage and patriotism to put your life on the line for your beliefs by voluntarily signing a hard contract for a four year term of an uncertain future. Something most of those in congress don’t have a clue about in their self serving elitism. I agree with BobF, lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.
I think it is too bad that 98% of healthy young American males won’t serve. They enjoy the fruits of freedom but will not lift a finger to pay for their privileges. There should not be a need for a draft and the lines at recruiting stations should be long.
Even though many of the good career soldiers I served with began their careers as draftees, I am against a draft. It won’t work in these days of pampered young men, civil litigation and underlying drug culture. Drugs affected many of the Vietnam draftees.
While I am on a rant, I also think America’s military should not be fighting the rest of the Free World’s wars for them. We had absolutely no business in Somalia or Bosnia. Most of Europe has disarmed because they have had 60 years of America carrying the load for them. Screw the World! We have the technology to sit back and exercise our influence from a distance, and I’m not talking cruise missiles on aspirin factories. We also need leadership that is more aggressive and not politically correct.
Maybe if we had more leaders who had actually “taken a walk in the sun, heard the crack of bullets passing by and wondered if there was one more mortar round coming”, we might get leadership with the thought that you don’t cause your troops to take extra casualties to look more considerate and less war-like.
Darth, yes I agree.
I pray trhe Clinton’s never again get the Presidency.
Les, yes your right. waaaaa
Now I feel sick to my stomach, like you said just the thought of it. hahaa no kidding.
Lynn I am so glad your relative is ok and like you said was not there that day.
I agree Lynn, it is so wonderful how we have a volunteer military.
OINK, I think they will have a tuff time trying to sell this country that a draft is the way to go.I hope so because a draft would be horrible.
Bob I agree and when they happens, things will zoom.
Jack I agree, and I had not thought of that about the UN. That sounds like what they have in mind.
Tom, AMEN and Ditto.
That really gets to me too and you said it better then I ever could.
I don’t know if anyone is going to read this, for it is after the post day.
But America has always had a draft.
When My people came here from Ireland in the 1860’s two were taken immediately for the Army, and they had just gotten off the boat.
The draft only became a stain on character after the Vietnam war started.
Hell my platoon had 5 draftees, the way they told it after their Physical they were all lined up and some Army sargent came along and pointed, You, you, you, you and you are going to the Marines. Obviously, they were thrilled. Ha hahahah. But the story is true.
It is only a big deal because the LEFT can make such noise about it, and as they always do.
Now we have an all volunteer service, which is good and it has brought out the best to serve, but sometimes it is necessary.
Mark, thank you so much for commenting on this. I was hoping you would. I wanted to know your take on it too.
And thanks for sharing about your platoon draftees.
I agree with you so much, the left made it very dirty during the Vietnam War. That just sticks in my craw how they did that and the things they did and said too. I hated how little respect they gave to our military and why it is so important to our freedom and our country.
My family is from Switzerland and I know everyone already knows this but from the age of 14 they are in the service, they are trained to use a gun the whole thing. The same for Israel as well. If our country could do that kind of thing I would love it.That kind of draft I am all for. If the left did not exist ( wishful thinking hahaha) even a draft would be ok because it would be done to Americans that love America across the board.
You are so right too about how volunteer service has brought out the best to serve. In my heart I wish every person felt like we all do about serving their country. I was raised with such respecy, admiration and heck even awe of our military that it is part of my DNA so to speak.
Every male and many women as well served our country in my family. The women, my aunts were nurses during WW11 and some younger ones during the Vietnam war.
Thank you again so much Mark, it truly is a priviledge to get to know those on here that know the price of our freedom and have served this great country.