REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Rumsfeld, Bush approved Iraq torture policy

POSTED BY: GHOULMAN
UPDATED: Friday, October 29, 2004 05:24
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 3153
PAGE 1 of 1

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 5:32 AM

GHOULMAN


Hi,
Remember when Ghoulman told you that the DRAFT was already going on quietly? Well, here come the 1960s all over again...


Army may send special reserves to active duty involuntarily

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY

Knight Ridder Newspapers

The U.S. Army is scraping up soldiers for duty in Iraq wherever it can find them, and that includes places and people long considered off-limits.

The Army on Tuesday confirmed that it pulled the files of some 17,000 people in the Individual Ready Reserve, the nation's pool of former soldiers. The Army has been screening them for critically needed specialists and has called about 100 of them since January.


... Click here for full article!!!
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/politics/8
696975.htm


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 5:34 AM

GHOULMAN


FRELL! I mucked up the title.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, June 7, 2004 10:47 AM

GHOULMAN


U.S. Draft in 2005
Actions Indicate Administration Has Plan To Reinstate Military Draft if Bush Re-Elected
By Mike Blair

http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/u_s__draft.html

A military draft may be reinstated by mid-2005 if President George W. Bush is re-elected in November. An appropriation of $28 million has been provided in the current defense budget to bring the nation’s Selective Service System up to speed, which many people believe will likely lead to a national draft of young men and women by June 15, 2005.

U.S. military professionals have told American Free Press that due to the Iraq war and large troop deployments in Korea and Europe, a manpower shortage in the armed forces has reached “a state of critical mass.”

Neither Bush nor his Democratic opponent, Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), would dare to push for reinstating the draft during an election year. The draft was ended in 1973. But many people believe Bush has put the machinery in place to begin a draft by June 15, 2005, which includes setting up and staffing local Selective Service boards throughout America.

The Pentagon has begun a program to fill 10,350 local draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board posts as soon as possible.

Last September, the Pentagon ran an ad for volunteers to fill the slots. But when it was reported in the news media, the ad was quietly pulled.

Registration for the draft ended in 1975. Under President Jimmy Carter, however, registration was reinstated for all men between the ages of 18 and 25 in 1980, in an amendment to the Military Selective Service Act.

Currently, legislation is pending in the House and Senate to renew the draft.

In the House there is H.R. 163, which was introduced last year by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.). It was referred to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Subcommittee on Total Force.

H.R. 163 has 14 co-sponsors, including Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Donna M. Christensen (D-Va.), John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), James P. Moran (D-Va.), Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-Calif.) Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.).

Most of those who have signed on to support the bill are members of the Congressional Black Caucus. However, Rangel and the bill’s co-sponsors contend, as Rangel puts it: “Those who love this country have a patriotic obligation to defend this country. For those who say the poor fight better, I say give the rich a chance.”

Rangel said primarily the poor and minorities are serving in Iraq, getting wounded and killed.

Under the bill, the draft would apply to men and women ages 18 to 26, the 20-year-olds being taken first, with exemptions to allow people to graduate from high school. But college students would have to serve, unlike during the Vietnam War, when attending college was a stay-home pass.

SHOULDER THE BURDEN

In the Senate a companion bill, S. 89, has been introduced by Sen. Ernest F. “Fritz” Hollings (D-S.C.), which has been referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Said Hollings: “We all share the benefits of life in America, and under this plan, we all help shoulder the burden of defending our freedoms. Our proposal ensures that all Americans answer the call of duty. High school students could be deferred until they graduate, but in no case will that deferment extend beyond the age of 20. As we fight this war on terrorism and protect our way of life, we must once again listen to the words of President John F. Kennedy, who implored us to ‘ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country’.”

Army commanders in Iraq want more troops to combat the growing guerrilla war that is engulfing the country and causing daily deaths among U.S. troops.

Even Republican members of the Senate are beginning to talk about a draft being needed to fill manpower gaps.

“Why shouldn’t we ask all of our citizens to bear some responsibility and pay some price?” said Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) at a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. His comments came just after the Pentagon moved to extend the missions of some 20,000 of the 134,000 troops in Iraq.

Hagel said that restoring the draft would force “our citizens to understand the intensity and depth of challenges we face.”

Only one Army division remains in the United States.

The continued deployment of the National Guard and Reserves has created a mass exodus of troops from their ranks.

For example, the Massachusetts National Guard’s recruiting was down 30 percent last year. Of Reserve and National Guard troops sent to Iraq, 46 percent said they had no intention of re-enlisting. This has not only resulted in a manpower crisis but a critical loss of talent for the Guard and Reserves.

Further angering National Guard and Reserve troops, the Bush administration has initiated what is referred to as a “stop loss” program, which mandates that members of the Guard and Reserves cannot leave the military until 90 days after they have been deactivated.

“I just shudder to think what would happen if another war scenario pops up suddenly somewhere in the world, with a single division of regular troops remaining as reserves. We would be in big trouble, and I cannot emphasize enough how big ‘big’ is,” a retired Air Force officer told American Free Press.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, June 25, 2004 6:08 AM

GHOULMAN




the latest on the possible draft in the USA...


Rumors fly of military draft
Libby George, Star Tribune Washington Bureau Correspondent
June 24, 2004]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1557/4844069.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Although there hasn't been a draft in more than 30 years, 22-year-old Minneapolis college graduate Nathan Mittelstaedt is worried that he might be forced into military service.

He's not alone.

Despite shaky evidence -- and denials by top officials -- Mittelstaedt and many other young people in Minnesota and across the nation are convinced that a draft is secretly in the works. Through mass e-mails and Internet sites, the word is going out that as early as next June, men and women as old as 34 will be subject to random, mandatory military service.

The rumors have been sparked by debate in Congress and what some say is suspicious behavior by the Selective Service System. The fears have been exacerbated by news reports about troops stretched thin around the globe and the Pentagon's recent "stop-gap" order to extend tours of duty in Iraq.

Officials are finding the rumors difficult to quash. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., called the draft worries "a scare tactic." Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., attributes them to people "who like to stir up fear and angst."

The Selective Service System has received so many calls and e-mails that the agency posted a prominent notice on its Web site denying any draft preparations.

"It's just not going to happen," said Dan Amon, an agency spokesman. "There's no interest whatsoever in Congress."

Amon said the agency began receiving e-mails in November, when a Defense Department Web page advertised openings on the draft board -- a group of 11,000 civilians nationwide who would hear petitions for deferments during a draft.

Although the agency has maintained the board since 1980, Amon said, several watchdog groups took the posting as a sign that it was quietly mobilizing for a draft.

"There's nothing unusual about a call for new board members," Amon said. "We're always looking for volunteers."

Not since 1973

The military ended 25 years of the draft in 1973, in the midst of the highly unpopular war in Vietnam. Draft registration was suspended in 1975, but was resumed in 1980 in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Since then, many military officials have said that a draft would weaken the current all-volunteer military by swelling the ranks with people who don't necessarily want to be there.

Although there's widespread agreement that there's no momentum on Capitol Hill to bring back the draft, several members of Congress are openly advocating it. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who has expressed concerns about maintaining troop strength, has spoken in favor of a draft. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., has argued that a draft would produce a more demographically balanced force. He introduced a bill last year that would require mandatory service for all draft-age American men and women. Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Web sites and mass e-mails have used the bill introductions to raise the alarm.

The Web postings and e-mails -- often containing identical language -- usually cite the bills and the draft board openings as evidence that a draft is coming.

The warnings contain questionable assertions. For example, they claim that the Selective Service System received an additional $28 million from Congress in fiscal 2004, when there was no funding increase. They also claim that the White House is pushing to get the bills through, when in fact the administration opposes a draft.

Still, the fact that bills exist in the House and Senate was enough to convince Michael LaBrosse, a 57-year-old leadership consultant from Minneapolis, that a draft is coming. After confirming that the bills were real, he said he forwarded the e-mail to more than 100 friends.

"This is about as real a thing as I ever sent out," said LaBrosse. "It makes sense that if there's a bill like that out there under the radar, that there are other people getting ready for it."

The bills, however, have been stuck in committee since last year, and several lawmakers insisted that they will stay there. Kline, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said there is no support or logic behind recalling a draft. "It's an all-volunteer force that is working very, very well," said Kline, a retired Marine colonel.

According to the Pentagon, all branches of military service have met or exceeded recruiting goals for fiscal 2004.

Chris Lisi, spokeswoman for Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., who is a member of the Armed Services Committee and a critic of the war in Iraq, also said the bill "has no legs."

Nader's view

President Bush and his presumptive Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, have said they support increasing the size of the armed forces. This has kept others, including independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader, worried about a draft.

Nader warned in a "Message to America's Students" posted on his Web site that "the Pentagon is quietly recruiting new members to fill local draft boards, as the machinery for drafting a new generation of young Americans is being quietly put into place." Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese said the Nader campaign will be doing even more to raise concern about a draft.

The warnings are "totally necessary," Zeese said. "Students should get organized, because these things can happen very quickly."

J.E. McNeil, executive director of the Washington-based Center on Conscience and War, is also working to put the possibility of a draft on the public radar screen. McNeil said she is booked through October with speaking engagements across the country.

"[The draft] is extremely likely," McNeil said. She added that she is committed to spreading the message so that people "aren't caught short after the election."

Lawrence Jacobs, a University of Minnesota political science professor and director of the 2004 Elections Project at the Humphrey Institute, said an "odd coalition" of liberal Democrats and "defense hawks" is keeping the issue relevant.

"When you see an idea that's around, and takes a beating and keeps ticking, you take notice," Jacobs said. "It's staying on the agenda ... I don't see yet the votes in Congress to pass this, but it's on the agenda."

Mittelstaedt, for one, is unmoved by the denials. To him, the draft is an inevitability if the country continues the global war on terrorism. "If we're going to continue to invade countries ... eventually we're going to run out of people to send," Mittelstaedt said.

Libby George is at lgeorge@mcclatchydc.com


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, June 26, 2004 5:53 AM

JASONZZZ




Come'on! email chain letter hoaxes? (satire) Ouch I just got a needle prick at the gas pump, I wonder if I am going to get aids. Oh, now I am getting a little woosy, maybe I am missing a kidney or something. I better go home and sit in an ice bath and wait for the paramedics to show up (/satire)

And house drafts are (almost) a dime a dozen. Yes, it hard to get one in when you *want* one, but the damn fools sitting in Washington can sure churn them out. "Ur, the Gentlemen from (insert your favourite state) would like to propose house bill (blah blah Blah) for the celebration of the birthday of Mr. (some ass from some other state) and his pet lizard Bozo"

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/draft.asp



NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, July 9, 2004 7:24 AM

GHOULMAN


^^^ ??? Wow!, that's a good link! Thanx! My goddess, this is weird.

And not to be outdone... here's more news from the "front".

Pentagon tries to squelch rumors of a new draft
Despite bills, officials deny plans for conscription

Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004
/07/09/MNG3E7J01L1.DTL

Washington -- Top Pentagon officials have denied adamantly, despite persistent rumors to the contrary, that the Bush administration is planning to reinstate the military draft or increase the size of the U.S. force in Iraq from the current 140,000 after the November presidential election.

Restarting the draft, which ended in 1973 except for standby registration of 18-year-old men, has been proposed in Congress by a small group of liberals led by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. A similar measure is pending in the Senate. They say the current all-volunteer force is unfair ...

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, July 9, 2004 8:47 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Hey Jasonzzz, I have a question for you (and others) under the "Demonization" thread. It's a real question, not a trick. I hope you read it and respond. iIm curious.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, July 9, 2004 9:16 AM

KNIBBLET


Quote:

Originally posted by Ghoulman:

Libby George, Star Tribune Washington Bureau Correspondent June 24, 2004]
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1557/4844069.html
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., attributes them to people "who like to stir up fear and angst."



First of all, as a Minnesotan and a St. Paulite, we view the 'Star and Sickle' as the Great Minnesota Fish Wrapper. That paper is worthless and the editorial staff gutless.

As for Norm Coleman, that weasle (aka, "Bush's Butt Monkey") is travelling the country stumping for his new owners.

He had the gall to say that Kerry flipflops on issues.

Hmmmm, is this the same weasle who ran for mayor of St. Paul as a democrat and when he made noises about running for governor was told that there were many people in the party senior to him and that he'd have to wait a few years.

Next thing you know ... ole Normy is a Republican. Couldn't be that the Republicans didn't have someone lined up to run yet .... could it?

If it hadn't been for the drunkards and wrasslin' morons who for reasons beyond comprehension voted in Jesse 'the dingbat' Ventura, ole Normy would have been too busy running Minnesota to stick his nose in the national race.

Unfortunately for Minnesota and the country (for many reasons) Jesse's mindless army did have their way and Norm was at a loose end. What does an unemployed former mayer do .... hmmmm.

He listens to the voice of his master and runs for Senate.

Paul Wellstone was trouncing Coleman in the polls -- he was pulling further every day as every day grew closer to the election. It wasn't even close when the Senator's plane crashed killing him, members of his family and members of his staff. King George has another butt monkey because of a noble man's untimely death.

This is also the weasle who claimed that he was a 110% improvement over Paul Wellstone. If you consider being a lying, cheating, backstabbing opportunist an improvement ... I guess he fits the bill.

I ran into Norm at an event a few months ago. I told him to his face that he was Bush's butt monkey and reminded him that at the end of time, he'd answer to God for the deaths this regime has caused.

Knibblet - St. Paulite.

"Just keep walkin, preacher man."

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 3:43 AM

GHOULMAN


^^^ Wow! Ya writing a book? lol! Thanks for the insight. You seem to have really been paying attention to the people involved and forming a real opinion about them. Nice stuff. Post more!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 10:56 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Folks in the army already can't be 'drafted'. Sorry charlie, but this bird doesn't float. hee hee hee.

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 2:41 AM

GHOULMAN


^^^ Your knowledge of military life leaves much to be learned.

And I'd post another link to Congress.org about the DRAFT controversy .. but they deleted it. Someone let me know if any American websites actually provides information aside of hiding it.

Pending Draft Legislation Targeted for Spring 2005
The Draft will Start in June 2005
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=5834001&cont
ent_dir=ua_congressorg


You see... there is talk of LEGISLATION! That's called a draft.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 3:55 AM

LOSTINTHEVERSE


I'm not exactly up on this particular issue and haven't verified this article, but having read quite a few of his posts, I trust that Ghoulman did that before posting it. I just noticed that of all 15 sponsors for this legislation, there is not a single Republican... That makes it a little bit hard to believe this is coming from the Bush Camp.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ghoulman:

In the House there is H.R. 163, which was introduced last year by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.). It was referred to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Subcommittee on Total Force.

H.R. 163 has 14 co-sponsors, including Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Donna M. Christensen (D-Va.), John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), James P. Moran (D-Va.), Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-Calif.) Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.).





::shrug:: Just an observation, as I'm not informed enough on this particular issue to have a real opinion.

Lata Browncoats

~ Lost In The 'Verse

"About a year before we met, I spent 6 months on a moon where the primary form of recreation was juggling geese. My hand to god. Baby geese. Goslings. They were juggled!"

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 3:55 AM

LOSTINTHEVERSE


I'm not exactly up on this particular issue and haven't verified this article, but having read quite a few of his posts, I trust that Ghoulman did that before posting it. I just noticed that of all 15 sponsors for this legislation, there is not a single Republican... That makes it a little bit hard to believe this is coming from the Bush Camp.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ghoulman:

In the House there is H.R. 163, which was introduced last year by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.). It was referred to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Subcommittee on Total Force.

H.R. 163 has 14 co-sponsors, including Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Donna M. Christensen (D-Va.), John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), James P. Moran (D-Va.), Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-Calif.) Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.).





::shrug:: Just an observation, as I'm not informed enough on this particular issue to have a real opinion.

Lata Browncoats

~ Lost In The 'Verse

"About a year before we met, I spent 6 months on a moon where the primary form of recreation was juggling geese. My hand to god. Baby geese. Goslings. They were juggled!"

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 5:51 AM

LOSTINTHEVERSE


edited, as the post with the offensive (and particularly gruesome) pictures has been removed.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 5:51 AM

LOSTINTHEVERSE


edited, as the post with the offensive (and particularly gruesome) pictures has been removed.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 6:59 AM

GHOULMAN


^^^ huh? Wha? What link? Thanks for the info... Dems, gotta love 'em. Hypocrites to the core.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, September 27, 2004 9:42 AM

GHOULMAN



... oh, sorry that the title of this thread isn't THE DRAFT, as I wanted. I emailed Haken a few times but he just ignores me.



More draft news, which is hard to find in the press these days. Lately, someone actually had the guts to ask that old rummy Rumsfled about it, he shook a little and waved his hands... not sure what that means.

Oh, and we Canadians have already recieved a few Americans looking for refugee status and to avoid service in yet another illegal war.

I wonder if any Military folks moe informed than I could comment on this...

What happens during a Draft?
Sequence of Events

Here is a brief overview of what would occur if the United States returned to a draft:

1. CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZE A DRAFT
A crisis occurs which requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply. Congress passes and the President signs legislation which starts a draft.

2. THE LOTTERY
A lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service. The first to be called, in a sequence determined by the lottery, will be men whose 20th birthday falls during that year, followed, if needed, by those aged 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. 18-year-olds and those turning 19 would probably not be drafted.

3. ALL PARTS OF SELECTIVE SERVICE ARE ACTIVATED
The Agency activates and orders its State Directors and Reserve Forces Officers to report for duty. See also Agency Structure.

4. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND MORAL EVALUATION OF REGISTRANTS
Registrants with low lottery numbers are ordered to report for a physical, mental, and moral evaluation at a Military Entrance Processing Station to determine whether they are fit for military service. Once he is notified of the results of the evaluation, a registrant will be given 10 days to file a claim for exemption, postponement, or deferment. See also Classifications.

5. LOCAL AND APPEAL BOARDS ACTIVATED AND INDUCTION NOTICES SENT Local and Appeal Boards will process registrant claims. Those who pass the military evaluation will receive induction orders. An inductee will have 10 days to report to a local Military Entrance Processing Station for induction.

6. FIRST DRAFTEES ARE INDUCTED
According to current plans, Selective Service must deliver the first inductees to the military within 193 days from the onset of a crisis.

Information Courtesy of Selective Service

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, September 27, 2004 12:09 PM

ZEEK


Yeah and Kerry said in an e-mail to AARP that he's going to eliminate Social Security immediately upon eleciton.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 5:21 AM

GHOULMAN


^^^ What does that mean?

Anyho'...
US 'must raise troop numbers' to fulfil commitments

FINANCIAL TIMES, FT.com
By Peter Spiegel in London
Published: September 26 2004 22:43 | Last updated: September 26 2004 22:43

A Pentagon-appointed panel has found that the US military will not be able to maintain its current peacekeeping commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan without a significant increase in the size of the armed forces or scaling back the objectives of the stabilisation missions.
Click here for more...
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4942f080-1004-11d9-ba62-00000e2511c8.html

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 5:41 AM

GHOULMAN


Congresswoman Wants Probe Of Re-Enlistment Tactics
Degette: Soldiers Said They Were Strong-Armed Into Staying In Military

POSTED: 7:53 pm EDT September 27, 2004
PENTAGON -- A Colorado congresswoman is asking for an investigation into claims that Iraq war veterans nearing the end of their service are being strong-armed into re-enlisting.

Democratic Congresswoman Diana Degette says she's heard from several soldiers who said they were asked if they want to re-enlist or go back to Iraq. She also cited reports of those complaints published in two Colorado newspapers.

Degette has asked the House Armed Services Committee to investigate. She wants to know whether the "White House or civilian Pentagon officials are pressuring the military to use coercive tactics to get soldiers to re-enlist in order to maintain the force levels necessary to fight the war in Iraq and war on terror."

Pentagon officials deferred comment to Fort Carson, Colo., which denied any effort to coerce soldiers into re-enlisting.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, October 28, 2004 10:06 AM

GHOULMAN


... and Haken still hasn't changed this thread to THE DRAFT. Sorry.

Bush has no choice but to reinstate draft
October 26, 2004
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v?TARGET=printable&article
_id=417dc4f39c1c8

President Bush may or may not have a secret plan to reinstate the draft. But this is beside the point. The deteriorating facts on the ground in Iraq, plus the Bush doctrine of acting pre-emptively and unilaterally against hostile regimes, will soon leave him no choice. If President Bush is re-elected, he will have to restart the draft.

Indeed, President Bush has already imposed Stage 1 of a new draft. Many soldiers whose enlistment period is up are not being allowed to leave the service, and those who left the service years ago are being forced to put on the uniform again against their will. It is clear that we already have a backdoor draft.

President Bush has effectively ended the all-volunteer military.
Sen. Tom Harkin

.... go to the article for the rest.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, October 28, 2004 11:10 AM

JASONZZZ


Quote:

Originally posted by Ghoulman:
... and Haken still hasn't changed this thread to THE DRAFT. Sorry.

Bush has no choice but to reinstate draft
October 26, 2004
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v?TARGET=printable&article
_id=417dc4f39c1c8

President Bush may or may not have a secret plan to reinstate the draft. But this is beside the point. The deteriorating facts on the ground in Iraq, plus the Bush doctrine of acting pre-emptively and unilaterally against hostile regimes, will soon leave him no choice. If President Bush is re-elected, he will have to restart the draft.

Indeed, President Bush has already imposed Stage 1 of a new draft. Many soldiers whose enlistment period is up are not being allowed to leave the service, and those who left the service years ago are being forced to put on the uniform again against their will. It is clear that we already have a backdoor draft.

President Bush has effectively ended the all-volunteer military.
Sen. Tom Harkin

.... go to the article for the rest.



I though this "Stage 1" draft stuff has already been talked about.

Each member of the Armed Services has an IRR component to their enlistment. Whenever you enlist, you actually "owe" the government a total of 8 years of service time. So if you are in for 2, 3 or 4 years of active service, you can spend the balance of it in the real Reserves or in IRR status. If you are IRR that you can be obligated to be called up. Why? B/C you have more training than an average Joe/Jane draft inductee. It makes sense for the country and the government to call up people who have some familiarity with what they are doing.

This other thing with holding troops back past their end of enlistment discharge date isn't anything new either. It's happened everytime there is a major national conflict or a major deployment.





Like Fireflyfans.net?
Haken needs a new development system. Donate.
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=5&t=3283


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, October 29, 2004 4:41 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


The Draft? You don’t know the half of it.

After 9/11, Bush and his minions knew they had the prefect excuse needed to justify taking over the world, but that even restoring the draft wouldn’t provide the manpower needed to subjugate the entire planet. As they began to cast about for a source of more troops, their eyes fell upon Canada. It was perfect; nearby, used to American culture, speaking almost the same language, and no one would ever miss a few hundred thousand Canadians.

A top-secret project, code named Operation Hoser, was set up to test the feasibility of capturing and brainwashing Canadian men for use in our military. On New Year’s Eve of 2001, a team of highly trained U.S. Special Forces was infiltrated into Canada to select a representative subject. Fortunately for Canadian manhood and world peace, it was Ghoulman.

Ghoul was quickly chloroformed, bound, and smuggled across the border in the false bottom of a crate of Canadian pharmaceuticals. Taken to a secret laboratory at a still-undisclosed location, the unconscious Ghoulman was given a thorough physical exam, with promising results. The psychologists then began the brainwashing procedure and discovered...well...let’s just say you can’t wash what you can’t find.

Disappointed, the project heads had the Green Berets return Ghoulman, still knocked out, to Canada. They doused him with rotgut whiskey and left him on a street corner where he finally awakened hours later, wondering how he’d gotten to Red Deer...and why his underpants were on backwards.

Thus the Neo-con’s plans for world domination were quashed, and they had to settle for the oil in Iraq. I do understand, though, that there have been a lot of unexplained disappearances in New Zealand. Hmm.


Just kiddin', Ghoul.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, October 29, 2004 5:20 AM

BARNSTORMER


Geezer


Heeee Heeee Heeeeeeeee

To frikkin funny




Am I a Lion?... No, I think I'ma tellin' the truth.

BarnStormer

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, October 29, 2004 5:24 AM

GHOULMAN


^^^ yea, thanks for supporting the troops.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Salon: NBC's Ronna blunder: A failed attempt to appeal to MAGA voters — except they hate her too
Thu, March 28, 2024 07:04 - 1 posts
Russia Invades Ukraine. Again
Thu, March 28, 2024 05:27 - 6154 posts
In the garden, and RAIN!!! (2)
Thu, March 28, 2024 02:07 - 3408 posts
Russian losses in Ukraine
Wed, March 27, 2024 23:21 - 987 posts
Elections; 2024
Wed, March 27, 2024 22:19 - 2069 posts
human actions, global climate change, global human solutions
Wed, March 27, 2024 15:03 - 824 posts
NBC News: Behind the scenes, Biden has grown angry and anxious about re-election effort
Wed, March 27, 2024 14:58 - 2 posts
BUILD BACK BETTER!
Wed, March 27, 2024 14:45 - 5 posts
RFK Jr. Destroys His Candidacy With VP Pick?
Wed, March 27, 2024 11:59 - 16 posts
Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility
Wed, March 27, 2024 10:57 - 49 posts
Ha. Haha! HAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!!
Tue, March 26, 2024 21:26 - 1 posts
You can't take the sky from me, a tribute to Firefly
Tue, March 26, 2024 16:26 - 293 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL