There They Go Again
Dean
INDC Journal interviews prominent CBS personnel about their recent story about a supposed re-instatement of the draft.
These guys are a lot less dodgy than Rather ever was, I must say, but I have to agree with Bill's conclusions. CBS used bogus documents, failed to note that only two minority-party congressmen have ever proposed reinstating the draft, and failed to note that the woman they identified as merely "a Republican" is actually the head of a political group seeking to have the U.S. unilaterally withdraw from Iraq.
They can't keep calling their critics right-wing cranks forever, can they?
Rational observers merely take note of the record enlistment and re-enlistment rates for the military, add in the fact that a draft of men and women would produce a military of 50 million members, and realise that no matter how stretched the military may or may not be, there is no conceivable set of circumstances outside of a declared war against a major conventional power (China, eg) which would require a military draft.
Given our knowledge that CBS will just make shit up if they feel the need, we can assume that they know full well the woman is not a Republican, but agreed to present her as such in order to give more force to their otherwise completely absurd report. This, furthermore, just reinforces the perception that CBS news has firmly committed itself as an institution to the defeat of President Bush this November. The only response we can make to this is to not use any CBS material in any manner whatsoever - they have become a "News of the World" level institution, and should be treated as such.
("But I am Napoleon!"
"Sure you are.")
The way the story was presented gave the impression that the Administration was trying to backdoor the idea of a draft reinstatement going, while at the same time publicly denying it, which just isn't true. The whole draft thing is a Democrat political ploy.
The fact is, the US military has had no need for an army of conscripts ever since the Viet Nam war slowly evaporated in the early 1970s. The weaponry, war plans, logistics and other elements of a modern military no longer have any place for a conscript army.
Modern weapons are far more specialized than most of their earlier counterparts, are far more destructive, and are specifically designed for the sort of bulls-eye attacks that are long on big and little smart bombs and short on need for large masses of infantry. A single attack helicopter acquires a target building, automobile or even a single person on its specifialized screens. A single guided missile descends. The building or automobile is obliterated, or the person is blown into shreds of meat and bone. The chopper returns to its base or its patrol. The mess is cleaned up and the people of the neighborhood go on with their lives. In an age of big and little smart bombs, countries with sophisticated armaments no longer need armies of less-than-willing conscripts.
The phony issue of a military draft was invented by leftwing Democrat congressmen who wish to defeat the foreign policy of the United States by inciting draftees to cause trouble, as some of them did during the Viet Nam war, and to lend credence to propaganda about "bringing our boys home". A thoroughly professional fighting force, such as is suitable for the wars we must occasionally fight, does not make trouble about wanting to be sent home. Those who push the issue too far are soon fired, as any other employee would be treated under similar circumstances. Such a force is relatively easy to control and, man for man or woman for woman, is far more effective in real or quasi combat.
As for those who would run for the Canadian border to avoid a draft that does not even exist, that suits me fine. Let them go to Toronto and let them stay there. That will mean fewer people to compete with for American jobs. None of them are the kinds of persons I would regard as worthwhile American citizens in any case, and I would strip them of their citizenship.
When I was in the US Army 50 years ago, I was there as a voluntary reservist called to active duty. Nearly all of us just shut our mouths, listened carefully so we wouldn't get the orders wrong, carried out those lawful orders, and came home. End of story.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Historically, conscription was introduced by the Left during the French Revolution, the "levee en masse" or "citizen army" to replace the elite army of the King. Prussia, in its rise to hegomony in 1870, used conscription also. But Oswald Spengler, a quintessential Prussian militarist, foresaw the demise of the draft and a return to elite, professional forces in the 20th century.
I oppose the draft. As Arnold Harris shows us, it is unnecessary militarily and, morally, it is an unjustifiable infringement on individual freedom. There are many alternatives to the draft that we can use, e.g., raising the pay and other benefits for our soldiers and stepping up recruitment. Promote a patriotic attitude in our schools and universities and elsewhere so as to encourage young people to join their country's armed forces. Another thing we can do is to stop drumming brave and able people out of the military solely because of their sexual orientation. Barry Goldwater was right.