Thread: Ready for Some Real Wars????

Here Comes the Draft
News/Comment; Posted on: 2004-02-23 14:45:28

by Ted Wansley

Millions of American men and women will soon have the 'opportunity' to be impressed into military service and sent over to the Middle East to fight and die for Israel.

Congress introduced the Universal National Service Act, which will require all young Americans 18 – 26 years of age -- including women -- to perform a period of military service or civilian service in furtherance of "national defense and homeland security."

In preparation for the new draft, $28 million has been added to the Selective Service System budget for 2004 ( http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html ), and the Pentagon is quietly filling 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide.

Higher education will not provide exemption. College students will only be allowed to complete their current semester, and Seniors will be allowed to complete the year.

In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "Smart Border Declaration," which will screen for draft dodgers seeking sanctuary in Canada.

Be aware that, once drafted, you lose all of your Constitutional rights. The First Amendment goes first. Back in the late 1970s while working in the Quad Cities as a commercial diver, I went to a jewelry store to buy my girlfriend a trinket for Christmas. During my conversation with the jeweler, I learned he was serving on the US spy ship that was captured by North Korea while patrolling its coast. The Koreans claimed the US vessel had entered their territorial waters. The Pentagon denied it. I asked the jeweler to state the truth, and he said he was prohibited from ever divulging the information even though he was no longer in the military.

Second Amendment rights are also denied. Possession of firearms is restricted by military regulations that specify where, when, and by whom they may be carried -- or may even be accessible.

Trial by jury is replaced by military tribunals. All searches and seizures are lawful. Drafted citizens become legally indentured servants until completion of their "tour." Those who refuse orders to enlist are sent to prison.

Americans who understand that the current neocon regime in Washington and the potential Kerry regime (funded and promoted by the same billionaire ethnic lobby) are actually enemies of the American people had better make in-depth plans now to protect their sons and daughters.

Notes, courtesy of Project Censored and indymedia.org:


Pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills S 89 and HR 163) would time the program so the draft could begin at early as Spring 2005 -- conveniently just after the 2004 presidential election.

If voters who currently support U.S. aggression abroad were confronted with the possibility that their own children or grandchildren might not have a say about whether to fight or not, many of these same voters might have a change of mind. (Not that it should make a difference, but this plan would among other things eliminate higher education as a shelter and would not exclude women -- and Canada is no longer an option.)

Please send this on to all the parents and teachers you know, and all the aunts and uncles, grandparents, godparents.... And let your children know -- it's their future, and they can be a powerful voice for change! Please also write to your representatives to ask them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills -- and write to newspapers and other media outlets to ask them why they're not covering this important story.

$28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. SSS must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. Please see http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the SSS Annual Performance Plan - Fiscal Year 2004.

The Pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide.. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan [and a permanent state of war on "terrorism"] proves accurate, the U.S. may have "no choice" but to draft.

http://www.informationclearinghouse....rticle5146.htm

In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "Smart Border Declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Manley, and US Homeland Security Director, Gov. Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year.

http://www.projectcensored.org

Originally posted by splat
Here Comes the Draft
News/Comment; Posted on: 2004-02-23 14:45:28

by Ted Wansley

Millions of American men and women will soon have the 'opportunity' to be impressed into military service and sent over to the Middle East to fight and die for Israel.

Congress introduced the Universal National Service Act, which will require all young Americans 18 – 26 years of age -- including women -- to perform a period of military service or civilian service in furtherance of "national defense and homeland security."

In preparation for the new draft, $28 million has been added to the Selective Service System budget for 2004 ( http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html ), and the Pentagon is quietly filling 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide.

Higher education will not provide exemption. College students will only be allowed to complete their current semester, and Seniors will be allowed to complete the year.

In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "Smart Border Declaration," which will screen for draft dodgers seeking sanctuary in Canada.

Be aware that, once drafted, you lose all of your Constitutional rights. The First Amendment goes first. Back in the late 1970s while working in the Quad Cities as a commercial diver, I went to a jewelry store to buy my girlfriend a trinket for Christmas. During my conversation with the jeweler, I learned he was serving on the US spy ship that was captured by North Korea while patrolling its coast. The Koreans claimed the US vessel had entered their territorial waters. The Pentagon denied it. I asked the jeweler to state the truth, and he said he was prohibited from ever divulging the information even though he was no longer in the military.

Second Amendment rights are also denied. Possession of firearms is restricted by military regulations that specify where, when, and by whom they may be carried -- or may even be accessible.

Trial by jury is replaced by military tribunals. All searches and seizures are lawful. Drafted citizens become legally indentured servants until completion of their "tour." Those who refuse orders to enlist are sent to prison.

Americans who understand that the current neocon regime in Washington and the potential Kerry regime (funded and promoted by the same billionaire ethnic lobby) are actually enemies of the American people had better make in-depth plans now to protect their sons and daughters.

Notes, courtesy of Project Censored and indymedia.org:


Pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills S 89 and HR 163) would time the program so the draft could begin at early as Spring 2005 -- conveniently just after the 2004 presidential election.

If voters who currently support U.S. aggression abroad were confronted with the possibility that their own children or grandchildren might not have a say about whether to fight or not, many of these same voters might have a change of mind. (Not that it should make a difference, but this plan would among other things eliminate higher education as a shelter and would not exclude women -- and Canada is no longer an option.)

Please send this on to all the parents and teachers you know, and all the aunts and uncles, grandparents, godparents.... And let your children know -- it's their future, and they can be a powerful voice for change! Please also write to your representatives to ask them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills -- and write to newspapers and other media outlets to ask them why they're not covering this important story.

$28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. SSS must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. Please see http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the SSS Annual Performance Plan - Fiscal Year 2004.

The Pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide.. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan [and a permanent state of war on "terrorism"] proves accurate, the U.S. may have "no choice" but to draft.

http://www.informationclearinghouse....rticle5146.htm

In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "Smart Border Declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Manley, and US Homeland Security Director, Gov. Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year.

http://www.projectcensored.org

If Brett enlists he can dumb the enemy to death.

Profound, I know. But all I can say is wow!

send the fat kids. this will help with growing obesity problem saving us trillions in the long run.

This is all so depressing. I think it's time for some real news - time for Betty Bowers (be sure and check out her "politics" section):

America\\\'s Best Christian - Betty Bowers

Love Betty!

Oh yeah- shit's gonna hit the fan!

Originally posted by Plakespear
Oh yeah- shit's gonna hit the fan!

Well it already did re: staffing the draft boards. The Gubbermint took down that page of their site a couple of months ago when ppl began freaking out about it. It's still going on but under the guise of "don't tell and they won't know what hit them" or the "look!! what's that over there" ploy also known as "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

Millions of American men and women will soon have the 'opportunity' to be impressed into military service and sent over to the Middle East to fight and die for Israel.

What kind of statement is that... to fight and die for Israel? Give me a fucking break. This article is blatant scare mongering. I'll start to worry when legitimate news sources carry the story... not some garbage spewed by an anti-semite.

I would be interested in seeing more objective reporting on this subject - how realistic is it that a draft will start? (Not that it matters much to me, being old and decrepit).

So, if all kids will be required to serve a period of military service, why would they need a draft?

I guess I should be opposed to this, but part of me thinks it's not a bad idea. It will certainly shape some pansy-ass kids up. The down side, of course, is the possibility of having to fight in a war and get killed. Yes, that's a big downside.

It makes more sense to me than, for example, writing an amendment to the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

REALITY CHECK

A resolution reinstating the draft is BS. This bill is a political statement and would never pass.

I call BS on hiring draft board positions.

The SSS funding may be true as the SSS has been drasticly underfunded ever since Selective Service registration became voluntary instead of manditory in 1999.

This email/article is scare propoganda.

Originally posted by slim
I'll start to worry when legitimate news sources carry the story...

The Bill was introduced to Congress a year ago by Sen. Ernest Hollings of South Carolina.



The Universal National Service Act of 2003
Contact: Andy Davis (202) 224-6654


Introduced by Representative Rangel and Senator Hollings

The Rangel-Hollings legislation (H.R. 163 in the House and S.89 in the Senate) would re- institute a draft to compulsory military or alternative national service for men and women, aged 18 to 26, who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America.

The bill:

Defines "national service" as either military or civilian service as defined by the President that promotes national or homeland security.

Gives the President authority to establish the numbers of persons to be selected for military service and the means of selection.

Requires those not selected for military service to perform their national service obligation in a civilian capacity for the same duration as those selected for military service (two years in most cases).

Directs the President to prescribe the regulations necessary to carry out the Act, including:

types of civilian service eligible to meet the national service requirement;
means and manner of induction to service;
criteria for eligibility for service;
criteria for exemption from service;
all other administrative matters in connection with induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination and classification of such persons.

Allows the President to use for the purposes of the Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C.App. 451 et seq.) including procedures for registration, selection, and induction but specifically requires the registration and selection for national service of women as well as men and seeks to strictly limit the grounds for exemption from national service to physical disability and consciencious objection.
Allows educational deferments for High School, but only until age 20.

Originally posted by grrrr
I would be interested in seeing more objective reporting on this subject - how realistic is it that a draft will start?
... being old and decrepit).

I, too, would be interested in seeing more objective reporting. I'm too old, but if it's remotely true - excluding the reference to Israel - my kids come up for eligibility in less than ten years.

My first post was knee-jerk . . . .

Originally posted by grrrr
(Not that it matters much to me, being old and decrepit).

At the very least it matters, because God only knows what the current administration has planned for "old farts" like us.

Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
REALITY CHECK



I call BS on hiring draft board positions.

.

Reality check for you my friend - I went to the site Whitehouse.gov and saw/read the page myself. It did indeed exist and the government did indeed take it down after ppl started to freak out about it. This does not mean however, that they are not still hiring for the draft review boards just that they feel it's in their best interest to keep it on the down low.

Now we have troops in Haiti - add that to the 35,000 in Korea, some 4,000 in Bosnia plus all the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. We DO NOT have enough troops for proper rotation of forces. You do the math.........

Originally posted by KQ
Reality check for you my friend - I went to the site Whitehouse.gov and saw/read the page myself.

Now we have troops in Haiti - add that to the 35,000 in Korea, some 4,000 in Bosnia plus all the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. We DO NOT have enough troops for proper rotation of forces. You do the math.........

I usually stay out of the political threads but found this is interesting, true??? You decide, story and link.

Multiple sources that just spoke with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide told Democracy Now! that Aristide says he was "kidnapped" and taken by force to the Central African Republic. Congressmember Maxine Waters said she received a call from Aristide at 9am EST. "He's surrounded by military. It's like he is in jail, he said. He says he was kidnapped," said Waters. She said he had been threatened by what he called US diplomats. According to Waters, the diplomats reportedly told the Haitian president that if he did not leave Haiti, paramilitary leader Guy Philippe would storm the palace and Aristide would be killed. According to Waters, Aristide was told by the US that they were withdrawing Aristide's US security.
TransAfrica founder and close Aristide family friend Randall Robinson also received a call from the Haitian president early this morning and confirmed Waters account. Robinson said that Aristide "emphatically" denied that he had resigned. "He did not resign," he said. "He was abducted by the United States in the commission of a coup." Robinson says he spoke to Aristide on a cell phone that was smuggled to the Haitian president.

http://www.democracynow.org/

Edit, becoming more believeable, maybe construed from events.
reuter\\\'s link

Originally posted by slim
What kind of statement is that... to fight and die for Israel? Give me a fucking break. This article is blatant scare mongering. I'll start to worry when legitimate news sources carry the story... not some garbage spewed by an anti-semite.

I'm with you on, and against, the anti-semetic slant stated right from the get-go on this, Slim. But if any of it is true, Americans have a whole lot to be scared of. As for writing it off in it's entirety based on the prejudicial slant - I won't, until I see it totally debunked. Even though the author was a biased ass for putting that line in there, I learned a long time ago that inside news can come from some pretty off-the-wall sources, including rags like the Enquirer. So, with that in mind, I posted this to generate interest and debunking, if warranted.

Originally posted by Viva
At the very least it matters, because God only knows what the current administration has planned for "old farts" like us.

Soylent Green, Viva. Step right up for your last hit of acid and a beautiful movie.

Military service what a sobering thought. At long last the resorts will be free from the invasion of the new snow neanderthal. The snowboarders will be in green carrying guns a thousand miles away. There are ways to beat the draft. When that time rolls around be glad to lend my expertise to any skiers who'd rather ski than salute.

Given that the bill was introduced by two Democrats (Charles B. Rangel, NY and Ernest Hollings, SC) I'm not sure how you could blame Bush for this. Likely it's a media push to make the war more relevant to people to who right now are ignoring it.

If such a bill was ever passed (and it won't be) you can be sure that it would be a political death sentence for whoever votes for it.

SSS must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation.

That sentence bothered me the most.

I had mentioned having a draft a month or so ago and was met with volleys of dissent.

It's Charlie Rangel's idea I was trying to convey: that having a mercenary class was not a good thing. For one, it homogenizes the armed forces into a particular economic class which inhibits diversity. Moreover, for the ruling class, the mercenary class insulates the wealthy from having their loved ones involved.

If you know much about either Hollings or Rangel, the knee jerk Democrat might be amazed.

It is interesting that the draft boards have been populated. Kudos to KQ for informing me on that one 2 months ago. And interesting that Canada is promising to screen more heavily for draft dodgers.

If there's a draft with no loopholes, will the Bushes be as chickenhawklike?

What advantage is there to this being a scare tactic, someone tell me seriously. Scaring us into what? More careful scrutinization of our govt? That is not a bad thing.

Originally posted by KQ
This is all so depressing. I think it's time for some real news - time for Betty Bowers (be sure and check out her "politics" section):

America\\\'s Best Christian - Betty Bowers

Yeah here is what those pesky, evil religious people are up to.

Yup those religious zealots sure are evil, and certainly up to no good.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore is Maryland's leading private provider of human services, welcoming and serving people in need of all faiths and races. We are firmly rooted in the gospel of Jesus to "serve the least of these." We are a creative, cutting-edge social service and advocacy organization, recognized by many as a leader in compassionate caregiving, with a standard of excellence second to none.

Incorporated in 1923, Catholic Charities today improves the lives of over 160,000 people each year. Our programs focus on children and families, the disadvantaged, the elderly, and people with developmental disabilities. Our work is done by 2,100 dedicated employees, who are supported by over 10,000 generous volunteers. More than 20,000 individuals support us through donations annually. Headquartered in Baltimore, Catholic Charities operates in Baltimore City and in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington Counties.