Comments on: Bring Back The Draft?

If America Fights A War, Should The Government Draft Soldiers?

[adrushki]

Andy - you ask if many of today's service men and women are the kind of people we want representing our country. Do you honestly bevieve that the upper administration of this country is comprised of people we want representing the United States of America to the rest of the world?

[mhahr2]

Absolutely Correct Mr. Rooney!
I served our country for four VERY long years. I just got out in January with an honorable discharge. The leadership I was subjected to was the same as what you said on sunday. The people that are above us in todays military are extremely mentally underdeveloped for leadership, especially on the enlisted side. Most of them barely scraped by highschool. Many that I served with only scored in the low thirties on their ASVAB! The ASVAB as you know is a test that ninth graders can pass. Many of the displeased people who wrote to you here use the phrase "my father" a lot. It certainly appears that maybe they should experience the military leadership before they argue. Some people enjoy the sound of their voice so much, that they will even type an argument to hear it.

[maryann1960]

Shame on you, Andy Rooney. What right do you have to call those who serve in our military losers? Ask Iraqi hostages that were freed by our soldiers, if they think those who rescued them were losers. Ask Iraqis, wounded by insurgents, if they think our army doctors and nurses who cared for them are losers. Ask Iraqi children who receive school supplies and toys from the American soldiers, if they think the soldiers are losers. Men and women who join the service today, join knowing they will be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. Unlike you, they did not wait to be drafted. How brave these young men and women are. You should admire them for volunteering to protect our country.

I know of a soldier that sacrificed his life by using his body to cover a grenade. His actions saved the lives of four other soldiers. He had the chance to escape, but he chose to use his body to protect the other soldiers in the humvee. I am sure he didn%u2019t think his soldier buddies were losers. He was a hero, certainly not a loser. I just hope family members that have lost loved ones to this war, missed your careless, uneducated report.

I think our soldiers are amazing. They deserve our support and respect. And yes, Andy Rooney, I am honored to have these soldiers represent me to the rest of the world. Shame on you, Andy Rooney.

[cbsbob57]

In reading through the other comments, I see that DJHUNTZ has posted a very elogquent response with which I fully agree - but I feel obligated to offer my own, though less polished, commentary.

My major effort in writing will be to control my usual biting sarcasm - I've learned that it is neither clever, helpful or appropriate to try to make one's case by being sarcastic. My father and uncles were high school dropouts. They served bravely in WWII. They were NOT losers. You are just plain wrong. They and thousands like them served bravely - their blood ran just as red and their loyalty was just as strong as more "elite" troops. As for effective corporals and sergeants, I would bet the best of those were among these grunts - and were probably recognized as such by all - their fellow grunts as well as the "educated elite." You are wrong to associate bravery and the ability to be a solider with education. Likewise, it is wrong to associate morality with education. Just look around at the present day evidence. These men and women served their country in times of dire need and many made the ultimate sacrifice. What more can we ask? In one short commentary, you managed to insult thousands of service men and women - many of them from "the greatest generation" and I think you owe them a sincere apology.

[jmsgar22]

Mr. Rooney--While I generally enjoy your commentaries, I was surprised by your comments this past Sunday. Surely you did not mean to assert that the men and women who have enlisted in the military prior to high school graduation are all losers. I have never thought of my father as a loser, but he was one of those enlistees. During WWII, my father enlisted in the navy following his junior year in high school. He was not yet of the required age, and his father agreed to sign his enlistment papers. He served proudly and honorably aboard his ship which was torpedoed in the South Pacific. He watched many of his friends die. Following his service commitment, my father returned to his high school, graduated, and then pursued a music degree in college. You see, he was also a college student, but not at the same time as you. Three years ago, my father passed away and is buried in a veteran's cemetery. He certainly deserves that honor. I agreee with you that there are men and women serving in the military who have issues that should prevent them from serving. However, please do not assume that a lack of a college education or high school diploma means that they are unable to fully complete their duties.

[bullfrog34-2009]

I was appalled, hurt & angry after listening to Andy Rooney's comments about our military forces. My father enlisted, fought bravely and proudly in France & Germany during WWII. He was not a high school graduate. He served willingly not because he had to but because he felt it was his duty to his country. My brothers have also all served with honor & pride. How dare you call our Military the "bottom of the barrel" These young men & women are following orders, they did not just decide to go to Irag by themselves. Do you honestly believe that a college diploma creates willingness to serve his country,character and bravery in a person?? I dare say that having a diploma does not guarantee a person has good morals looking at the headlines today. Whether or not we should continue to stay in Iraq or not is quite a different discussion. Please remember that when the next attack on our country occurs and I believe it will, you just might have to rely on some of those uneducated young people to defend you and your family. I watch the news and am constantly amazed at the young men being interviewed and they are intelligent, articulate and compassionate. If you want to do a story go after the Veteran's Affairs groups and prod them to take better care of these amazing young people.

[lars008-2009]

GailMarie19 ............ i guess you forgot about all the officers that got fragged in viet nam then...........

[gailmarie19]

Andy, you are right. Ask the young (drafted) officers of the 70s who witnessed the change from draftees to volunteers. We all know military personnel must support whatever is happening, so we have heard for years about the effectiveness of the volunteer army. But my husband and his colleagues saw and privately discussed their concerns about the quality of people before and after the draft. Many young officers left because of their doubts about the effectiveness of such a force.

[lars008-2009]

Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/

[wake55]

As a practical matter, the anti-war movement did not really broaden its base until student deferments were drastically curtailed during the Vietnam era. Though I received my notice and passed my physical, I was allowed to return to school at Wake Forest to complete the semester. However, because Nixon suspended the draft, I did not have to report. Perhaps if the vast Republican middle and upper classes had their children at risk in the streets of Baghdad, the President and his inner circle would have thought twice about going to war in Iraq inthe first place. I do not want my sons and daughters drafted, but if the Republican base that has been so gung ho about this from the start thought that they might be sitting in rooms at Walter Reed of following caissons at Arlington, we would not be talking about a surge of any kind.

[djhuntz]

Mr. Rooney - I have watched your commentary for most of my adult life and have enjoyed your humor and sarcasm. But last Sunday night I was so enraged by your comments that I felt compelled to write you an email, something I would never have thought of before. My father did not graduate from high school, but he entered into the Coast Guard during WWII. He served his country for 4 years and those years became his proudest moments later in life. How dare you call our WWII soldiers "Losers". It even appalls me to type that word in the same paragraph as "WWII". I do believe in the power and importance of education, but an education alone does not presume greatness in a person. Hard work, a love of your country and your fellow man, honor, good judgment and a kind heart will win over a "piece of paper" any time. These are the qualities that we saw in our WWII soldiers and why they are our "greatest generation". Although my father has passed on, as so many of the other WWII veterans have, their memories of years served for our country should not be tarnished by a word such as "loser". I understand that you have your opinion, however, this time, your words hurt and stung like they have never done before. You owe an apology...not to me...but to our veterans and their families.

[djhuntz]

Mr. Rooney - I have watched your commentary for most of my adult life and have enjoyed your humor and sarcasm. But last Sunday night I was so enraged by your comments that I felt compelled to write you an email, something I would never have thought of before. My father did not graduate from high school, but he entered into the Coast Guard during WWII. He served his country for 4 years and those years became his proudest moments later in life. How dare you call our WWII soldiers "Losers". It even appalls me to type that word in the same paragraph as "WWII". I do believe in the power and importance of education, but an education alone does not presume greatness in a person. Hard work, a love of your country and your fellow man, honor, good judgment and a kind heart will win over a "piece of paper" any time. These are the qualities that we saw in our WWII soldiers and why they are our "greatest generation". Although my father has passed on, as so many of the other WWII veterans have, their memories of years served for our country should not be tarnished by a word such as "loser". I understand that you have your opinion, however, this time, your words hurt and stung like they have never done before. You owe an apology...not to me...but to our veterans and their families.

[djhuntz]

Mr. Rooney - I have watched your commentary for most of my adult life and have enjoyed your humor and sarcasm. But last Sunday night I was so enraged by your comments that I felt compelled to write you an email, something I would never have thought of before. My father did not graduate from high school, but he entered into the Coast Guard during WWII. He served his country for 4 years and those years became his proudest moments later in life. How dare you call our WWII soldiers "Losers". It even appalls me to type that word in the same paragraph as "WWII". I do believe in the power and importance of education, but an education alone does not presume greatness in a person. Hard work, a love of your country and your fellow man, honor, good judgment and a kind heart will win over a "piece of paper" any time. These are the qualities that we saw in our WWII soldiers and why they are our "greatest generation". Although my father has passed on, as so many of the other WWII veterans have, their memories of years served for our country should not be tarnished by a word such as "loser". I understand that you have your opinion, however, this time, your words hurt and stung like they have never done before. You owe an apology...not to me...but to our veterans and their families.

[lars008-2009]

skippy is a good example of why we do not want or need the draft...... all those liberals nancying around getting in the way of getting the job done..... all they do is help the enemy...... just like turncoat hanoi jane kerry did.... better they stay right here running their mouths like monday morning quarter backs......lol... right skippy.....
hahahahahahahahaha

[noireevb]

Everyone in prison is not necessarily scum. My nephew years ago was saved by the military. He was given a choice, reform school or the service. Needless to say he chose the service and made a career out of it. If that option was given today, the prisons would be less crowded. Remember the Dirty Dozen. I have seen young men that were on the road to nowhere, join the military and become wonderful citizens.

[jillsavely]

In 1939 at the age of 15 my father ran away from home and joined the 7th Cavalry. In 1942 there was a call for VOLUNTEERS to join an ELITE UNIT made up of half Canadians, half Americans; it was to be called the First Special Service Force, THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE. A Hollywood movie was made in the 60's; it portrayed the Americans as criminals and general miscreants, the Canadians as professional soldiers; and there is some truth to the story. Since my father's death I have been in contact with these men of THE FORCE, and in chatting with a Candian, who served as an officer in the U.S. Military as a career. He said, " that through out his time with THE FORCE he had known men who had criminal backgrounds; but they obeyed orders and did their duty."
As a daughter, I knew a man who had served his country honorably. Was awarded 2 Purple Hearts as a FORCEMAN and lost his hearing, and was discharged; only to re-enlist into the 82nd to be sent to the Battle of the Bulge. He was called "TANK"

[sprocket57-2009]

George Carlin's Solution To Energy, Immigration & the Manning Our Military:

Bush wants us to cut the amount of gas we use. The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants! That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down. Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the border. When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq. Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military. Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it. After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country. He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot. This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves. If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo. Problem solved.

[apstepp]

The United States exports the hero-worship of felons, ex-felons and soon-to-be felons when we broadcast the playing of the Super Bowl!

My youngest step-son was on the verge of losing his focus on life (perhaps a potential "loser"?) when he joined the Army. He is now in his fourth week of Green Beret training. He cannot be called a loser, nor can my other three step-sons who have either served in the Army or are currently serving.

Mr. Rooney does the nation a disservice when he calls people like my step-children losers. Boot camp weeds out the weak and irresponsible, Mr. Rooney. Too bad there isn't a boot camp for journalists.

[Syndicate]

You are wrong Andy. Our soldiers should be the creme of the crop and paid accordingly. Instead of lower standards we should raise standards and pay. But Andy has a point our soldiers are looked down on all over the world. They are seen as the lower classes who had no choice but to join up. You and I know this is not true but it is the perception in places like south korea.

[hassjc]

60 Minutes should have screened Mr Rooney's tirade prior to airing. It is full of inaccuracies and lies.
The quality of today's Soldiers is far better than it was for any previous conflict, save perhaps the first Gulf War (Dessert Storm). The volunteer military service has proven far more effective than the draft service of any era. And the quality of the men and women volunteering is far better than the draft. These facts are backed up by voluminous, and verifiable statistics. Had 60 Minutes or Andy Rooney cared, had they been professionals, they could have done a minimum amount of investigation and learned the truth, rather than promulgating a dangerous lie intended only to attack the integrity of the Soldier.
Mr Rooney, your freedom to rant lies and deceptions are guaranteed by far better men and women than you. Men and women with more education, more integrity, and more courage. Men and women who prove their honor every day. Mr Rooney, instead of denigrating the military service personnel, you should be loudly lauding them at every opportunity. If it were not for them, you would be not. Keep up your current approach, and it is likely that the freedom to criticize, even a legitimate criticism (which this is not), will be ended by some future Islamic radical with a beheading.