Comments on: Bring Back The Draft?

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

[lehmannj]

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have demonstrated the limitations of a relatively small all-volunteer force. We are asking too much of our men and women and their families to bear the strain of multiple tours in combat zones. A draft which began after start of hostilities, would more widely and equitably spread the burden of defending this country. The knowledge that one could be called to serve in a war might also slow momentum to war or prevent ill considered misadventures such as Iraq. If more members of the current administration had gone to Vietnam, I seriously doubt we'd be in Iraq today. They missed the lesson that Senators Chuck Hagel, James Webb, and John Kerry learned firsthand.

[papachronis]

Sirs:
Andy Rooney's statement that "(i)n 1942 we were at war with Germany and it wasn't long before drafted college students and high school graduates dominated our military."
He must have led a very protected life as a college student not to know that in 1940 (according to the U.S. Census) 56 percent of Americans age 25 and older had NOT completed high school; only 11 percent were high school graduates; only 4 percent had "some" college, and only 3 percent had a bachelor's degree or better. The greatest generation wasn't heavy on academic degrees, but that didn't prevent them from kicking the heck out of the Axis.
Also, many of the troops who enlisted before World War II did so during the Great Depression just to get three squares a day and were not all moral misfits as he seems to imply. Neither are those who volunteered for service in later years.
Mr. Rooney is so anxious to criticize the Bush Administration at every turn that apparently he's willing to rewrite history to back up his faulty premises. He ought to check his facts first.
(I wasn't born until 1943, but even I know that we also were at war with Japan in 1942.)
--Peter G. Chronis

[ronda9311]

Mr. Rooney, I have a nephew in Baghdad as we speak. My whole family has nightmares worrying about him. Reading your commentary last night when you referred to our soldiers as "loosers", I felt nothing but angry and hurt. Are you prepared to get that call from a family member of a deceased soldier! You have lost much respect from your viewers, I know I will think twice about hearing one of your commentaries again, I used to enjoy them. I truly hope you read each and every one of the comments left by viewers. NEVER should those words be spoken from any TRUE AMERICAN. Our soldiers are faced everyday with the possibility of death. You should be singing their praise not putting them down. I have seen many men/women come out of the Army/Navy a better person. One that is proud of their accomplishments. You managed, with a moment in time, to take away their pride. For the record my nephew graduated high school and has taken college courses. I have many friends who were in the Army or Navy, I'm even engaged to a Retired Naval Officer and every one of those people sing the Military's praise. Try being a family member searching CNN for just a glimps of your loved one. Live and breath the fear of that knock on the door standing on the other side is an Army Official. It's not a pretty way to live right now Mr. Rooney. I don't wish it on anyone. You need to apologize to the United State Army/Navy for this one. Ronda

[ebaugh5]

How dare you insinuate that my dad is some sort of "bottom of the barrel loser" because he chose to leave high school before graduation to join the Army during World War II.

He is an honorable man who loves his country, his wife of over 60 years, his five children, ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He CHOSE to serve - you waited to be drafted. Shame on you.

[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





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[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





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[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





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[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





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[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





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[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[beakers3]

I have a bone to pick with Andy's story about having high school graduates and college grads serving in our military. Are you out of your mind? These people should be the ones leading the country. I suggest me send all the people that are in our prisons and illegal immigrants to fight this war in Iraq. Then maybe they will understand what it is to leave here in the USA.

Sincerely,
J Kitchen





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[gipperusmc]

Andy

I failed to mention that my son had to get a "Waiver" to join the Navy. He in now on his second deployment in Iraq. He is as Proud to server as was I.

You should now put all Service Men in the same basket as your in.

gipperusmc

[galanma2000]

Mr. Rooney,

I am the moral waiver approving authority for individuals seeking a Direct Appointment as an officer into the Army Reserve and those enlisted soldiers seeking an Active Duty or Army Reserve Warrant Officer appointment. Your comments on Sunday, March 11th, regarding "moral waivers" mystified me. You failed to explain what a moral waiver involves which leads me to believe that you and your staff did little to investigate that figure.

Moral waivers are submitted for civil or military infractions where a person has been indicted or summoned to court. Waivers are carefully scrutinized and investigated. The infraction may have occurred one to 20 years ago. Each moral waiver request is unique. Many waivers involve infractions during teenage years.
I assure you they are not the bottom of the barrel. They are the average american. Most who have received a moral waiver benefit from the structure of the military and become model citizens. Also, they have gone and laid they're life on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a military veteran, I respect and thank you for your duty in World War II. As a journalist, you presented a grossly misleading story into the recruitment standards of today's military. My request of you is that you not present a statistic to back your view, unless you present all the facts in relation to that statistic.

galanma2000

[gipperusmc]

I have for years watched 60 Min. and always loved your closing remarks. But as for your statements on "Moral Waivers" to me you stepped over the line.

I for one didn't have a College Degree when I enlisted in the Marines back in 1956 and retired in 1991 but served with honor. I also served with several Marines that had "Moral Waivers" and they fought with distinction and valor. There were times when those with College Degrees failed to step to the front.

I see that you were drafted and didn't get drafted, I wonder if you would you went to College to maybe beat the draft.

You should apoligize to all veterans that in your words had "Moral Waivers". True there were some that shouldn't have been allowed in as there were also College Grads that shouldn't have been allowed in also. But remember although they may have been a problem to society they still Bleed Red and were still Americans.

gipperusmc.

[bluestardad]

HERE ARE THE SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION IN 08 WRITE THEM OR QUIT COMPLAINING! ASK THEM WHO IS PAYING THEIR SALARIES? 50 YEARS OF SACRIFICE IS ENOUGH! We cannot want peace in the Middle East more than those who live there! The NEOCONS are bragging in their advertisements read below.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm


Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)
Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)
Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)
Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)
Reed, Jack- (D - RI)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[golfkt]

Andy:
You have outlived your usefulness. Time to go away and retire fully. You don't have any understanding of the military and it's current condition. You don't understand how wars are now fought.
This is not 1941-45. Look at the size of the military now vs then vs the capabilities of same. Plus the need for highl trained, highly motivated soldiers.
Andy, time to go out to pasture.

[yuptashi]

Andy,
When you were drafted out of college in August 1941 did you ever realize that the country was in a depression and maybe there were some who's only crime was being poor and hungry and the service meant three squares. As far as World War 2 is concerned, my parents always told me that after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, anyone who waited to be drafted and did not enlist was considered "a loser". Finally, you don't have to worry about how we as Americans are being represented overseas. One thing the enemy knows about all Americans - we bleed.

[yuptashi]

Andy,
When you were drafted out of college in August 1941 did you ever realize that the country was in a depression and maybe there were some who's only crime was being poor and hungry and the service meant three squares. As far as World War 2 is concerned, my parents always told me that after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, anyone who waited to be drafted and did not enlist was considered "a loser". Finally, you don't have to worry about how we as Americans are being represented overseas. One thing the enemy knows about all Americans - we bleed.

[gwlafayette]

we need a draft. there is no way around it. an all volunteer army is not cutting it anymore. people only volunteer when there is no war. many countries require military service when you reach legal age. i think this is the best approach. every 18-year-old person should have to do some kind of public service before they become a voting, legal american. prove where your allegiance lies.