Comments on: Bring Back The Draft?

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

[bparker11-2009]

I find Mr. Rooney's comments outrageous. I recently sent my 18 year old son off to the Navy. He gave up a scholarship to a university to serve as a Navy corpsman with the Marines. He did not have to join the Navy, he could have been like the others in his graduating class who are now in classes instead of putting his life on the line. Get your facts straight Mr. Rooney. Yes, a draft would provide higher educated soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. However you yourself admitted you hated everything about your Army service. If you think the retention rate is bad now, start the draft and see what happens. Comparing your WWII experience with today's modern miltary is insane. Think about it, every man and woman in the miltary today chose to be there. I am a fan of the "greatest generation," but I think the same description could be used today.

My son is enthusiastic about his branch of the military. I think if you would take the time to talk with some of the young men and women serving in the military you would find his attitude is not out of the ordinary. These youngsters are todays true patriots. They serve willingly knowing they are going in harms way and frankly, to insinuate they need "moral waivers" to fill out the ranks is offensive. You owe these men and women and their families an apology. I am sure if "moral waivers" were needed in the media for employment, that there would be no shortage of them at CBS.

Bill Parker
Monroe, La.

[wilangus]

Accidently send my opinions before I was finished. As the Grandmother of a soilder serving his second tour in Iraq and as the Daughter of a retired military man with a 100%service connected disability and the wife of a Vietnam era veteran I take great offense to Mr. Rooneys commets. He may be old and senile, and certainly un-American,but he still had no right to throw such insults at our military. No True Blue AMerican would ever think about putting down our fightingh men. Diploma or no diploma. If he wants to throw some well deserved insults ,he needs to look no further than the men who were in charge of Walter Reed, the educated part of the military, the men we should be so proud of. Yes, Andy these educated men have certainly done their country proud, allowing our sick and wounded servicemen and women to live in squallor. Sometimes educated people like Mr. Rooney show what their education taught them. If I had had to serve, I know many High school drop out, including my father that I would have been proud to serve with, you on the other hand Mr. Rooney would not have been one of my choices. Had I been a High school dropout serving with you, I would have been afraid that your opinion of me might have interferred with your ability covering my back. CBS I hope you are not going to let this matter ride. Mr. Rooney owes our veterans and our fighting men and women a huge apology and I hope if it is not forthcoming that your ratings will drop dramatically.

[wilangus]

They must have moral waivers in Congress,because some of the people you mentioned are surley the ones that are making our laws. There are many people who have broke the law, paid their dues and would now be honored to fight for their country, If their crime was something like shoplifting and not a crime like murder, or rape, then why not let them serve? Yes I think we should re-instate the draft, without any kind of deferrments. If your number comes up you go, regardless of who your Daddy is. Better yet why not have chain gangs, let those folks doing hard time find out what hard time really is.

[ryanfamily70]

Mr. Rooney,

I have never read such garbage in my life. Your lack of respe4ct for the quality of our current military is out right disgusting. The individuals that are currently serving in our military are at a level far above where you were when youn served. They are some of the most highly educated, dedicated and patriotic people that I personally known in my live, and you sir, should be ashamed. I will never watch you on television again.

Jim Ryan
Peoria Arizona

[rmorgan70]

Cont.

In this Country with all the political correctness we have raised our children not to fight because someone may get hurt. Now you want these kids to go to war. If this Country sends these kids to war I hope they send a lot of body bags so we can get a child back after they have been killed. There is no way we can expect these children to fight in any war unless they are willing to fight and have the knowledge to fight. We can arm these children with all the ammo they can carry but we can not expect them to look into an enemy's eyes and pull the trigger. If you are looking for someone to blame, it is our government because they are the ones who have banned all the toys that look like weapons.

If Americans with criminal records want to fight, let them. Why would we care if during the war they don't act like gentlemen. It is war and war is hell. I say send all the prisoners that want to go and let them fight the war the way they have to so they can win the war and the media should stay home until the war has been won.

Ron Morgan

[dridinger1]

Mr. Rooney needs to apologize for his comments about our brave soldiers who have volunteered to fight and defend us. Its obvious by his pandering to the left i.e. Charlie Rangel, that his vague attempts to suggest the draft is fairer just to demean and put down those who have VOLUNTEERED to protect us. His generation of ww2 veterans should be ashamed of his comments. We fight a different war now. The enemy is not like before, can't Americans see! Obviously Rooney can't.

[rmorgan70]

This Country in the last 15 years has done everything thing in its power to take away anything that looks like a gun from our children. They have introduced all kinds of gun control laws to make sure our children don't see or touch a gun. Now that this country needs our children to be tough and ready to fight to the death, how can we expect them to do this after the way they have been raised? You want to take these children that have had guns hidden from them and send them to war to fight for this country with no experience at all with firearms and expect them to know how to use a firearm after 6 weeks of training. They are going against an enemy that has been using weapons their entire life.

Cont.

[toolmangler-2009]

I dare Mr rooney to look me in the eye and call 'me' a loser even at my age. I want no one covering my 'six' with an axe to grind.

[ravendta]

None of you attempt to explain how you could possibly justify forced servitude. None can tell me why it should be OK to take a person's free-will away.

Might I remind you that Canada does NOT have a military draft, and how many wars are they involved in? If I had the money, I'd have moved there long ago, but such as the American economy is, I'm barely living my life now.

NO ONE has the right to take the free will of an American away - it is clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence. And to suggest doing so to fight an unjust and unfair war is not only scarey, but it is a sign of the true disintegration of what we once called "freedom."

The voice of disent gave birth to this nation. Never forget that.

[lcards3]

Mr. Rooney states that during WWII it was not until high school and college graduates were drafted "the Army and Navy were no longer made up of losers".

These comments are an insult to our WWII veterans. The men, you call losers, lost their lives, were wounded in action, and fought in some of the most horrific battles in US history. And, yet, 60 minutes allows its employee to look at these men, now in their 80's and 90's, right in the eye through the convenience of a television camera and tell them that because they are not graduates or they had a criminal record, they are not worthy of the service they gave to our country. I can't imagine how many elderly gentlemen and their wives or widows were brought to tears listening to your show last night.

I once asked a WWII veteran when were his best and most proud years, and he replied, "the war years, because every man was equal".

Do not allow Mr. Rooney and your show to disgrace such veterans. Apologize.

As for Mr. Rooney, perhaps mother coddled him too much before drafted to the army, a handsome "dropout" G.I. stole his girlfriend, or his briefs were pulled up over his weak shoulders too many times in the barracks, but these comments to our American G.I.s cannot be allowed and you must apologize. Have a little dignity, make the apology next week to the same audience you insulted.

[pcshu]

My father was a disabled World War 11 vet who entered that war as a high school drop out who had to work to help support his parents and family. He was the most patriotic person I have ever known and fought hard to make a difference to his country and the men in service with him. Your loss Mr Rooney was not having been drafted to India, Burma, China to serve with him. I cried when you listed him among your"losers." Elitist crumudgeon would be my label for you.

I do think we may need to rethink the idea of the draft. I am in favor of a draft, but I am in favor of a draft which covers more than the

[toolmangler-2009]

If America had to fight a 'real' war you won't need a draft. I am still an expert shot and I have plenty of friends that are also.

[kaliveotin]

PS. The politicians sons and daughters did not go to war when we had a draft, and would not go now, unless they enlisted. The draft is for the poor and those who can not aquire a deferment. (almost always a rich well connected individual)

[kaliveotin]

Misty Rose, You must be quite young. If there were a draft in 2001 we probably would not be in this war. If there were a draft today we would already have begun withdrawing. Aside from the involuntary servatude amendment to the constitution. Those of us over 50 know that the only real difference in the opposition to this war as opposed to Vietnam, where the american people forced the government to withdraw. If we had a draft todays young americans would be out marching and protesting this war instead of sitting inside on thiere ***** playing video games and watching MTV. There will be no draft, because that would absolutely distroy the governments ability to argue that all the people dying are volunteers, even though we know that most of them signed up because of financial hardship and not any great desire to die for oil.

[mistyrose121]

Dear Mr. Rooney,
I agree the draft should be brought back but not because I think the soldiers with waivers are a bad idea. You see my son was 18 when the terrorist destroyed the towers. He was in drugs and was arrested for theft.
He wanted to go fight the people that did that to our country. He tried the Army and was turned down many times. Finally a sargeant worked with him to turn his life around, but to get in the National Guard he did need a waiver. He excelled and was assigned a leadership role in Basic. He was second highest in college level mechanics training, better than his graduate classmates. On his first tour of duty in Iraq, he was instrumental in eliminating a 6 week lag from the supply request to delivery. He is on his second tour of duty with his brother. I did not want either to join the army. I can pay for college. Now, I see, he is right where he needs to be. Last, deep in my heart I know if he dies, well he probably would have died here of drugs and broken dreams. I know he will represent us with honor and that he is not the bottom of the barrel. How do I know this?
Well I am a high school drop out too. I left high school at 15 because of abusive kids at school. You know those wonderful graduates you speak of that will represent us so much better. Later, I graduated in the top 5% of my class at Southern Illinois University and now teach others.
As for the draft...maybe our politicians wouldn't be so anxious to go to war if their sons and daughters went too.

[olduncbob]

There should be a draft. It is the only fair way. If we still had the draft, this country would not have been forced into this war because it would be on everybodys shoulders. This chicken *** president who didn't go when it was his time should be over in the middle east right now fixing his mess instead of parading his dumb *** around South America.

[cathi58-2009]

How lacking in kindness, your commentary was last night. Do you even begin to understand the plight of the multitudes of young men imprisoned? Maybe these young men and I suggest to you they are; are poor and unable to buy their way out of trouble and into a college or any better way of life, so they sadly turned to other means. Often these young men make poor choices that need not affect the rest of their lives, but often do. Now you have branded these young men with yet another burden, how SAD! It used to be that young men who were "troubled" had a choice, join the military(where they would hopefully learn some discipline)or go to jail.
There is something to be said though, about the idea of children from more wealthy families becoming actual soldiers, since they have in the past avoided such service to their country by going to college, and other means. Not to mention the fact that it's well known that if you have the money you can keep yourself out of jail too!

Veteran Army Sgt. Cathi Shaul

[sclaires]

I worked as a civilian employee for the Army both during the draft and the "All Volunteer Army". I can say that when we had the draft, we had a better army then what we have now. I agree with Andy Rooney that the draft should be brought back. And, it not only because of the war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan but because it made men out of boys. Okay, you had the ones that were discharged for one reason or the other but yet you had an army that was respected over the world. Now it IS NOT. Yes, there were a few bad apples who managed to stay in despite everything but they were found out and discharged. And, you also had doctors being drafted which helped with medical care and it was not in the mess it is now. I say, BRING BACK THE DRAFT!!!!

[jtaglioni]

We need to bring back the Draft. This will be the best way to end the Iraq war.