Rangel Will Push To Bring Back The Draft

(CBS/AP)  A senior House Democrat said Sunday he will introduce legislation to reinstate the military draft, asserting that current troop levels are insufficient to sustain possible challenges against Iran, North Korea and Iraq.

"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) said on CBS News' Face the Nation.

Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, said he will propose the measure early next year.

At a time when some lawmakers are urging the military to send more troops to Iraq, "I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft," he told Bob Schieffer.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Standby Reserve, said he agreed that the U.S. does not have enough people in the military.

"I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. And if we can't, then we'll look for some other option," said Graham, who is assigned as a reserve judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.

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Watch: Face The Nation

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Rangel, incoming chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he worried the military was being strained by its overseas commitments.

"If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft," Rangel said.

He said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve in uniform. Instead, "young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it's our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals," with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.

Graham said he believes the all-voluntary military "represents the country pretty well in terms of ethnic makeup, economic background."

Polls have shown that about seven in 10 Americans oppose reinstatement of the draft and officials say they do not expect to restart conscription.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress in June 2005 that "there isn't a chance in the world that the draft will be brought back."

Yet the prospect of the long global fight against terrorism and the continuing U.S. commitment to stabilizing Iraq have kept the idea in the public's mind.

The military drafted conscripts during the Civil War, both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. An agency independent of the Defense Department, the Selective Service System, keeps an updated registry of men age 18-25 — now about 16 million — from which to supply untrained draftees that would supplement the professional all-volunteer armed forces.

[dumbassgreg]

this should have happened right after 9-11. real leaders would have had a draft immediately. bush being a DRAFT DODGER did not think a draft was a good idea assume others would be like him,clinton,cheney,qualye etc. instead the genius told the nascar,oprah warching,big screentv,suv's driving people just go about you normal life the poor & the those *** national guard who treated george so bad are going to get payback they will fight this war. just shop till you drop. bin laden will quit when he sees how much walmart & haliburton are making from this war. sadly bush is momma a selfish me first person. not like his father who volunteered for world war 2 on his 18 birthday. bush is like two other DRAFTDODGERS reagan& john wayne all for war . I am just not going to fight

[us_canuck]

Reinstatement of the draft is the kiss of death for any political group who would propose and support such a measure. If a 'war' is just, as WW1 and WW2 were, then young men and women would be lining up around the block to volunteer with the blessing of their parents BUT this is an unjustified war in Iraq.
To propose bringing back the draft to 'send a message' to politicians who feel removed from sacrificing their 'loved ones' is just pain wrong. Everyone should suffer loss to teach a fellow American a lesson?!? Come on Dems. Get a grip and listen to yourselves - I guarantee the voters are.

[Free Citizen]

Two things; mind your own business and ain't your problem. Let the Iraqis solved their own problems and bring your kids home.

[duffyshort]

In my opinion the draft should be revolutionary in its concept. It should only consider men and women in the top 10-20% of graduating classes. Draft and recruiting officers could be present to offer awards and inducements at all high school, college and professional school graduations in order to identify the proper candidates and of course they should be awarded the full GI Bill of benefits. This would provide us with the necessary ingredients for a top flight military. We would after a few years have the capability to wage several wars at a time. We would have returning veterans that could become the political leaders of tomorrow. The nation needs to make the sacrifices necessary to make the world better...RR
...Good idea Mr. Rangel...

[bseece]

Don't really think the draft is the answer but something has to be done. I believe Bush would think twice if his daughters were told they were leaving for the front lines. Of the Republicans in office now, who has their sons or daughters overseas? What we need is a government that will bring our people back home and not turn this into another Vietnam.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to WW II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. As a hypothetical, I can say, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed but maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country who can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front, being a big one. But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting.

[pakaal]

Amen to that last post, thgdriver. And g'night laurieleemoo....

[laurieleemoo]

thgdriver...Oh, I know...wasn't that horrible how that man (cult leader) put those children in such a dangerouse position? I mean....you can have a fight with our government all you want....but my GAWD....he should have left those poor children out of it.

Okay, I swear....I really have to go now....

Good night thgdriver.

[laurieleemoo]

radiob---I had to get on one more time and say good night to you---I thought you were gone when I said good night before---So Good night to you also. I'm laughing to myself about you and your ex. I mean its not funny.....but you sound so agitated....I have NEVER heard you get agitated before. Boy, she must really be a terror--that ex of yours. I just really have never heard you so agitated before. Okay.....well good luck with that.....try not to let her get to you.

[radiob-2009]

laurieleemoo temporary exscape from her it will not last long.I do beleive in order to move on I am going to have to relocate in another state at least a 1000 miles away.Back to the problem of Iraq,the Iraqis need to stand together as one group of people in order to resolve the current crisis.Much like America stands together when faced with tragedies such as Pearl Harbor,9/11 etc.We are all americans and may not always agree however when a crisis faces our nation be it natural or man made we stand together.Iraq needs to get to that place and set aside their theological and politcal differnces.The ex is at it again,when will she learn that she does not live here and is not wanted here.