March 11, 2007
Bring Back The Draft?
If America Fights A War, Should The Government Draft Soldiers?
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Play CBS Video Video Rooney On Army Recruitment In Full: Andy Rooney wonders if lowering standards for new army recruits is really the best way to maintain our world-class armed forces.
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(AP)
There have been stories recently about the problem the Pentagon is having recruiting enough soldiers to do the fighting that we're committed to do in Iraq.
In an attempt to get the soldiers they need, recruiters have reduced the standards for getting into the Army or Navy.
They have reduced the educational standards, for example, so that they're getting more soldiers who didn't go to high school, let alone graduate from high school.
Recruiters are granting thousands of what they call "moral waivers". A "moral waiver" it turns out means they'll take someone who has committed a crime or even someone who has been in prison. Last year, a total of 8,129 "moral waivers" were given to men who volunteered for the Army.
Are these the people we want representing us? As American soldiers, they're going to give the people they meet around the world the impression that they are what all Americans are like and if they have been taken from the bottom of the barrel, they are not what we're all like.
In August of 1941, I had just finished my junior year in college when I was drafted into the Army. Hundreds of my classmates were drafted at the same time.
I hated everything about Army life. I hated the Field Artillery regiment I was assigned to. Most of the guys in it were high school dropouts and the Army wasn't using the term "moral waiver," yet but a lot of them would have needed it.
They had joined before the draft so they had already been promoted to being corporals or sergeants and they were in charge of the rest of us.
In 1942 we were at war with Germany and it wasn't long before drafted college students and high school graduates dominated our military. It changed the United States Army for the better and in two years made it the best fighting force there has ever been. The Army and Navy were no longer made up of losers.
Now comes the part of this I never thought I'd hear myself say: Whenever we, as a nation, decide to fight a war – in Iraq or anywhere else – it should be fought by average Americans who are drafted.
Written By Andy Rooney
©MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 282 CommentsI was half way through a six year tour of the Navy at the time the draft was discontinued in 1973. We should never have eliminated it. But since we have, I feel that any time more than 20,000 troops are sent to do battle, the draft should automatically kick in. It would stop a lot of the chicken hawk ******** that permeates our Nation and our Capital. I believe the major contributor to the ending of the Vietnam conflict was the lottery draft instituted in 1969. It took away the draft board kickbacks for getting the little Dick or Rush a deferment. When the number came up, he went. It pissed a lot of the Limbaugh type?s off and only then was a demand for an end to a war forced into the mainstream.
So, let the lottery draft begin again!
Leroy Scharfenberg in Fayetteville, AR
You should be glad a whole bunch of folks took to the Army better than you did or we would have lost the freakin' war!
Just because you were unsuited for military service doesn't make every one who is a loser.
I have 2 sons in the Army; they could have done ANYTHING with their lives, including writing effete commentary for TV. But instead, they chose to serve their country in its time of need. They are professionals doing a dangerous job. They do not need to be hindered by dumbasses like you were when you were in the Army. We've got plenty of people who can write sentences; we need trigger pullers who won't crack up when it gets hot.
Retire and get out of the way.
On September 11, 2001 about 3,000 Americans were murdered by Muslim terrorists. In that same year, and every other year, between 5 and 6 times that many Americans were murdered by other Americans.
I joined after I graduated from college. I was accepted to law school but was fascinated w/ the military. So I joined. I didn't know what to expect but the military we have now is far better than what it was during Vietnam. I can't understand how an older journalist who certainly had to be familiar w/ all the problems the draft created during Vietnam (drug abuse, low moral, discipline problems) thinks that it would just a *dandy* idea to bring it back.
Maybe it's you sir, who needs an education. Why is it journalists and those w/ advanced degrees become so clueless about history?
And I cannot believe you think you are so much better than the other brave men that fought in World War II just because you were enrolled in college! How arrogant of you. My father fought proudly and bravely in that war. He did drop out of high school to join. BUT HE IS BY NO MEANS A LOSER!!! Thank God he came home safely. He is a good and intelligent man that worked very hard the rest of his life to raise his family. Please think before you speak.
Your views are outdated and in my opinion just plain wrong. You insult those who have given their lives in defense of your right to free speech. Education doesn't guarantee a good Soldier. After almost three decades in uniform both Active Army and Reserves I can tell you that I have seen and served with more educated idiots than I care to remember. Oh by the way I have a GED that the Army helped me to obtain.
Mr. Rooney I normally listen to you but this last video has me wondering if it is time for you to hang it up.
MSG Hicks
"Along with many others, I wish to voice my protest to Andy Rooney's commentary on "60 Minutes". Renewing the Draft to waste more American lives on George W.'s hopeless war in Iraq is obscene. But I further protest his insult to the Veterans of World War II who enlisted before we were officially at war. According to Rooney, all those me who died and were wounded at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 were 'losers'. Tom Brokaw called them 'The Greatest generation'--surely he didn't mean the college graduates were the only great ones!!!
My husband was wounded on Dec. 7th and spent a month in the hospital. After his recovery he was sent on to Guadalcanal where they were bombed every night for months. After almost three years, he came home for a thirty-day leave. Then he was sent back to the Pacific for two more years until the War ended. He earned the rank of Cheif Petty Officer. We were married after the war and we have a great family--children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. So Mr. Rooney, how dare you call him a loser!!!"
I have to add: How dare you belittle anyone who risks their life to serve our country?
Did you forget Audie Murphy (the most decortated soldier of WWII) was a high school dropout.
I'm sure the military is a good place to get your priorities right. Where you learn not to be selfish and support others. A good place to turn your life around and start again.
I'm surprised at Mr Rooney. I always thought he was the voice of common sense.
"Along with many others, I wish to voice my protest to Andy Rooney's commentary on "60 Minutes". Renewing the Draft to waste more American lives on George W.'s hopeless war in Iraq is obscene. But I further protest his insult to the Veterans of World War II who enlisted before we were officially at war. According to Rooney, all those me who died and were wounded at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 were 'losers'. Tom Brokaw called them 'The Greatest generation'--surely he didn't mean the college graduates were the only great ones!!!
My husband was wounded on Dec. 7th and spent a month in the hospital. After his recovery he was sent on to Guadalcanal where they were bombed every night for months. After almost three years, he came home for a thirty-day leave. Then he was sent back to the Pacific for two more years until the War ended. He earned the rank of Cheif Petty Officer. We were married after the war and we have a great family--children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. So Mr. Rooney, how dare you call him a loser!!!"
I have to add: How dare you belittle anyone who risks their life to serve our country?
I have 3 sons in the armed forces. One of them has been to Iraq 3 times, re enlisted and will soon returning. I hope they all return to us. I have 3 other boys who are not of age yet.
Andy put the lid on this can of worms you opened. Bow low and apologize to all your faithful followers that you have disappointed. Make it right and make ammends. United we stand ....
One can employ this test to accurately judge the quality of our military. Swelling the ranks with men who want nothing to do with the military will not "change the United States Army for the better." It will only provide the military with cannon fodder who's first experience as legal adults is to be stripped of the very freedom of choice our nation so proudly boasts of in its rhetoric.
The military draft is a foolish and dangerous idea that should never be revisited.
1) WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH PERSONAL PERCEPTIONS others have about us; especially since our current war has proven there are limits to what we can accomplish through might. 2) WE NEED TO STAY PREPERED FOR WAR TO MAINTAIN PEACE.
Andy also implied 2 points: 1) Military service is not too much to ask for the privilage of living in this country. 2) Military leadership must be ethical. Now my own personal note: I have personally known men, & heard of others who had to fight dishonorable discharges after refusing to do something illegal when requested by a sargent in the Korean War. It only takes a few jerks to give all military leadership a bad name.
1) WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH PERSONAL PERCEPTIONS others have about us; especially since our current war has proven there are limits to what we can accomplish through might. 2) WE NEED TO STAY PREPERED FOR WAR TO MAINTAIN PEACE.
Andy also implied 2 points: 1) Military service is not too much to ask for the privilage of living in this country. 2) Military leadership must be ethical. Now my own personal note: I have personally known men, & heard of others who had to fight dishonorable discharges after refusing to do something illegal when requested by a sargent in the Korean War. It only takes a few jerks to give all military leadership a bad name.
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