So, Gould... what is it that you don't understand about the word
"volunteer". All those recalled vouunteered for service in our military
with an OBLIGATION to serve if needed.

You seem to accuse me of obfuscation? Where, when, how have I obfuscated.
What did I say that was untrue or confusing. We have an all volunteer
force, Gould. Got it... all volunteer.

Not to try to say that some of those recalled are far from thrilled about
it. That's not an issue. They were recalled in accordance with the laws of
this nation. They volunteered to serve for various reasons. Some out of
patriotisim, others for the opportunity to learn a trade, some for the
adventure. Regardless, they signed up to serve for reasons of their own.
But, they all signed up to get what they wanted in return for something
else... an obligation.

They didn't get drafted. They volunteered. Got it?

Butch Davis
"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Gould,

Whine, whine, whine. Those called up have a military OBLIGATION to
serve
when called. Those are the rules under which they volunteered. They
are
needed, hence they are called. Is

Butch,

Obfuscate, obfuscate, obfuscate.

Those eager to volunteer should do so.
If that includes you, then great.
Be proud of your patriotism and willingness to enforce our foreign
policies.

Can't be any simpler than that.

When people are involuntarily forced to
serve against their will, that's not American. If you want to make it
American,
you install Universal Service for
every young man and woman graduating from high school. They put in two
years
of service either in the military or in one of a very few alternative
choices
that provide legitimate public service. Then it's American because it is
democratic. Nobody gets a pass for being rich and signing up for college,
etc.

(Following Universal Service, we give the kids a free ride at trade school
or a
public college)

The current lack of a draft is making Bush's foreign policy a joke. The
Bush
apologists say that because we have occupied Iraq, all the other little
sand
flea countries over there are going to toe the mark so that we don't
occupy
their countries too. With what? We're calling old guys in from
retirement
and putting extended tours afer extended tours on the troops that are
there
now. No way we can take on Jordan, or Saudi Arabia (!), or Iran
with the forces we have while we try to keep peace in Iraq.

Now,of course, if we had the diplomatic skill to build a (real and
meaningful)
coalition of allies large enough to provide more than a couple of hundred
troops apiece before we.......oh, never mind, hindsight is 20/20.

You guys want to wage war all over hell?
Or be able to make a credible threat that you're ready to wage war all
over
hell?
Want to able to say that we don't need NATO or the UN on our side and
we'll
just do whatever we please, regardless?
Gonna need some troops.

Gonna need a draft.

Gonna need a leader who will put the strategic needs of the country above
any
concerns about political fallout. Seen one lately? Alas, they're in very
short
supply.

You can't have a militarist society without
a huge pool of manpower, even in this technological age. Those who believe
that
militarism is the answer have no choice except to support a draft.