NEW YORK - Rep. Charles Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War, says he plans to introduce legislation to resume the military draft in the event of a war against Iraq.

In an opinion piece published in Tuesday's editions of The New York Times, the Democrat from New York said he would ask Congress next week to support his proposal.

Rangel said the prospect of a draft would make Congress less likely to support a war.

"I believe that if those calling for war knew their children were more likely to be required to serve - and to be placed in harm's way - there would be more caution and a greater willingness to work with the international community in dealing with Iraq," Rangel wrote.

Military service should be a "shared sacrifice" asked of all able young Americans, he said, noting that minorities make up a "disproportionate number" of enlisted members of the military.

"Service in our nation's armed forces is no longer a common experience," said Rangel, who voted against the congressional resolution authorizing President Bush to use force against Iraq.

Rangel said his legislation would require "alternative national service" for people who are physically unable to serve and for those who refuse to serve for "reasons of conscience."

President Bush has said he doesn't intend to revive the draft, which ended in 1973.

Personally I think this guy needs to sit down... there isn't going to be a need for a draft for just Iraq.. yes his previous Office (democrats, Clintonites) reduced the Military drastically during there term..But the need for a draft to get people in there that don't want to be there in the first place is a disaster waiting to happen...I have served Proudly 17 yrs now and I have seen and tried to train many who really didn't want to be there and were there only for the College Benifits and the Money... these are not the types you Take to War and look for them to cover your @SS in a crisis situation... this Country needs God Fearing People Who want to Serve... and There are Many of US already serving and putting up with the Bull$hit left over from the last Office in Power...Bush Administration needs Americas Support and that will trickle down to the little guys like me!!!

Just my 2 cents

Hog

I agree. I had to deal with those types that want all of the benefits, but don't want to work for it. All they ever do is whine. I don't want my life in the hands of someone who cries every time I tell him/her to even take out the trash or swab the deck (mop the floor).

The volunteer Military is working. What we really need is equity in pay and benefits between Military Members and other Government employees. Let's keep the good ones in! Don't dilute our pool of Military professionals with malcontents.

usahog

i believe we won ww11 with a draft. i believe a lot of youngsters paid dearly for vietnam and we had a draft.

rangel's point was if we are going to spill blood, maybe if the realization that the blood spilled might be a son of one of our chicken hawks, some more thought might be given before we start shooting.

incidentally, tarheel4lyf, i never whined when i swabbed and took out the trash.

I have never been a Rangel fan,but he made a good case in the interviews he did the past few days.

With the politically correct (see socialist/commie)

ageda set forth in the country in the last several years and the lack of character and ethics instilled in a lagre population of our youth the prospect of a large scale war (not police action)scares the H@@l

out of me.

The linkage between iraq, russia, china,& korea not to mention every one else, we are on our own.

Have you seen the video of N korean troops marching

and preparing?

Our service men an women are spread all over the face

of the earth and now they are talking about closing Ft. Knox right here in good ol' kentucky.

Do we have enough troops protecting home turf?, apparenly not.

SO... draft em, train em, pay em.

The sermon is now over, feel free to tithe 10%of your smokes to bbd : )

Everybody's gotta believe in something. I believe I'll have another draft.......beer.

I think Rangel has good intentions in his logic, but, when it was supposively a shared draft in the Vietnam Era, it seems the economic disadvantage ended up being the majority that served.

In regards to possible war in Iraq, we had minimal casulties in our previous engagement and now Sadam is a much weaker adversary. Which is also why I beleive he is pursuing weapons of mass destruction to equalize his countries lack of physical military strength and consequently needs to be dealt now, before he obtains these weapons.

If you can be told to report for military service under threat of imprisonment are you really free? There is no place for conscription in a truly free society. In WWII there was a draft. There was no shortage of volunteers either. If there is a real threat, you must trust the populace to step forward. If they dont...maybe they don't deserve the freedom they enjoy. The President hasn't given any speeches asking young folks to step up. I guess he ought to do that before reinstituting a draft.

hey xrundog,

That is a very good point to ponder.

I will stand steadfast on what the Gov. Knows about the Weapons Grade Anthrax and warnings on the Smallpox these Terrorists have there hands on.. and tracing it back to the Iraq Gov. Since Sept 11th 01.. up to the previous mention of War... People are fearful and not so in a hurry to go after Iraq... Why because they do not have the Knowledge of what Iraq's potential with these Chemicals are or can do.. Again its not at there doorstep so why worry about it.. Bad Philosophy...

Here is a Story of what really happened during the Gulf War... and Could happen right here at home if it's not pulled up by the Roots it will keep Growing Back

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52223-2002Dec29.html 

May have to Copy and Past it to your Browser...

Enjoy!!!!

Hog

I agree that something has to be done to STOP Sadam and his under the table dealings! He is a butcher and anybody who thinks otherwise is stupid or kidding their politically sensitive asses!

This potential War cuts across party lines and it should! I do not believe we need a draft! Where the heck are we going to house and train all the new draftees, since we closed so many bases and installations over past 5 years!?!?!? We do not need a draft to deal with Middle East!

Charlie

charlie,

where can i find info about the "butchering" for which saddam is guilty? online links would be great.

thanks,

Jeff

charlie or anyone else.

tell e what saddam has done in the last year. don't tell what he might be capable of doing. don't quote me any cliches from your leadership about weapons of (as bush calls them) mass production.

tell me what you know as fact and not the bs coming from washington.

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sh*t rick, everyone know's about saddam. he uses poisen gas.

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sh*t rick, everyone knows we have to get him before he gets us.

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sh*t rick, only you left wing, bleeding heart, hillary loving, want all the goodies but afraid to stand up and work for them, gun hating, baby killing liberals,

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sh*t rick, same old sh*t. get off it.

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sh*t rick, you bitter old whatever, give us a rest from your psycobabble b*ll ****. usa forever.

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sh*t rick. maybe you're correct, but relax. pres bush won't get us in a war unless it is necessary. let him and his experienced staff do their work, remember they are all americans and have america's beliefs in their hearts.

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i smoked a rhino-hecto, plasty last night. it was a robusto madura. did i like it?

(( WWII there was a draft. There was no shortage of volunteers either. If there is a real threat, you must trust the populace to step forward ))

With all due respect I’ll have to disagree with you on this point. WWII was a different era. I think men in that era knew what it was to be a man, and knew the definition of the word “Patriotism”. I don’t see that in the bulk of today’s Youth. I do agree that the draft is NOT necessary at this juncture, however the discipline instilled in the branches of our armed forces could give the youth of today the shot in the arm they desperately need. You can’t be exposed to that type of a strict regime and dicipline for any period of time without it having some sort of positive effect on you. I’m not by any means saying the grass is greener, but if you look at Israel they have a mandatory 2-year service to the military for every 18-year-old male. From what I understand most don’t gripe about this, in fact most are happy to participate. I wonder would happen if you told an American youth that they “must” serve as a condition of being a US Citizen? What do you think the reaction would be? I wonder what the Liberal Media would say? I wonder what ACLU would do? It boggles the mind. But I bet you all a dollar that a generation of Patriots would in turn raise a generation of Patriots. Maybe I’m wrong, but I look at these kids today and I don’t think the bulk of them would care to step forward.

Jeffersonn/Charlie or whomever interested...

it has been widley publisied (sp) during the Iran/Iraq war Saddam using Chemicals on the Iranians..Again after the Iran/Iraq War he used Chemicals on his own people before the Gulf War.. after the Gulf War.. he Slaughtered thousands of Curds in Northern Iraq.. who Apposed him... Thus the US Soldiers have been Covering Iraq's Southern and Northern No-Fly-Zones since the end of the Gulf War...

Thanks Eleltea for the Post... saved me having to pull up some of my sites... that is straight from the UN not the USA Gov. biased web sites... when I did a tour of Duty in Kuwait in 1996 I was able to see first hand and hear Kuwaiti POW's tell of what happened to them while Iraq oquppied there country... But as I said Many times... if it's not right at your front door it doesn't matter to you... thats what makes this country what it is today... Our Freedoms.... your Freedom to view your Opinion how you want to and I mine...and I give a **** about stopping it before it gets to my front door.... if that means stuffing me in a Flag Draped Box So be it.. thats what I signed on the Dotted Line for to Uphold the Constitution of these United States and Protect its life and liberties...

and Hell Yes I am a Proud SOB!!!!

here's another web site of some more Veterans who are still Proud of there Country... Enjoy it doesn't get to many hits But at least they served there Country Proudly and Earned there Honorable Discharge!!!

http://www.saintsandheroes.com 

Laterzzzz

Hog

Now Rick,

I even agreed somewhat on your previous post and now your getting your feathers a littled ruffled. I will not lash out anymore and apoligize the times I did in the past. Will try to stick with your thoughts in this and future replies.

What has Sadam done in the past year? you are right, nothing that we know, other that what our government intelligence has told us. With Sadam, letting him do his hidden nothings and what we should be concerned about. Another examply would be North Korea, quietly making there Nukes.

I do think Rick you would agree Sadam is not a nice, if not evil, man. Do you think a man like this will find religion and reform?? When the tragedy of 9/11 occurred, there was a worldwide outpouring of sympathy and disgust of such a heartless and cruel act. Any sane, decent human being would be sickened of the evil that would deliberately murder innocent people. Sadam was one of the few countries that applauded the event.

I think I told you already that I have a closed friend that is from Iran, he is a very intelligent man, CEO of an Aerospace company. Said that part of the world, especially Iraq is run by Dictators that will dispose of you if you don't fully agree with their agenda. He is thankful to be in the United States.

This world will always have the Sadams, Bin Ladin, Hitlers, Stalins, etc., and there will be more wars. But, what is different in my opinion, is that if we allow a Sadam to gain the same strength as a Hitler, this would lead to WWIII and with our technology we would no longer exist. I don't know if war with Iraq is the right action, but, do beleive we must support our our leaders in whatever dicision they make, based upon what they know.

Our support is also a statement to the world and the Sadams, that we cannot be taken lightly. Remember what the Japanese Admiral said after their victory in the attack on Pearly Harbor?? Waking a sleeping Lion, because a united nation with the full support of the people, was going to be their foe.

Oh man did I butcher this with my poor keyboard skills, "Pearly" Harbor, and many other mis-keys, lol, Been a long week, had to work the holidays, not all countries celebrat Xmas/ New years. Had to be here freaken New Years because of India, lucky if we have 100 trades a month in that country, sucks, .

Anyway off til next Tuesday night, have great weekend.

Eleltea- thnx for the link.

I read the President's speach outlining his argument for attacking Saddam's regime. I am now much more convinced this would be an appropriate and necessary action. Here's the link if you are interested:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021007-8.html 

I found the reasoning quite compelling. I am going to do some more research on it.

CNC- I think you underestimate your fellow countrymen. In contrast to your observations, I do see a lot of patriotism in today's citizenry, the youth included.

usahog- I thank you and am indebted to you for your service to our country. I respect your role in our society and the sacrifices your brethren have made.