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Congressman Rangel Will Seek to Reinstate Draft

WASHINGTON (Nov. 19) - Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 under a bill the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee says he will introduce next year.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars.

"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," Rangel said.

Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War who has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on conscription in the past, has said the all-volunteer military disproportionately puts the burden of war on minorities and lower-income families.

Rangel said he will propose a measure early next year. While he said he is serious about the proposal, there is little evident support among the public or lawmakers for it.

In 2003, Rangel proposed a measure covering people age 18 to 26. It was defeated 402-2 the following year. This year, he offered a plan to mandate military service for men and women between age 18 and 42; it went nowhere in the Republican-led Congress.

Democrats will control the House and Senate come January because of their victories in the Nov. 7 election.

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," said Rangel, who also proposed a draft in January 2003, before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. "I think to do so is hypocritical."

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.

Rangel, the next chairman of the House tax-writing 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. 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."

Repeated 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 H. 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.

Rangel and Graham appeared on "Face the Nation" on CBS.

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Originally posted by Vulkar

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I stongly disagree, for many reasons.

First off, I don't want to go into the army, and if this would push into affect, I'd be joining the service in three years.

Second off, a required draft would contradict a lot of people's religious beliefs. My religion actually requires people to go on a mission to tell about our church from 19-21. Military service would get in the way of that.

Then there are the Amish, who's problem's with technology would require them to not do so, along with thier seperation from government. And then there are a lot of other people. Pacifists, people who would never want to go to war no matter the cost.

I honestly can't approve of this. An all volunteer army gives a better image for America. Also, we have one of the the strongest(though not largest) armies in the world. Unless we go to war against China or Israel, we're in the lead.

And for all those wondering, yes we can win against Iran and North Korea with our current army. We still outnumber them, and considering Iran's tendencies to blow itself up for minimal affect, we're ahead by a considerable amount.

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Originally posted by Belial

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I'm probably the only person here who likes the idea of a draft. Yeah, I would go to war if I was drafted. Do you have any idea how good that experience would be?
It would give everyone a sense of honor and loyalty, which is something most people in this day and age don't know of.

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Originally posted by avatar of law

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Originally posted by Belial

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I'm probably the only person here who likes the idea of a draft. Yeah, I would go to war if I was drafted. Do you have any idea how good that experience would be?
It would give everyone a sense of honor and loyalty, which is something most people in this day and age don't know of.

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yeah, i'm sure 18 yr old seniors in HS would love to not be able to graduate because they were drafted. then coming home from war, not having a diploma, and making minimum wage their entire life.
or just about anyone would love to halt their entire life and be gone for like 4 years having their world turned upsidedown. like their g/f straying, or boss hires someone else, child's first b-day, ect...

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Originally posted by Logos

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Honor and loyalty is the archaic word for bullshit.

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Originally posted by avatar of law

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Originally posted by Belial

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I'm probably the only person here who likes the idea of a draft. Yeah, I would go to war if I was drafted. Do you have any idea how good that experience would be?
It would give everyone a sense of honor and loyalty, which is something most people in this day and age don't know of.

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yeah, i'm sure 18 yr old seniors in HS would love to not be able to graduate because they were drafted. then coming home from war, not having a diploma, and making minimum wage their entire life.
or just about anyone would love to halt their entire life and be gone for like 4 years having their world turned upsidedown. like their g/f straying, or boss hires someone else, child's first b-day, ect...

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Originally posted by GuardianOni

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Originally posted by Logos

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Honor and loyalty is the archaic word for bullshit.

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Who are you to make that judgment? Those are two concepts I was raised on. And are large parts of who I am, and what I believe.

Honor, and loyalty are things that many people lack. And should be re-taught.

So instead of just dismissing something you obviously don't understand, try learning about it.

And one more thing, honor and loyalty are two separate words.

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Originally posted by Vulkar

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You know, there is one mild problem with your logic Logos, you know what that is?

The soldiers don't choose to go to war. Nor do the civillians for that matter. It is a matter for congress, and honestly, just because they went to war once, doesn't mean they will vote against a war. I know of people who once went to war, and they are still for the war in Iraq.

But maybe the soldiers might vote for the guy who would send them to war, right? Wrong. Most of the soldiers voted for George Bush, who sent them to war. What's more, they also voted when he was reelected, and they knew he was sending them to war.

So, to be honest, the political affect that you desire would not happen. And, as I already stated, with our current military, we could still take out Iran and North Korea. Also, we would have a lot more countries on our side against North Korea. Even China has a problem with them at the moment.

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Originally posted by Elara

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I'm agaist the draft, completely and totally. It was ended for a reason, and it should not be brought back. End of story.

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Originally posted by Elara

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My definition of "not right" in this case is relates to being forced into something you may not want to do.

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