Support grows for beefing up U.S. forces - Volunteers may not be enough

[NNN0LHI]

The war-strained all-volunteer U.S. military has a growing manpower problem and a cross-section of Washington policymakers has proposed a solution -- increase the size of the regular military by 30,000, 40,000 or even 100,000 or more.

While just about all the proponents maintain they want to achieve the increase by offering recruits bigger financial incentives or through appeals to patriotism, lurking in the background is a possibility that for now remains anathema to all but a few. The military draft, which coughed up its last conscript in 1973, could make a comeback if recruiting doesn't pick up and if America's commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan turn into long-term occupations or if the Bush administration's tough-minded foreign policy means military action in places like Iran or North Korea.

It's important to note that the Bush administration adamantly scorns the idea of a resumed draft. It won't even agree to a permanent increase in the Army's size, which Congress temporarily boosted by 30,000 last year, saying instead that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's plan to transform the military into a high-tech, mobile force will meet the nation's needs.

But the administration does admit it has a problem, particularly in filling the ranks in the 500,000-person regular Army and the 675,000-person Army National Guard and Army Reserve, which have been called upon to carry a large part of the burden of deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. In a March 23 press conference, Army Secretary Francis Harvey said that in the first two months of 2005, the active Army was meeting 94 percent of its recruiting goal, the Reserve 90 percent and the Guard 75 percent.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/04/ARMY.TMP

Can we send the Minutemen?

[leftofcool]

1. Hello Miss Draftola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eom

[Biology]

2. call SG-1

[mikehiggins]

3. No draft? They are lying, again. and again. and again.

There is no end to the hypocrisy and duplicity of these bastards. How can anyone take anything anyone of them says as being the truth, considering their track record since stealing the election in 2000?

[Mountainman]

4. Stop the wars, bring the troops home, walla, not draft needed!

Why do we just accept "the Bush administration's tough-minded foreign policy means military action in places like Iran or North Korea"?

Do what Nancy said to do, just say no!

[leesa]

5. And ALL Republicans.

[yorkiemommie1]

6. yeah, no matter what age

and starting w/ those twins.

[kainah]

7. a Saturday well-spent

I, and 13 other residents of Laramie, WY, spent all of last Saturday getting trained as draft counselors by the AFSC Youth & Militarism program. I guess it was time well-spent. : sigh :

[Dave Reynolds]

8. They can pussyfoot around it all they want.

We have all suspected that the draft would come back. My fundie in-laws still say it won't happen because Boosh said so.

I take glee in telling them they're full of shit.

[followthemoney]

9. NO NEW BLOOD TAX

that is what the draft is, isn't it?

[newyawker99]

15. Hi followthemoney!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MSgt213]

10. High tech will meet America's needs. How's that working in Iraq?

Most of our high tech stuff is being defeated by discarded coke cans and strings.

[unhappycamper]

11. 1.25 million people under arms is not enough?

who else are these clowns thinking of invading?

[dbt]

12. Can you say "trial balloon?" I knew you could.

Now, boys and girls, we have a new word for today. Can you say "Bullshit?" Go ahead, it's okay to use this word now because you see the stuff stacking up around you--and if you don't say something, it will soon smother you. And you would not like that!

So, go ahead. Ask your Mommy and your Daddy. Say "What IS this Bullshit?" I know you can do it...

[pinniped]

13. Those pieces of trash are planning something.

-- by offering recruits bigger financial incentives or through appeals to patriotism--

It worked the last time.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. Here we go -- and they seem to be able to convince this country...

to do most anything they want.