Brrrr...I feel a draft

[auburngrad82]

Maybe this Schiavo and Gannon stuff has caused us to lose focus on the very real possibility that we may have a military draft reinstated within a couple months:

http://www.keeneequinox.com/news/2005/03/24/Opinions/Is.A-Military.Draft.Becoming.A.Near.Certainty-901259.shtml

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act note, "Defense manpower officials concede there are critical shortages of military personnel with certain special skills, such as medical personnel, linguists, computer network engineers, etc."

The potentially prohibitive cost of "attracting and retaining such personnel for military service," the memo adds, has led "some officials to conclude that, while a conventional draft may never be needed, a draft of men and women possessing these critical skills may be warranted in a future crisis."

The Project for a New American Century, a neoconservative think-tank which is the primary architect of the Iraq War and most other Bush foreign policy decisions, has sent letters to Congress calling for "an increase in the active duty Army and Marine Corps, together, of at least 25,000 troops each year over the next several years." The letter goes on to say that it is Congress's right under the Constitution to raise armies, and that a draft is a legitimate end to achieve this.

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2005/03/03-21-05tdc/03-21-05dnews-09.asp

A bill to reinstate a military draft, introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., was rejected on Oct. 5 by a vote of 402-2 in the House of Representatives. Galvin said he has spoken with Rangel, and the House member is currently looking into reintroducing the draft bill this year.

"He hasn't made a definite decision yet, but he may decide to introduce the bill this year," he said.

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2005/03/22/draft11.html

All males between the ages of 18 and 26 years old are required to register with Selective Service. Not doing so results in a risk of prosecution, denial of financial aid and denial of some federal jobs and job training.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. You can bet that when the draft is started up, it won't be on

Rangel's model.

[oldcoot]

2. You are probably right

I am sure there will be provisions to protect the sons and, possibly, daughters of the "important" people.

[doodadem]

3. "Special skills"

"special skills, such as medical personnel, linguists, computer network engineers". Ah, now we need more than just bodies. This says to me that they're going to go after educated/college people now.