OP/ED: No back door draft?

Many families were preparing for the safe return of loved ones from Iraq this month. However, those plans have changed. Many units have become part of the back door draft that we have heard so many times does not exist eventhough it does. Army leaders are now seeking a change at the Pentagon for longer and more frequent call ups. The Army is having difficulty limiting the time of active-duty. Soldiers and their families are also expressing frustration at repeat deployments to Iraq and tours of duty that have already been extended.




My family has been personally effected by this news. My brother Staff Sgt. Kuster was supposed to be touching ground in RDU on January 12th, 2004 but because of the stop loss order given by the President he had to go with his unit to Iraq. He was supposed to be leaving Iraq on January 30th, 2005 but again, our President has extended his tour for another 6 months. Unfortunately my family isn't the only one who has to go through this. January 30th is the date for the Iraqi elections. I'm very fearful for our men and women in uniform. This election will put our troops in more danger in my opinion.


[edit on 12-1-2005 by Banshee]

I pray that your brother and all our other soldiers return home safely.

This administration continues to disgust me with their denial and inability to accept responsibility and admittance to greivious errors made in the past four years.

There is currently a back door draft, whether this administration admits to it or not, it is obviously clear to our soldiers and their families what is really going on.

I wonder, are the soldiers being at all compensated accordingly for extra service time? Also is the stop-loss order only supposed to extend the time in Iraq of those with more time left in the service, or does it apply to those who could be down to weeks before their time is up?

Drafts are a part of war, DEAL WITH IT. I am going to be 18 in a few months, Ill have to join the selective service. If I am called up you bet your backside I'll be ready to go over to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt.

Originally posted by iksmodnad
Drafts are a part of war, DEAL WITH IT. I am going to be 18 in a few months, Ill have to join the selective service. If I am called up you bet your backside I'll be ready to go over to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt.

I understand it's his job. My dad joined in Vietnam he wasn't drafted and he would have been spared b/c he was the only son to carry on the family name but he joined anyway. He was severly burned and is now 100% disabled. However, this war shouldn't have ever happened.

This is what happens when you elect a special ed student to be president. He probably rides in the short limo.

The back door draft is another one of Bushes policy’s/quick fix solutions that will fail and do harm in the long term. The USA needs a legitimate draft. The conscripts would take care of national sercuity and natrual disasters while the volunteers would be sent to combat zones.

how is extending service a backdoor draft? they volunteered, nowhere does it guarantee you cant have service extention.

Originally posted by iksmodnad
Drafts are a part of war, DEAL WITH IT. I am going to be 18 in a few months, Ill have to join the selective service. If I am called up you bet your backside I'll be ready to go over to Iraq and kick some terrorist butt.

And I can guarantee that once there you will # yourself.
War is not a game. Its all well and good spouting this gung-ho rubbish from thousands of miles away but it'll change when you're on the front line.

Lots of good comments... one thing i wonder is...
didn't anyone read the fineprint, before they joined?
it says that the government can march you over a cliff, or drag you thru an ocean... in short... sign here to sign all away...

if people read the small print (and understood it) NO ONE would join our military...
you have less rights than a prisoner, as a soldier...

we really ought to treat our soldiers with much more respect... and support them more when they come home.

If the contract that is signed (for military signup) doesn't disclose the possibility for extended service, then a really good lawsuit should be filed...
can't sue the military, but the military didn't fail on the contract did it? the president did...

love the short limo comment... kudos...

how is extending service a backdoor draft? they volunteered, nowhere does it guarantee you cant have service extention.

It is a back door draft because the US military is facing manpower shortages and Bush dosnt have the spine to bring in a a legitimate draft .

Originally posted by xpert11
The back door draft is another one of Bushes policy’s/quick fix solutions that will fail and do harm in the long term. The USA needs a legitimate draft. The conscripts would take care of national sercuity and natrual disasters while the volunteers would be sent to combat zones.

Do liberals really want a draft so badly, that they'll call up *anything* that involves military service and label it a "draft"? Are the anti-Bu#es so hung up on the desire to be "right" that they'll change the definition of words to fit their most dire prophecies? Pretty soon they'll be calling it some sort of *draft* when National Guard active-duty are assigned somewhere. Or when a soldier is called out of the bunk to go on a mission.

Anyone who bothered to read the contract, when they elisted, *knows* that even after their two-year-for-college-money term ends, that they will go on inactive status and can be called back. So can career soldiers. If you're unwilling to accept the duty and responsibility and conditions of service, *don't volunteer*! If you cannot accept the risks, or don't believe in the mission, stay out in the first place. You cannot expect to be taken seriously if you enlist for your own benefit and then have issues with the price later. Being a soldier is about the willingness to sacrifice, for your squad, your command, your nation. It's always been that way, and it will never change.

Originally posted by Indy
This is what happens when you elect a special ed student to be president. He probably rides in the short limo.

i couldnt just have the smileys with no words so this is just to fill space.

Originally posted by xpert11

It is a back door draft because the US military is facing manpower shortages and Bush dosnt have the spine to bring in a a legitimate draft .

Since when does the US military have only 150,000 soldiers/sailors? We might have some shortages in manpower in ships thanks to Clinton, unless things have changed, i am not in the military anymore, but we have more manpower than 150,000 in our Armed services.

Do liberals really want a draft so badly, that they'll call up *anything* that involves military service and label it a "draft"? Are the anti-Bu#es so hung up on the desire to be "right" that they'll change the definition of words to fit their most dire prophecies? Pretty soon they'll be calling it some sort of *draft* when National Guard active-duty are assigned somewhere. Or when a soldier is called out of the bunk to go on a mission.

I think that both liberals and consertives in America are in denial about the need for a draft. Perhaps it is because people have memorys have the last draft which may have been mismanaged.

Since when does the US military have only 150,000 soldiers/sailors? We might have some shortages in manpower in ships thanks to Clinton, unless things have changed, i am not in the military anymore, but we have more manpower than 150,000 in our Armed services.

Well if the US military isnt short of manpower they wouldnt be deploying troops beyond there enlistment time that has expired or is Bush keeping troops away from home for the sake of it?

Everybody has been affected by this miscalculated and hasty "conflict" of "liberation"

No only our already active duty service men, our reservist, national guard but also people that already has served their country are called back.

We are not facing a crisis in the world all this is done for a war that should not had to be.

Originally posted by xpert11
It is a back door draft because the US military is facing manpower shortages and Bush dosnt have the spine to bring in a a legitimate draft .

but its extending current service, not man power reasons, but expierence, thhat dont make it a draft either way, bringing a draft would require an amendment, he cant just sign it into effect at will.

Well to all of you who responded to my comments, The only message I am trying to convey is, I supported the "Spacial ed" president and I am willing to DIE for his decision. I understand war is not a game but it is necessary and I see the presidents logic, which half of America doesn't, even if they thing they do ...

I am not afraid of being drafted, men have been drafted into battle before and I will too If this nation call it upon me. Like I said I have no problem with this, I believe in this war.

Before you get started pounding me on my lack of knowledge on foreign policy, understand that I already know what you going to say Ive been hearing i since the damn war started and quite frankly I am feed up with every bodies Anti-bush opinions.

Leave politics to politicans...

marg6043 the problem isnt that the USA and a few allies attacked Iraq . The problem is that Bush and his cronies made a mess of post war Iraq there was no plans for the occupation of Iraq. Bush his resorting to quick fixs and as everybody knows quick fixs will screw you in the long term. The back door draft will do more harm then good.
Who is going to join the US military when they know they can be held in uniform after there length of service?