The Truth about a Military Draft

There has been a lot of talk about the possiblilty of the government bring back the draft. This is nothing more then a boldfaced lie. Below is the text of an email that was sent to me by a supposed non-partisan group, Rock the Vote. It warns of a coming draft and that I better vote to save myself.

From: "Hans Riemer, Rock the Vote" <action@action.rockthevote.org>
> Date: 2004/09/28 Tue PM 07:29:08 EDT
> To:
> Subject: You have been drafted!
>
>
> YOU HAVE BEEN DRAFTED!
>
> http://action.rockthevote.org/ctt.asp?u=1184036&l=4476
>
> This is not a real draft, but a real one may happen soon if the current situation doesn't improve.
>
> As it is, our military is stretched almost to the breaking point trying to maintain troop levels in Iraq and around the world. If Pakistan, North Korea or other nations begin to pose new military threats, how would we expect to meet the demand for troops?
>
> Did you know that:
>
> * It would only take two to three days for Congress and the President to authorize a draft and set the Selective Service System's plans in motion?
>
> * Twenty-year-olds would be the first to be inducted?
>
> * Women are very likely to be included in the next draft?
>
> It's up to us to educate ourselves. In the event of a draft, we won't have much time to form an opinion. And with just 34 days left until the election and only a few days left before many state registration deadlines, we need to take a stand now by registering to vote:
>
> http://action.rockthevote.org/ctt.asp?u=1184036&l=4476
>
> Copy this URL into your web browser to get the facts about a potential draft, and to find out what you can do:
>
> http://action.rockthevote.org/ctt.asp?u=1184036&l=4476
>
> Sincerely,
> Rock The Vote
> and
> Alliance For Security
>
> =========================
>
> Send this draft card to five others right now!
> http://action.rockthevote.org/ctt.asp?u=1184036&l=4484
>
> =========================
>
> Rock the Vote with your donation - Without your support, we can't rock the system.
> http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_donate.php
> Your contribution will support Rock the Vote's street teams, which register, educate and mobilize young people to vote across the country, including dozens of the most hotly contested cities of the 2004 election.
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++
> You received this message because signed up to receive emails from Rock The Vote. To be removed from this list, send an email to action@action.rockthevote.org with "remove" in the subject line or go to http://action.RockTheVote.org/unsubscribe.

Now that seems a little far-fetched to believe. Here are some links to the real folks that are responsible for this draft talk, because they actually do want to bring back the draft, notice which party they belong to. I would also point out the date of last action on both this bills.

Bill Summary & Status for the 108th Congress

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S.89 Title: A bill to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Hollings, Ernest F. [SC] (introduced 1/7/2003) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.163 Latest Major Action: 1/7/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

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All Bill Summary & Status Info (not bill text/subjects)

Titles

Bill Status (links to Cong. Record pages, votes)

Committees

Related House Committee Documents

Amendments

Related Bill Details

Subjects (CRS Index Terms)

Cosponsors (None)

CRS Summary

Text of Legislation

AND

Bill Summary & Status for the 108th Congress

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NEW SEARCH | HOME | HELP

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H.R.163 Title: To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 1/7/2003) Cosponsors (14) Related Bills: S.89 Latest Major Action: 2/3/2003 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

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TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)

• POPULAR TITLE(S):
  Reinstate draft bill (identified by CRS)
• SHORT TITLE(S) AS INTRODUCED:
  Universal National Service Act of 2003
• OFFICIAL TITLE AS INTRODUCED:
  To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

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STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)

1/7/2003:

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

2/3/2003:

Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

2/3/2003:

Referred to the Subcommittee on Total Force.

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COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee:		Activity:
House Armed Services		Referral, In Committee
	Subcommittee on Total Force	Referral

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RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)

Bill:	Relationship:
S.89	Identical bill identified by CRS

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AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

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COSPONSORS(14), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 1/7/2003
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 1/28/2003
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 5/19/2004
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 1/28/2003
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 1/7/2003
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 1/28/2003
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 1/28/2003
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 7/21/2004
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 1/28/2003
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 1/7/2003
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/7/2003
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 1/28/2003
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 1/7/2003
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 1/28/2003

Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 1/28/2003(withdrawn - 6/21/2004)

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SUMMARY AS OF:
1/7/2003--Introduced.

Universal National Service Act of 2003 - Declares that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, unless exempted, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. Requires induction into national service by the President. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) induction deferments, postponements, and exemptions, including exemption of a conscientious objector from military service that includes combatant training; and (2) discharge following national service.

Amends the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the military registration of females.

Here are links to the sponsers of these bills, please write them and ask that they give up the ghost and speak the truth about who started this movement.

Senator Fritz Hollings (D) South Carolina http://hollings.senate.gov/
Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D) NY 15th District http://rangel.house.gov/#
Congresswomen Nydia Velazquez (D) NY 12th District http://www.house.gov/velazquez/
Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D) HI 1st District http://www.house.gov/abercrombie/
Congresswomen Corrine Brown (D) FL 3th District http://www.house.gov/corrinebrown/
Congresswomen Donna M. Christensen (D) VI http://www.house.gov/christian-christensen/
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) MO 1st District http://www.house.gov/clay/
Congressman John Conyers (D) MI 14th District http://www.house.gov/conyers/
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D) 7th District http://www.house.gov/cummings/
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D) FL 23th District http://alceehastings.house.gov/
Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) IL 2nd District http://www.house.gov/jackson/
Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee (D) TX 18th District http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/
Congressman John Lewis (D) GA 5th District http://www.house.gov/johnlewis/
Congressman Jim McDermott (D) WA 7th District http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/
Congressman Jim Moran (D) VA 8th District http://moran.house.gov/
Congressman Pete Stark (D) CA 13th District http://www.house.gov/stark/

I have a real problem with these so-called representatives of the people allowing the lie that the Bush Administration is behind their effort to bring back the draft. Allow me to pose one last question, those who know me will know this is a fair question, if the draft was so bad for African - Americans in the 60's, why are so many African-American congressmen and women supporting bring it back? Enough for now, later troops.........