A Little Less Drafty

Following up on Fixer's previous post, This from the LATimes:

Seeking to dispel suggestions that the war in Iraq could lead to reinstatement of the draft, House Republicans on Tuesday hastily brought the idea to a vote — with the express intent of shooting it down.

"It's putting a rumor to rest," John Feehery, a spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), said even before the 402-2 vote to reject the bill that would have mandated two years of military or civilian service for all men and women 18 to 26 years old.

"This campaign — which started as a whisper but has since been given voice by the leading Democrats in the country today — asserts without any evidence whatsoever that there is a secret Republican plan to reinstitute the military draft," DeLay said.

DeLay? That's a little suspect right there. I bet he's suspect in a lot of nasty shit.

Some Democrats ain't buyin' it:

Democrats and activists dismissed Tuesday's House action as hollow. Rangel voted against the very bill he wrote and accused the Republicans of "prostituting" the legislative process for political gain

In response, Congress has appeared to be acting to bolster the all-volunteer force. Influential lawmakers, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John W. Warner (R-Va.), have questioned the wisdom of drafting reluctant soldiers and the cost-effectiveness of training draftees for only a couple of years of service, as opposed to those who join with a career in mind.

In time of war, draftees have historically made the difference, and in time of peace (the Cold War) they filled out the military 'just in case'.

Today's politicians' main reaction to anything is "don't rock my vote", but in this instance, in this stupid 'Bush's War', they happen to be right not to reinstitute the draft.

Having said that, I am for a National Service Act, which could include the military, and would give the kids a chance to serve the country for a coupla years after High School, something like the Peace Corps. It might teach them what this country is all about, give them some pride in it, and help them to grow up a little before college or the workforce.