- A Republican U.S. senator is calling for a return of
the military draft so the cost of the Iraq operation could be borne by
people of all economic strata.
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- Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing
on post-occupation Iraq, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said, "There's
not an American ... that doesn't understand what we are engaged in today
and what the prospects are for the future."
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- Hagel, a member of the committee, says all Americans
should be involved in the effort.
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- "Why shouldn't we ask all of our citizens to bear
some responsibility and pay some price?" Hagel said, arguing that
restoring the draft would force "our citizens to understand the intensity
and depth of challenges we face."
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- The senator also argued re-instituting the draft, which
ended in the early '70s, would cause the burden of military service to
be spread among all economic classes of people.
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- "Those who are serving today and dying today are
the middle class and lower middle class," he claimed.
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- Hagel's call comes just days after the Pentagon moved
to extend the missions of some 20,000 of the 135,000 U.S. troops in Iraq,
noted a report from Agence France-Presse. The Bush administration has been
criticized for not using enough troops as the coalition works to keep order
in Iraqi cities.
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- As WorldNetDaily reported, a pair of bills was introduced
in Congress last year that would bring back the military draft.
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- S. 89, the Senate version of the legislation, indicates
its purpose is "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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- The bill was introduced Jan. 7, 2003, by Sen. Fritz Hollings,
D-S.C.
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- Says the text of the bill: "It is the obligation
of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing
in the United States who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a
period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under
the provisions of this Act."
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- This service, which would be for a minimum of two years,
can be either in the military or "in a civilian capacity that, as
determined by the president, promotes the national defense, including national
or community service and homeland security."
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- Under the bill, "conscientious objectors" may
request a deferment from military training, but must still provide service
"that does not include any combatant training component." Alternatively,
the objector can be transferred to a civilian service job.
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- The House of Representatives version of the bill, H.R.
163, is sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
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- The bill differs from an earlier attempt to re-institute
the draft. As WorldNetDaily reported, the "Universal Military Training
and Service Act," introduced in December 2001, applied only to men
and only those from 18-22 years of age. Also, the earlier bill required
just six months of service.
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- Libertarian presidential candidate Aaron Russo has launched
a petition drive against the draft.
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- Last fall, media reported on the fact the Selective Service
System had posted a notice saying the agency was looking for people to
serve on local draft boards. Since then, the appeal has been changed to
assure the public that "there is NO connection between this ongoing,
routine public outreach to compensate for natural board attrition and current
international events. Both the president and the secretary of defense have
stated on several occasions that a draft is not needed for the war on terrorism,
including Iraq."
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- Libertarian commentators claim the government is getting
things prepared so if the draft is re-instated, conscription can begin
as quickly as possible. Recently, presidential candidate Ralph Nader also
has warned about attempts to bring back the draft.
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- © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com, Inc.
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- http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38139
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- Comment
- From Ted Twietmeyer
2-25-4
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- Let's not forget the poison, hazard and worry list that
our "draftees" will receive at no extra charge.
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- 1. Depleted uranium radioactive poisoning. These warheads
and armor-piercing shells not only have half-lives measured in thousands
of years, but they also have chemical toxicity too, since they are considered
to be heavy metals.
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- 2. Chemical Warfare residues that can linger for years.
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- 3. Biological pathogens in the environment in Iraq from
our forces blowing (instead of incinerating) old stockpiles. Based on symptoms
many returning vets have (that are still alive) it appears that many of
these pathogens either can stay in the environment, and/or are contracted
from socializing with the locals.
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- 4. Untested vaccinations and vaccinations that have
tested to be toxic but are still given routinely.
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- 5. Subcutaneous (under the skin) sand-fly parasite infections
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- 6. The art and skill of being paranoid, not knowing
where the next mortar shell or RPG will come from, in the new war without
a front.
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- 7. The great comfort of going into battle, trying NOT
to think about that letter from your wife telling you the plant you worked
at is closed, and receiving un-love letters from the bank about your car
and home. Learning the art and skill of staying focused to save your life
and others, while your personal life at home is helplessly dissolving away.
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- IF they can live through all these things AND not try
to use their body to stop a bullet, they can receive an honorable discharge
(someday ?) and come home to their families.
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- Then they have all the opportunities in the world to
pass these wonderful problems onto them, AND BE UNEMPLOYED.
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- And who said uncle sam takes benefits away ?
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- And lets not forget that about 4 years ago, the VA stated
that MS IS A WAR RELATED ILLNESS.
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- And to think that just a few years ago, all people could
think about was Dioxin from Vietnam. Now that doesn't seem like such a
big thing anymore, does it ?
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