reinstating the draft

[sarj]

Democrat plans laws to reinstate the draft
JACKIE FRANK

A US politician yesterday called for reinstatement of the draft to boost US troop levels and draw a broader section of the population into the military or public service.

US Representative Charles Rangel, a Democrat and the incoming chairman of the House of Representatives' tax-writing committee, said he would introduce legislation to reinstate the draft as soon as the new Democratic-controlled Congress convenes in January.

Asked if he was still serious about the proposal for a universal draft he raised a couple of years ago, he said: "You bet your life. Underscore serious. If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft."

Mr Rangel, who opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, also said he did not think the United States would have invaded Iraq if the children of members of Congress were sent to fight.

"I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft. I think to do so is hypocritical," he said.

He spoke as senator John McCain, a front-runner among Republican presidential contenders for the 2008 elections, called for an overwhelming number of troops to be sent to deal with the situation in Iraq.

"I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic. You will see Iran more emboldened. Eventually, you could see Iran pose a greater threat to the state of Israel," he said.

The Republican, who spent five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, added: "We left Vietnam. It was over. We just had to heal the wounds of war. We leave this place, chaos in the region, and they'll follow us home."

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I don't see anything in this article to argue with. I argued for the draft here, two years ago, albeit for slightly different reasons. It may not go over well politically though... I applaud the courage to put forth what needs to be put forth, to properly deal with what our country now faces.