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Ex-US Commander McChrystal Calls for Military Draft: Does America Need a Draft?

Fef 2012/07/16 19:00:00
Yes, there should be a draft!
No, America doesn't need a draft.
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Stanley McChrystal urged reinstatement of the draft -- forced military conscription -- to include a more diverse segment of America's population. The retired United States Army General ended his military career as Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A).

“We’ve never done an extended war with a professional army like this. We’ve got a very professional army, a volunteer army and professional reserve and they’ve done a lot. So we’re in uncharted territory,” said General McChrystal.

General McChrystal also suggested that a draft would widen the population that serves in the military. “I’m becoming a little bit more extreme on this each year. I think we need national service and I think you need it either at the conclusion of high school or university." America ended the draft in 1973 after its unpopularity during the Vietnam War.

General McChrystal resigned after a 2010 Rolling Stone magazine reported his mockery of Vice President Joe Biden and direct criticism of President Obama's military policies.

The Raw Story reports: The general, who was sacked in 2010 over a magazine profile in which he and his staff ridiculed top civilian leaders including the US president, said a new national service requirement could include a range of non-military activities.
Stanley McChrystal  military draft

Read More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/11/ex-us-comman...

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Top Opinion

  • Doc. J 2012/07/15 15:01:03
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Doc. J
    +36
    As a Soldier, I have spent the best part of a decade constantly striving to be a better and more professional Soldier. I have, throughout this time been surrounded by those like myself.
    For most of us, Soldiering is more than just a job where you get to play with automatic weapons in other countries now and then.
    It is a way of life.
    We take comfort, in when looking to our left and right, we see others with that same level of commitment. (the fakes weed themselves out)

    That male or female is here just as I, because they walked into a recruiter's office and said "This is what I WANT to do." Even with the expressed and implied risks.

    I'm sorry, but with deepest respect for the draftee armies that have served with distinction and nobility in the past, a draft would reduce my confidence in those around me.
    I'm a professional, I want professionals around me.

    For me it's less about the concept of a draft itself, and more a "no confidence" vote on the caliber of people we would end up putting in the ranks as a result.
    To be fair, there are some great young people out there who would (and do) step up and make fine Soldiers......But there are a whole hell of a lot of spoiled, undiciplined, self centered youngsters who hold no authority higher than themselves, who would wind up in un...











    As a Soldier, I have spent the best part of a decade constantly striving to be a better and more professional Soldier. I have, throughout this time been surrounded by those like myself.
    For most of us, Soldiering is more than just a job where you get to play with automatic weapons in other countries now and then.
    It is a way of life.
    We take comfort, in when looking to our left and right, we see others with that same level of commitment. (the fakes weed themselves out)

    That male or female is here just as I, because they walked into a recruiter's office and said "This is what I WANT to do." Even with the expressed and implied risks.

    I'm sorry, but with deepest respect for the draftee armies that have served with distinction and nobility in the past, a draft would reduce my confidence in those around me.
    I'm a professional, I want professionals around me.

    For me it's less about the concept of a draft itself, and more a "no confidence" vote on the caliber of people we would end up putting in the ranks as a result.
    To be fair, there are some great young people out there who would (and do) step up and make fine Soldiers......But there are a whole hell of a lot of spoiled, undiciplined, self centered youngsters who hold no authority higher than themselves, who would wind up in uniform. And the military IS the sort of place where "one bad apple" can have a VERY detrimental impact.

    Hitler.......Hitler, or another like him is a fine reason to have a draft.

    "Diversity" is not.
    We are already about as diverse as it gets. We are people from ALL walks of life, religions, ethnicities, backgrounds, philosophies, and points of the compass.
    So for every left handed Eskimo put into service for the sake of diversity that made a great Soldier, we would wind up with 20 who didn't want to be there.

    And if they don't want to be here, then I don't want them here either.

    -Doc J
    "Steel Medic One"
    Fires Sqadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment
    (more)

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Opinions

  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/19 00:23:47
    Kae Kam
    +1
    Stop-loss was very real but over.
  • Mel 2012/07/18 01:39:40
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Mel
    Absolutely no. If you have a forced draft, people will desert. And then will there be deferrals? If so to whom?
  • marcuss LIBERALS ARE IDIOTS 2012/07/18 01:39:26
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    marcuss LIBERALS ARE IDIOTS
    +2
    In South Korea every one serves in the military. Its not a option not to unless you physically can not serve.
  • Lt. Fred marcuss... 2012/07/18 03:38:50
    Lt. Fred
    Same in Singapore, but both countries have close, direct, conventional threats. The US does not.
  • Ichiban... Lt. Fred 2012/07/18 13:16:51
    Ichiban Otousan
    9/11 what?
  • Lt. Fred Ichiban... 2012/07/18 23:21:59 (edited)
    Lt. Fred
    Not a conventional threat. How you going to stop a terrorist attack with an armoured brigade?
  • Happy 2012/07/18 01:20:58
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Happy
    +1
    i hate the idea of the draft in general.
  • Lt. Fred Happy 2012/07/18 03:39:11
    Lt. Fred
    I hate the idea of taxes, but both are the price you pay for civilisation.
  • Happy Lt. Fred 2012/07/18 03:46:41
    Happy
    A draft is not necessary for civilization, not in the least.
  • Lt. Fred Happy 2012/07/18 03:49:44
    Lt. Fred
    If that civilisation is threatened with destruction by some tyrant or nasty ideology, I think a draft can be required to maintain civilisation. Of course, this is not true of the US at the moment.
  • Louisa - Enemy of the State 2012/07/18 00:57:23
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Louisa - Enemy of the State
    +1
    I recently heard that the armed services were getting a glut of applications and they were able to deny entry to those who they would have previously taken on without a second look. If we have the draft, then we get a lot of lowbrow morons as well.

    Besides that, I have three grandson who have reached the age of majority and I absolutely don't want them anywhere else in the world except right here. In all the wars we've been in since I was born we've done nothing but feed the enemy American servicemen and women.

    No thanks to the draft. I'll chain my boys up in the basement until the war is over.
  • Nam Era Vet #1 DNA TLC 2012/07/18 00:21:48
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Nam Era Vet #1 DNA TLC
    +2
    Volunteers are going fine as far as I know.
  • Rick 2012/07/18 00:14:28
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Rick
    +6
    No, I will never server under the current POS in Charge! He wants a Military to sever him, Illegal Dictator in Chief! NEVER!!!!!
  • Louisa ... Rick 2012/07/18 00:59:58
    Louisa - Enemy of the State
    +5
    Totally agree. I don't recognize obama as a 'president' and certainly not MY 'president!' I'm an American, not a Kenyan.
  • Wolf 2012/07/17 22:47:03
    No, America doesn't need a draft.
    Wolf
    +1
    We technology you do not need manpower...you needs brains...
  • jdemme 2012/07/17 22:24:25
    Yes, there should be a draft!
    jdemme
    +5
    We need a draft. It'll deter the public from supporting unnecessary wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.)
  • Lt. Fred jdemme 2012/07/18 03:39:31
    Lt. Fred
    +1
    A good point.
  • lm1b2 2012/07/17 22:12:56
    Yes, there should be a draft!
    lm1b2
    +2
    Of the 1%
  • marcuss... lm1b2 2012/07/18 01:38:07
    marcuss LIBERALS ARE IDIOTS
    +2
    Then who would pay the taxes to support the rest of the country that refuses to work?
  • Lt. Fred marcuss... 2012/07/18 03:40:14 (edited)
    Lt. Fred
    +2
    Refusal to work is not a major cause of unemployment- a lack of jobs is. Most taxes are paid by the poorest 99%, not the wealthiest 1%.
  • lm1b2 marcuss... 2012/07/18 13:09:33
    lm1b2
    +1
    There Parents!
  • silentart 2012/07/17 21:38:40
    Yes, there should be a draft!
    silentart
    +1
    look at how poor kids get higher education thru GI Bill while rich kids sponge off parent's $ to play around in higher education... So play equality, all kids must go thru armed service to serve our country.
  • Kae Kam silentart 2012/07/18 02:08:12
    Kae Kam
    I grew up poor and didn't "sponge off my parents' $" to get educated. I worked hard, paid my own way and received scholarships, as did almost everyone I knew in undergrad.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/18 03:40:55
    Lt. Fred
    +3
    Not everyone can get a scholarship. Otherwise it wouldn't be a scholarship.
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/18 17:03:26
    Kae Kam
    Agreed. There are also loans and starting at cheap community colleges.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/18 23:23:43
    Lt. Fred
    The US had the worst university loan system on Earth (I'm not sure how it is now after Obama reformed it). Cheap community colleges will not get you a job.
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/19 00:26:42
    Kae Kam
    Two years at a cheap community college and a transfer to a four year school will get you a job.

    A friend started at community college, killed it, went to a four year school and is now a Rhodes Scholar, studying in New Zealand.

    Anything is possible.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/19 00:41:14
    Lt. Fred
    +1
    So you're relying on foreign universities to educate Americans? I don't think that's going to work.
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/19 02:58:03
    Kae Kam
    No, I'm saying that starting at a "crappy", much cheaper, school doesn't prevent one from succeeding.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/19 08:26:52
    Lt. Fred
    +1
    It does make it far less likely, though. So why should we encourage smart, poor, people to go there instead of the best?
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/19 16:09:36
    Kae Kam
    Because if they can't get scholarships, it makes no sense to go to a four year school of you can't afford it. Racking up +/- $120,000 of debt is ridiculous for many people.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/19 22:01:18
    Lt. Fred
    Think about it from the government's perspective. Why should the government allow people who are very intelligent not to get a good education?
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/20 02:22:49
    Kae Kam
    Because it's the individual's responsibility, not the government's. I know some extremely bright plumbers/electricians/etc.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/20 02:28:32
    Lt. Fred
    So does the government have responsibilities at all?
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/21 13:15:15
    Kae Kam
    Yes, but forced education isn't one of them.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/07/22 00:50:46
    Lt. Fred
    So no universal education? I disagree, to be sure. But that's hardly the only thing the government does.
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/07/24 12:27:58
    Kae Kam
    No, I don't support mandatory education.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/08/06 07:25:09
    Lt. Fred
    Children obviously can't make that decision for themselves.
  • Kae Kam Lt. Fred 2012/08/08 00:10:39
    Kae Kam
    No, but college age people can.
  • Lt. Fred Kae Kam 2012/08/08 00:14:33
    Lt. Fred
    Is college compulsory now?

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