Attention hand-wringers: Look past the end of your noses.
Charles Rangel's call for a draft is one of the strongest anti-Iraq war statements made by a Democrat.
I know, I know, what he said, taken literally, gives the short-sighted, hand-wringing contigent among us the opportunity to rise up in righteous indignation. And I fully expect we'll see another dozen diaries calling Rangel names and blasting Democrats for, once again, providing cover for Republican efforts to send our fellow citizens off to die.
But, then, every single one of those diaries and every single comment that makes such assertions would be wrong.
But, damn, all that righteous indignation sure feels good!
(more)
"But he wants to send our kids off to die!"
No, he doesn't. He wants those who advocate "more troops," like McCain and any similar recommendation that emerges from the Baker group, to be forced into explaining just how we add troops when Pentagon brass has been saying for months (including Abizaid last week) that U.S. forces are stretched thin and that we have only 10,000 more combat-ready troops at present.
So in order to add troops, there are only two options:
- Extend tours for all active-duty, reserve and Guard forces (becoming an increasingly untennable choice, politically and practically, at this point)
- Re-institute a draft.
One thing on which all experts agree -- including Rangel -- is that Rangel's bill has ZERO chance for passage. So then why offer it?
Let's play out a scenario, shall we?
MCCAIN: We need at least 20,000, and more likely 100,000, more troops in Iraq in order to achieve victory.
MILITARY BRASS: We have only 10,000 more troops combat-ready at present.
MCCAIN: Uh... We must send more troops, or we'll lose! And I called for more troops, but no one would listen to me! If only they would listen, we could win!
RANGEL: Well, John, since we don't have enough troops, we'll have to restart the draft.
MCCAIN: (WHISPERING) Uh... Well... See, I want to be President so re-instituting the draft is not something I want to... (SHOUTING) More troops!
RANGEL, the PRESS, MILITARY BRASS: Uh, where do we get the troops?
MCCAIN: * Cough * I got something in my throat... (QUIETLY) more troops...
And I've heard another argument condemning Rangel:
"He's trashing the Democratic Party, turning off young people and others, by associating the Party with the draft."
No, he's not. Regardless of whether Rangel believes in compulsory service, he knows that he is on his own in calling for the draft. His call will generate little support from his fellow Democrats or from Republicans.
In short, by calling for a re-institution of the draft -- whatever his motivations -- Rangel is clearly putting the onus on those calling for more troops in the sinkhole that is Iraq. And, in fact, he is furthering the likelihood of withdrawal because we do not have the troops to support a ramping-up of our committment.
And please get back to me when Rangel calls for more troops in Iraq. (He wants us out.)
Now, I know all of this requires more than a knee-jerk reaction to his call for a draft, but maybe we can all put our thinking caps on and go beyond the headline of the story to the crux of the matter.
In the meantime, those who are so inclined should please carry on with their "RANGEL WANTS TO KILL OUR KIDS!" hand-wringing.
Self-righteous indignation is easy and fun and anyone can play!