Time for a Draft and a War Tax

The drumbeat has started for Iran.  That much is clear by now.  John Bolton is talking about mushroom clouds, Bush has said all options are on the table, and Iran seems to be willfully pushing their luck as well.

Yes, that's right.  I think Iran is showing almost the same level of belligerence that our misleaders have been.  And who can blame them?  Do we really have the resources and the will to invade them?  Can we drop bombs on their nuclear plants, many of which are located in populated areas?  Can we do much to threaten them while our troops are involved in a growing civil war right next door?

No.  We can't.  And Iran knows it.  They have higher cards in their hand.

More...

So should we bomb the hell out of them?  Or appease them and run away from the issue.  Some say (the same who run this joint) that you are a little pansy if you don't want to WIPE THEM OUT, RIGHT NOW.

As always, the devil is in the nuance.

So what to do if you're a leftie, a progressive, a Dem, an American, or anyone else interested in a truthful, meaningful, peaceful outcome to our 'nuclear standoff' with Iran?  Remember, the tall, grey 'French-looking' senator most of us voted for said nuclear proliferation was our greatest threat.

Do we have the chips to negotiate?  Do we have the resolve to fight a full-scale war?  Do we have the people?  Do we have the resources?  Our troops have been sent back 4 and 5 times to Iraq, and they don't have the resources they need.

Let's ask all Americans to put up or shut up.

• If we decide to invade Iran, let's declare a formal war, clearly defining the enemy, the goal, and the exit strategy.

• If we decide to invade Iran, let's institute a draft, so that all of us are involved, and not just the existing military and their families.

• If we decide to invade Iran, let's institute a War Tax.  5% of all wages, capital gains, inheritances, dividends, interest, and corporate profits (that means you, Exxon-Mobil) will be dedicated to paying troops' wages, bonuses, health insurance, armor, and equipment.

These measures may cause massive social upheaval (stop chuckling), but there's also a chance that Americans will pull together and agree to share the responsibility for winning, this time (I said no chuckling!).

Iraq has been called a liberal war.  It's not.  It is conservative.  That's why there are only 138,000 troops, a shortage of armor, and a stop-loss program.  A liberal war would involve a half-million troops, a draft, dedicated taxes, and would be worth it in the first place.

The problem with Iraq (beyond that it was not worth it) is that we weren't all asked to share the burden.  The job was low-balled.

If all the drumbeat claims about Iran are true, show us the real cost of a war with them.  The draft.  The tax.  Let the people decide.  I think we all know what we'll do.

•  As long as they draft us

  to defend and support the constitution. Bush wouldn't stand a chance.

  by white blitz on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:20:35 AM PDT

•  I agree.

  So many of us, like the Keyboard Commandos (or whatever they call themselves) have a video game/cinematic view of war...safely detached and warm & fat on the couch. Citizens should be required to sacrifice for the expense and manpower required for warring. Perhaps then we would be more selective when we pull the lever in November. Perhaps then MORE of us would pull the lever in November, and force us to pay attention to our world beyond our own lives.

  by ablington on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:21:22 AM PDT

  •  You bet!

    You are right on target.

    Won't happen, Bush is a coward. Worst President Ever. If sacrifices are required there will be zero support.

    by nyceve on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:23:18 AM PDT

    •  Zero support for sure.

      Because even the wingnuts know in their heart of hearts that this is an unjust war.

      by ablington on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:30:59 AM PDT

•  No...

  it isn't.

  by RonV on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:23:38 AM PDT

•  I'm with you on this, and am sad to say it

  I've been putting forth this concept for awhile now.  But only for awhile.  I am at the end of my ropes and am convinced that a paradoxical intervention such as you've described might be the only solution to raising awareness of the travesties beset upon us by our dishonest government.

  by nolalily on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:25:22 AM PDT

  •  The scary thing

    Is that these guys will invade without even thinking about asking for national sacrifice.  My relatives (some red, some blue, mostly purple), mostly agree.  They would stand up to support their country if asked.  It's kind of like Nixon going to China.  Even with his low ratings, only Bush could ask for this.

    by socialist butterfly on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:34:34 AM PDT

    •  Glad to see

      Some others have been coming to the same line of thought I have been running with for the last couple days. If you have seen most of my recent comments, you know they could of come from this diary. The Draft will be the maker or breaker of this next step, hopefully.

      by OneCrankyDom on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 09:38:02 AM PDT

•  Don't forget Israel...

  The IDF has 250,000 active troops and 2 million reserves, as well as one of the best air forces in the world.  if the US took any action against Iran, Israel would be with us the whole way.  

  by airwave on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:30:37 AM PDT

  •  great

    The armies of the US and Israel, marching to another preemptive war together.  Just what the US needs to redeem our reputation!  If we went to war, and then used Israel's army as our main supporting force, we'd be in even more trouble, if that's possible.

    by zenbowl on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:33:04 AM PDT

•  A national draft + a war tax?

  A great idea!

  Now then, invade Iran?

  How about we send Bush and Cheney?

  How about we send Lieberman and Frist?

  How about we send Insannity and O'lielly?

  How about we send Pat Robertson and Rushie boy?

  How about we send Ann Coulter and Bill Kristol?

  How about we send no one, not even the pukes listed above?

  How about we learn to respect and value human life and our planet?

  How about we read our Constitution, our Bill of Rights and our Declaration of Independence?

  How about helthcare?

  How about anything in the whole wide world that is good, thoughtful and loving which would exclude this diary?

  by 0hio on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:47:26 AM PDT

  •  In agreement

    The point is to be shown the true cost of our adventures, before we partake in them.

    by socialist butterfly on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 09:00:05 AM PDT

•  You speak as if the 'war' in Iraq

  made any sense at all. It didn't.

  It was a short, successful war af agression, nothing more. It's the occupation which is failing as most of us always knew it would.

  by fly on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 08:52:29 AM PDT

  •  No, it didn't

    I don't think the war in Iraq is worth it.  Those words are in the diary.

    It was for fossil fuels, and so would be an invasion of Iran.  Just or unjust, we should share the responsibility.

    by socialist butterfly on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 09:04:01 AM PDT

•  They will lowball Iran costs, just like pre-Iraq

  They are going to stumble stupidly into an Iran fiasco, just like they did in Iraq, wildly optimistic on the front end about how little it will cost.

  The most likely scenario is a US supported air attack on Iran's nuclear facilities - low-cost, no problem.  

  Then, shock and awe that Iran actually retaliates by fomenting trouble in Iraq - "No one could have expected that Iraqi Shiites would rise up in such numbers against our troops because of the bombing of their old enemy".  To restore order in Iraq, more troops and a temporary draft will be necessary.

  When the Iraqi uprising is definitely linked to Iranian agents, who provided money and weapons, the Bush administration will be forced to reluctantly strike back at Iran, using a blitzkrieg tank attack to occupy Kuzestan (contiguous to Iraq and Iran's major oil-producing region).  More troops and money are needed, because "No one could have expected that the Russians AND Chinese would provide economic and military support to the Iranians".

  I'm not even sure that the Bush administration is stupid enough to actually want to start down this path to disaster with Iran.  But I am TOTALLY POSITIVE that they want to beat the drums of war with Iran, trying to repeat their successful mid-term strategy for 2002.  Control the pre-election dialog by focusing attention on their "strength" - muscular foreign policy to protect American from threats.  

  This always terrorizes the cowardly Congressional Democrats, who stupidly line up behind the Commander in Chief, swearing their loyalty and patriotism.  And, this time, pledging to commit the necessary troops and make the sacrifices back home.  This time, it will be our own war-hawk democrats calling for the draft and higher taxes - Hillary, Biden, Lieberman, are practically panting to wave the flag harder than the Repugs on the next war.

  by DarkestHour on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 09:02:23 AM PDT

•  I wonder what the true costs are?

  Lives, homes, cultures, religions, materials, healthcare for the wounded, etc.

  I read a story a few months back whereas the cost of Iraq would be app. 2 trillion dollars.

  We could have bought a lot of oil for 2 trillion dollars PLUS developed alternative fuels which we are going to have to do sooner or later.

  Now we are going to bomb the hell out of Iran....

  Have we no decency?

  Trust me, if Iraq or Iran or any other country came over here and murdered my grand kids, ... you get the message. Now why would we Americans kill any kids any where at any time for any reason?

  Do you know why we don't see the war on TV? Because of what happened during Katrina. THEY CAN'T LIE when the truth is being displayed in your living room 24/7.

  They hide the TRUTH, the REALITY of war when you watch it with your own eyes.

  True costs of George W. Bush?

  I pray to God we never know.

  by 0hio on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 09:16:20 AM PDT

•  Used to support the 'Charlie Rangel' position....

  ...but now I am concerned that if a draft were implemented that the whole knee jerk "support the troops" psychology would come into play.  

  The all-volunteer troops returning now with their disillusionment and harsh truths are the best shot we have for undermining the neocon militarists.

  If a draft were instituted, it then would be another few years as the drafted troops were trained, deployed and wasted before we would have another chance to expose the Right Wings' lies and manipulations.

  I think the THREAT of dfaft to carry out their plans is a far bigger weapon for us than an actual draft.  Once a real draft kicks in, it would be Viet Nam all over again, protestors would be unpatriotic cowards, and even those who didn't support the administration would be intimidated into keeping their mouths shhut for fear of offending someone with a loved one under arms.

  by wonkydonkey on Thu Mar 16, 2006 at 10:13:54 AM PDT