NOTE: I'm the Clinton campaign's Internet Director
I wanted to share this with you:
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on President George Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to clarify the Administration's position on re-instituting the military draft, in light of White House Deputy National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute saying yesterday that the draft "has always been an option on the table" - which contradicts previously stated Administration policy.
"Our volunteer military is the best in the world and has been performing heroically under difficult circumstances," Clinton said. "While our force is under strain, a draft is not the answer. I call upon President Bush and Secretary Gates to clarify Gen. Lute's remarks and affirm their commitment to the all-volunteer force. Rather than raising the specter of a draft, the Administration should be focusing on providing our current servicemembers with the equipment and benefits they need and deserve."
Since 1973, the United States has relied on an all-volunteer force. As recently as December of last year, when the Selective Service System underwent a comprehensive "Readiness test," the White House reiterated its position opposing re-instituting the draft.
General Lute though, tasked with coordinating White House policy on the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, has now cast that opposition in doubt by saying that a military draft is "an option on the table," and the President and Secretary of Defense need to clarify his remarks, and clearly state the current position of the Administration.
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