"I will be introducing that bill as soon as we start the new session," Rangel said on CBS's "Face the Nation." He portrayed the draft, suspended since 1973, as a means of spreading military obligations more equitably and prompting political leaders to think twice before starting wars.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rangel, a Korean War veteran. "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."
Rangel has drawn modest support for his draft proposal in recent years and it has been unclear whether its prospects might improve in the 110th Congress.
from Amid Uproar Over War, Rangel Renews Call for Draft by Charles Babington of the Washington Post.
There were never enough troops in Iraq to occupy Iraq in such a fashion that civil disturbances would be at or below the level of Sadam Hussein's rule. Whether the number of troops necessary were 200 thousand or 500 hundred thousand or a million really didn't matter. The US just did not have the troops in uniform necessary to the job, nor did our allies in this war.
Now along comes Representative Rangel who argues if the US had a draft then this Iraq war would not have happened. I remember Vietnam. Vietname happened despite a draft. A draft is not a solution to stupid idiotic wars Representative Rangel. Remember 9/11 and the call for blood. A draft would not have made any difference. All a draft does is create a cheap affordable large army. Nothing more, nothing less. A draft is no substituted for competent informed leadership - whether Democratic or Republican. A draft will not solve today's Iraq problem. The US would need to put on the order of 2 to 3 million soldiers on the ground within months to make a difference. With a draft that would still take two to three years.
There is only one way to fairly recruit for military service; everyone must serve for a period of 2 years minimum and potentially have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Guess what a lottery does? A lottery exempts people from having to serve. Nixon's introduction of the lotter got rid of two third's of his problem. Look at Howard Dean, President Bush and President Clinton - draft evaders if you ever saw them. Yeah what they did was legal. They still effectively used their brains to avoid having to make the ultimate sacrifice. Do you think their resources are available to all equally? If you do then just think again. There is no such thing as a fair draft.
I say no draft, perhaps universal service, but No draft.
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