The next new fight: A smaller military, or back to the draft
Time to sharpen up those lottery skills you’ve let languish. This from Government Executive:
The all-volunteer military that took over from the draft in 1973 has become so expensive it will either have to get smaller, not bigger as Congress desires, or declare the civilian equivalent of bankruptcy and resume the unpopular draft calls of the Vietnam era.
This is the prediction of retired Marine Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, a fully certified expert on military manpower. He was the longtime aide for former Senate Armed Services Chairman Sam Nunn, D-Ga. Punaro himself chaired the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, which issued a report last year on how those forces should be transformed. He was also on President Obama’s short list for Army secretary.
Our all-volunteer military “has priced itself out of the market” under the flat or reduced Pentagon budgets Punaro sees in our future, he said.
But nobody in Congress or the administration wants to look hard how we’re riding to the poorhouse in Cadillacs because none of the ways to stop the skyrocketing cost of recruiting, fielding and retiring the military is politically appealing: raid the Pentagon’s hardware, maintenance or research accounts; settle for a smaller military force or go back to the draft.
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31 comments Add your comment
Bob
November 10th, 2009
11:17 am
If a war is worth fighting it is worth a draft. The volunteer army is a jobs program and encourages entry into adventures like Iraq. Can we afford it? NO!
Roekest
November 10th, 2009
11:20 am
I say bring back the draft so those Obama kids can serve their country in a few years. Maybe that will speed up Daddy-O’s decision-making…
RetiredSoldier
November 10th, 2009
11:29 am
The all volunteer military has improved our war fighting ability greatly. I think it would be a major mistake to reinstitute the draft, but that is a political question, not a military question. If the draft is to be again I hope ALL young people and I mean all except for those not qualifed medically, are placed into the service. No exceptions except for medical.
Bob- How sad you view our current military only as a “jobs program”. I can’t begin to state how wrong headed that statement is. But our military will defend to the death your right to say it.
AH
November 10th, 2009
11:30 am
Unless this guy is saying that the drafted soldiers will not be paid then it doesn’t matter if they are drafted or volunteer. If we are going to abduct people off the street and force them into the military then that is just slavery. Is that the goal of the administration? I do see that he is talking about this as a future event if we don’t increase the pentagon budget, so is this another argument to not create another expensive useless government agency, i.e. health care reform, climate change, etc….
Cynthia Tucker McKinney
November 10th, 2009
12:02 pm
A democrat President will not reactivate the draft. This is some kind of bizzaro liberal dream.
Parkerized
November 10th, 2009
12:41 pm
I agree that everyone should have to serve their county at least 2 years like Isreal. With no loop holes like serving in the Texas National Guard or getting a college exemption. Even rich kids should get their chance to die for their country.
Ga Values
November 10th, 2009
12:43 pm
I was drafted after college and spent 13 months and 6 days in Viet Nam.. The taxpayer did not get their money’s worth out of me.
Bill White
November 10th, 2009
12:54 pm
How about canceling the $1.7 trillion healthcare boondoggle and applying it to expand our military to increase the Surge’s success in Iraq–the country that attacked us on September 11th? Do you know why Hussein Nobama is sending more under-funded troops to Afghanistan? I and millions of Americans don’t know why. There’s nothing going on in Afghanistan. The Soviets have been out of there for years. We have no business beong over there. The real problem is in Iraq, pure and simple.
RetiredSoldier
November 10th, 2009
1:17 pm
Ga Values-
That’s a heck of a thing to be proud of. From your comments that set the tone for your life I would guess. No one can ever give back to this country what our great nation has given us. Thank goodness we have brave men and women who desire to serve our country in the military.
cletus T Rockafella
November 10th, 2009
1:28 pm
Excellent idea. Re-institute the draft, and we can start with:
barak obama
george bush
bill clinton
dick cheney
neal boortz
shawn hannity
rush limbaugh
mike gallagher
nathan deal
sonny purdue
jim galloway
I think the military can find roles for all of the above, once they’ve gone through basic training and put into the line of combat. Also, eliminate the age restriction, so the above list can ’serve their country’. Me? nope, not interested. I’ll fight when we are invaded.
kornfeld-5
November 10th, 2009
1:30 pm
Excellent idea. Re-institute the draft, and we can start with:
barak obama
george bush
bill clinton
dick cheney
neal boortz
shawn hannity
rush limbaugh
mike gallagher
nathan deal
sonny purdue
jim galloway
I think the military can find roles for all of the above, once they’ve gone through basic training and put into the line of combat. Also, eliminate the age restriction, so the above list can ’serve their country’. Me? nope, not interested. I’ll fight when we are invaded.
Ga Values
November 10th, 2009
2:09 pm
RetiredSoldier
1:17 pm
The Army spent $16,000 of 1967 money to train me as a 31e20. I never spent a minute of my time working in my MOS.. I have a bunch of ribbons & bows for my time in Nam. Hopefully you actually earned what ribbons you have. You really have a bad attitude..I guess you served with Saxby.
RetiredSoldier
November 10th, 2009
3:02 pm
I served in the Infantry on active duty and yes I earned the awards and ribbons I received. I have a very positive attitude, your attitude positively stinks! Have a great day and remember, Airborne leads the way.
Cynthia Tucker McKinney
November 10th, 2009
3:05 pm
GA Values is a lunatic. Kinda like Will Jones, but not as crazy.
Ga Values
November 10th, 2009
3:33 pm
RetiredSoldier
3:02 pm
Exactly where did you jump in Nam?. You sound like 1 of those gys at the VFW, who was a big hero behind a desk.. Say hello to your buddy Saxby..
Ga Values
November 10th, 2009
3:39 pm
Cynthia Tucker McKinney
3:05 pm
Looks like you and RetiredSoldier are the same blogger,, figures doesn’t it..
RetiredSoldier
November 10th, 2009
3:52 pm
Ga Values-
The vast majority of my jumps were in Panama and Fort Bragg if that means anything. Sorry, not Vietnam, not old enough. My only conflict was the first Gulf War. Not a hero at all, just a retired Vet who loves his country and doesn’t like liberal guys like you. I do appreciate you contributing to my retirement pay. Doesn’t that just chaff you a little?
I have met Saxby a number of times, nice family man. Guess your Ga Values are not the same as a majority of us. Vermont is looking for a few good men or women.
Ga Values
November 10th, 2009
4:43 pm
RetiredSoldier
3:52 pm
Just as I thought drug store hero.. I know you and Saxby are cut from the same cloth..give Cynthia Tucker McKinney a big hug for me, if you can figure out how to get your arms around yourself. You BIG GOVERNMENT, BIG SPENDING RINOs are destroying the USA.
Bob in Winder
November 10th, 2009
4:54 pm
Hard to believe a real army vet would be defending the draft dodger Chambliss and throwing rocks at a person who actually served in Viet Nam.
Bob in Winder
November 10th, 2009
5:09 pm
Sorry but I left out that Chambliss is a coward and a slime ball.
Gary
November 10th, 2009
8:19 pm
Bob, Ga Values is the one who insulted RetiredSoldier after giving an opinion that the draft is not necessary. Sorry that doesn’t correlate with yours and GA Values view of the world, but he has fought just like Values has to preserve that right.
Bob in Winder
November 11th, 2009
6:30 am
RetiredSoldier .. your numbers don’t add up.. you should still be serving your country.. How many times were you passed over for promotion or are you 1 of Chambliss’s interns trying to hide his record?
Bob in Winder
November 11th, 2009
6:34 am
Gary 8:19 pm
Ga Values served in Viet Nam and RetiredSoldier called him a coward yet he defends the coward, draft dodger Saxby Chambliss. RetiredSoldier owes Ga Values an apology.
Bo Chambliss LOBBYIST
November 11th, 2009
8:58 am
I am with RetiredSoldier, Saxby was too busy playing college baseball to be drafted into the Army. The family doctor took care of the details and Saxby got out Scott free. As you know Saxby is the LOBBYIST best friend he is the most cost effective way to get an earmark. It was not Saxby fault that he had to play golf with Tiger Woods and could not attend the Senate hearings on VA care and he had to vote to cut spending on VA care to pay for earmarks he had promised.
Ga Values
November 11th, 2009
9:36 am
Bo Chambliss LOBBYIST…YOUR FATHER IS AS LOW AS YOU CAN GET.
RetiredSoldier
November 11th, 2009
10:08 am
Didn’t know I was starting a war, several facts:
Never passed over I retired in 1996 as an 05 of Infantry. Retired prior to the 06 board meeting.
Only thing I said about Ckambliss is he has a nice family though yes I voted for him over liberals like Martin et al.
I consider myself a conservative and vote that way. I don’t think military service is a necessary qualification for elective office, though that is always a good thing.
Yes I oppose a draft Ga Values seems to support, but if the political decision is made to reinstitute one (not likely) all should be drafted that are medically qualified.
Bob in Winder your military qualifications are?
Just so you know where I come from, my Grandfather served in the Navy in WWI, My father in the Navy in WWII and Korea, my brother in the Marines in Vietnam and I until 96 in the Army. I feel fairly secure we have “been on the job” our fair share.
RetiredSoldier
November 11th, 2009
10:13 am
Forgot this one, I never called Ga Values a coward. I have no idea how he did in Vietnam, but one should always presume military service as honorable unless their are facts otherwise.
Bob in Winder
November 11th, 2009
12:38 pm
I was drafted spent 15+ months with the guns in the Central Highlands at 3 different fire bases.
If you are really a Conservative you need to join either the Libertarian or Tea Party. The only difference between the Georgia RINO and Democratic party is 1 is white and the other is black. Wake up America we are being sold out to the Lobbyist.
RetiredSoldier
November 11th, 2009
1:04 pm
The tea party in my home town was planned at my business, been there and done that.
Guess my numbers for service add up. You need to be careful when fire the shotgun, you may be hitting friendlies. In addition, be careful because perfect is the enemy of good. I assume you wouldn’t prefer Jim Martin or Max Cleland over Saxby?
In fact I have a great idea, why not run yourself. Then you can be pissed off at yourself.
Bob in Winder
November 11th, 2009
1:48 pm
I voted for Allen Buckley, a good, honest Conservative.. Cost Saxby’s Lobbyist buddies 3+ million, sure they will get it back but it felt good anyway.
C.V. Compton Shaw
November 11th, 2009
8:19 pm
I served with the U.S. Army; 4th ID; 2/8th Inf.; Republic of Vietnam 1969-1970.
The danger of a military draft in which the electoral majority is composed of individuals who are either unwilling and/or unable to serve in the military, especially the combat arms, is that the same will turn on those who do serve and discriminate against, oppress, and denigrate the same while granting themselves privilege in employment, education, and otherwise over the same. That is exactly what happened after the War in Vietnam (affirmative action, feminism, the anti-Vietnam Veteran movement). It is both in their interest and power to do the same. They DID THE SAME.
As a result of the aforementioned,unless electoral representation (the right to vote) is linked to mandatory military service, I am opposed to a military draft.
The following is the URL to a web site which contains an excellent article by US Representative Ron Paul which opposes a military draft.
http://www.debate-central.org/2006/research/a-draft-violates-individual-liberty