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Military opposes draft bill introduced by democrat Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aFFOaeNEp7VI&refer=us http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aFFOaeNEp7VI&refer=us Pelosi, Hoyer Say House Won't Consider Resuming Draft (Update1) By Jay Newton-Small Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The two top House Democrats said they have no intention of bringing up legislation to resume the military draft. The remarks by Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader-Elect Steny Hoyer come a day after Representative Charlie Rangel, a New York Democrat, said he plans to again introduce legislation to revive the draft when his party takes control of Congress in January. ``The speaker and I have discussed scheduling'' for the House next year, Hoyer said after a meeting today with Pelosi. ``It did not include'' the draft, he said. ``Mr. Rangel has long held this position,'' Pelosi said. ``It's not about a draft, it's about shared sacrifice in our country.'' ``We have made very clear what our priorities are, and they're Six for '06,'' Pelosi said, naming the Democrats' plan to address what they call the middle class squeeze by raising the minimum wage, repealing the richest tax cuts and increasing education grants. ``Mr. Hoyer will be leading the action on the floor.'' Conscription for the military or public service would make U.S. leaders more cautious about going to war, Rangel said yesterday on CBS's ``Face the Nation.'' ``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, who is in line to become chairman of the Ways and Means Committee next year. Different Jurisdiction Pelosi today noted that Rangel's portfolio in that committee wouldn't include the draft. ``Mr. Rangel will be very busy with his work on the Ways and Means Committee, whose jurisdiction is quite a different jurisdiction,'' she said. Another Democrat, Senator Carl Levin, who will head the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress, squashed the idea of a draft. ``I don't think we need it. I don't favor it,'' Levin told reporters today when he met with Robert Gates, Bush's nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense. Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican and the outgoing chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he saw no need for a draft. ``Right now the military is meeting all of its goals on re-enlistment and accessions into the military,'' he said at a news conference today. ``And while you have people who are volunteering to take spots in the U.S. military, it doesn't make sense to be drafting people who would be displacing those persons.'' Military Against Draft Military leaders spoke out against reinstating the draft when Rangel introduced such legislation in January 2003, before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Commanders such as Air Force General Richard Myers, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the current volunteer force was better trained and more capable than the conscripted troops of the past. Rangel's proposal didn't gain widespread support when he first made it, and it was rejected by the House. He's reviving the legislation as lawmakers and some military commanders say the armed forces are being stretched thin by the war in Iraq. ``I don't see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft,'' Rangel, 76, an Army veteran who opposed the Iraq war, said yesterday. ``I think to do so is hypocritical.'' Recruiting Goals Achieved The Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force made their recruiting goals in the 2006 fiscal year, enlisting more than 180,000 men and women, the Defense Department said last month. Most of the enlistments, 80,635, were in the Army, the largest of the service branches. There are about 1.4 million military personnel on active duty and 1.3 million more in the reserves. Rangel said the draft would require ``a couple of years'' of service in the military or in other public agencies. The U.S. military draft ended in 1973 as the nation withdrew from Vietnam. The government still requires most men to register once they turn 18 with Selective Service, which maintains a list of those who may be eligible for a draft in a crisis. A June 2005 Gallup poll found 62 percent of adults oppose mandatory military training and reserve service. Last Updated: November 20, 2006 15:27 EST

soldiers-mental-toll 15 000 more troops iraq { May 16 2003 } 1700 soliders have deserted in iraq { December 5 2003 } 20 000 more troops 6 louisiana national guard soldiers mourned { January 11 2005 } 63 percent voters call for immediate troop withdrawal Abandoned pets problem while troops gone { April 12 2005 } America will stay in iraq says bush Army accepting more recruits with felonies { April 22 2008 } Army allows criminals for recruitment Army captain sues government about iraq assignment Army covers up soldier dissenters assassination Army keeping soldiers on duty { June 2 2004 } Army misses recruitment by 42 percent { May 16 2005 } Army not meeting recruiting goals { February 21 2005 } Army orders mother of 7 to duty { November 9 2003 } Army plans to keep troop level through 2006 { January 25 2005 } Army raises enlistment age for reservists { March 21 2005 } Army recalling thousands who left service Army recruiter threatens warrant on recruitee { May 11 2005 } Army reserve becoming broken force says general { January 6 2005 } Army reserve fears troop exodus Army sergeant refused iraq duty charged with desertion Army spread thin caling on same units Army stop loss prevents soliders from leaving army { January 28 2006 } Army trying to keep troops from leaving { January 5 2004 } Army will ease standards for recruits { October 1 2004 } Awol desserters crisis hits armed forces Black army recruits down 41perc since 2000 { March 6 2005 } British troops may stay 10 years Delayed troop return frustrates families Draft discussed by senator on hill Female soldiers eyed for combat Fewer army recruits lined up { July 22 2004 } Franks US stay for years { July 10 2003 } Ged no longer required for recruitment { September 20 2005 } General war has not ended { May 30 2003 } GI bill cant cover soldiers community college { April 29 2008 } Gis want home { August 10 2003 } Iraq combat veterans committing increased homicides { January 13 2008 } Kennedy calls for troops withdrawal Low morale plagues us troops in iraq Marine suicide by cop rather than return to iraq Marines come up short on recruits { February 3 2005 } Marines to reactive thousands reserves { July 2006 } Military opposes draft bill introduced by democrat Mississippi guardsmen denied leave for katrina { September 11 2005 } National guard 10 year record lows on recruiting { July 25 2005 } National guard recruiting slips National guard shipped { June 26 2002 } National guard treated like prisoners { November 25 2004 } New generation of homeless vets emerges { December 2008 } Pentagon delays us troops trip home Pentagon extends tour of duty for 6500 soldiers { October 30 2004 } Reservist commits suicide over city job { March 19 2004 } Reservists may face longer tours of duty { January 7 2005 } Reservists reservations { September 26 2002 } Returned iraq veteran soldier fires at police officer { July 23 2007 } Returning soldiers traumatized by occupation Scores denies leave time to displaced katrina families { September 11 2005 } Seattle high school attempts banning recruiters { May 18 2005 } Seventh day adventist marine jailed { January 5 2005 } Sick wounded us troops wait months barracks Soldier paid to get shot to avoid iraq { August 15 2007 } Soldier sues US military over extended service Soldier who married iraqi to be discharged { December 1 2003 } Soldiers are threatened with iraq duty Soldiers contest stop loss policy in court { December 6 2004 } Soldiers marry iraqi women Soldiers returning hard time to adjust { September 12 2003 } Soldiers sued over forced extension of service { October 20 2004 } Soldiers trying not to report States helpding guardsman because fed wont { January 19 2005 } Strained army extends tours to 15 months { April 12 2007 } Thousands of soldiers older than 50 deployed { October 17 2004 } Top democrats call for iraq pullout Tour of duty extended reserve forces Troop r and r budget wont cover costs Troops buy their own body armor { September 30 2005 } Troops have tough questions for rumsfeld { December 8 2004 } Troops questioned rumsfeld on long deployments { December 8 2004 } Troops return after 2 years { January 4 2004 } Troops to stay assignment seven years Unconfirmed mutiny in iraq Us forces extended tours duty US soldier suicide rate highest for 26 years { August 16 2007 } Us troops question presence in iraq { October 17 2003 } War veterans neglected abused at top medical facility { February 18 2007 } Worst recruiting years for army in decades { September 30 2005 } Files Listed: 88

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