http://educate-yourself.org/cn/mandatorydraftcoming19mar04.shtml
March 19, 2004
The possibility of mandatory drafting for boys and girls (age 18-26) starting June 15 2005, is something, I
believe, everyone should know. This litteraly affects EVERYONE since we all have or know children that will have to go if this bill passes.
If there are children in your family, READ this.
There is pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills: S 89 and HR 163) which will time the
program's initiation so the draft can begin at early as Spring 2005 -- just after the 2004 presidential election.
The administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public's attention is on the
elections, so our action on this is needed immediately. Details and links follow.
THE DRAFT
$28 million has been added to the 2004 selective service system (sss) budget to prepare for a military
draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. Selective Service must report to Bush on March 31,
2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. Please see website:
www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the sss annual performance plan - fiscal year 2004.
The pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070
appeals board slots nationwide.. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and
influential members of congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan [and a permanent state of war on "terrorism"] proves accurate, the U.S. may
have no choice but to draft.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5146.htm www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html
Congress brought twin bills, S. 89 and HR 163 forward this year,
http://www.hslda.org/legislation/national/2003/s89/default.asp
entitled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, "to provide for the common defense by requiring
that all young persons [age 18--26] in the United States, including women, perform a period of
military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland
security, and for other purposes." These active bills currently sit in the committee on armed services.
Dodging the draft will be more difficult than those from the Vietnam era. College and Canada will
not be options. In December 2001, Canada and the U.S. signed a "smart border declaration," which
could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign
affairs, John Manley, and U.S. Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-
point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering
and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and
class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to
postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the
academic year.
WHAT TO DO:
- Tell all your friends
- Call the Mercury News (Newsdesk) 408-920-5000
-E-mail the SF Chronicle at: Tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
- Contact your Senators and tell them to oppose these bills.
Barbara Boxer: 415-403-0100
Diane Feinstein: 415/393-0707
Anna Eshoo: 202/225-8104
Nancy Pelosi: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
For the full list of representatives (53) and websites, go to:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newseek.cgi?site=ctc&state=ca
We just can't sit and pretend that by ignoring it, it will go away. We must voice our concerns and
create the world we want to live in for our children and their children's children.