Gen. Colin Powell - Should We Bring Back the Draft?

[AndrewChan84]

Another Masonic lost soul waiting God's judgement.....

[AndrewChan84]

A draft is ALWAYS a political tool, and never a military necessity. A soldier who volunteers will have the enthusiasm to learn the skills but a conscript will just be a burden to everyone on the battlefield because he doesn't want to be there.

People who like the army who just wants everybody to be drafted are just assholes wanting to haze and kick other people ass who are not so enthusiastic.

[LastXdeth]

I am desperate for a draft, but I already enlisted, so not a problem currently.

[LBBSTOMAJCCDP]

@satv365 do you really think the corrupt government cares? please. The Drug War is making them desperate. Start using your noggin'

[LBBSTOMAJCCDP]

@satv365 Military service is compulsory in Mexico. Have fun with that.

[b991228]

We don't need a draft we need a sensible foreign policy. We have to learn to live with the other nations throughout the world. We have to stop being violent tyrants who demand that nations do it our way or die.

[kickit007]

We definitely need the draft because then our population will exert more control over our gov. via voting. and the draft would unify us and bring everybody together for the same cause whether we like it or not

[mr19932001]

I agree with Colin. We wouldn't be able to bring it back now because the problems aren't that serious. Besides, I believe in a voulntary military and I also believe that waer should be used in the very very very last resort and Afghanistan and escpecially Iraq were not last resort.

[soulchild2008]

Just as a rhetorical question for everyone to think about. Even if we wanted to reinstate the draft next year, how do you go about doing that considering the standards for physical training when almost one person for every three in this country is considered Obese? It's not like the days of Vietnam when drafting people was like easy pickings, hardly anyone of military age back then was obese compared to now. It would take the better part of a year to train someone who is that out of condition.

[pabobfin]

amen

[synysterlud]

Sorry but as much as I want to be in the military, please...no draft. We should not have people who want to be in the military. If you agree...thumbs up!

[anthonycotillo]

its easy send others to die for you in an unjust war, lying house negro

[hashimgas]

@anthonycotillo It is ok for you to disagree with him, but don't bring up slavery when ever you see a well educated Black Man!! Idiot

[anthonycotillo]

@hashimgas whatever house negro

[moneymikey]

I wish! Imagine one of these little emo, hipster, hippy, MTV kids with a MICH helmet on? I would become a drill instructor just to scream at those little shits.

[aarontheone1]

bring a draft were people who can't pass the asvab but it fit for military

[bamadawgsc]

The sons and daughters of Congress go first followed by the sons and daughters of every politician, including the President, at every local and state level..................then our troubles in the world would be over very quickly because we would come home and mind our own damn busines. The blood of the children of the ruling class is more important than mine or my children.

[superdog797]

I'm beginning to think that there probably should be a draft in America so all Americans know what war actually is. With a paid mercenary military, which is what the US army currently is, a class of people is created that does the dirty work of politicians whose own children are sitting in Ivy League schools while the poor are all suffering for a political agenda.

But then again, maybe the mentality of having a drafted army is bad for global progress, as well, so I don't know.

[mizzoulibertarian]

all? maybe send the politicians who vote for the war over. other people have to put food on a tab'e

[redSHIFT69]

Rest assured. If this country ever needed man power because another Super Power attacked the United States ( congress would enact the draft). Powell's point is that currently there is no threat grave enough to warrant a drafted army.

[SLEEPy2k16]

bring it back so i dodge it, lol

[tonylee1973]

Maybe we have too many responsibilities Colin?

[Lingerfoot]

Ron Paul - 2012

[hemmingway28]

amen brother

[lischeyboy615]

We should bring back the draft. Thats just my opinion.

[Redcarpet01]

Technically we already have it. There's no such thing as a 'volunteer army'. That's a conscript army of the poor and disadvantaged. Conscription would ensure the rich chickenhawks stop hiding. But that's assuming a standing army is legitimate, and the US wars and bases abroad are good, that's not my view so I still disagree.

[guyjohn59]

Well the draft's a "volunteer army". People don't have to participate. They can dodge it if they feel it's worth the risk. So really, all a "draft" does is significantly increase the number of individuals willing to put on a uniform. The same thing could be accomplished by raising the soldier's wage, and most likely that is what will be done. And since that money is forcefully taken, it is no different than a draft. The question is: what's the 'right' salary. And of course it can't be answered.

[KillMeNow1990]

Oversimplifying it all down to money...sounds like a libertarian to me :P

[guyjohn59]

Well that's the point; and it is simple: whether they draft you physically or enough of your dollars so that you physically have to show up to get some of it back, you're going to find yourself in a public uniform. And by definition, that is a draft. The politics comes afterward with the question of: well how much money should be drafted? Libertarians say very little, but how little? It's arbitrary. The military doesn't operate on a profit-loss basis, so even one soldier is illegitimate.

[ab1tchslap]

We shouldn't bring back the draft. The government has no right to force people to fight in a war.

[krooklynkid91]

the constitution says you're wrong

[ab1tchslap]

bullshit

[deveousdevil]

that doesn't help. we don't need more troops, we have over 3 million using only about 1/3 % of that.

[CountArtha]

Why? So the U.S. Army can be like the Swedish Army, with steering wheels in all the tanks so the seventeen-year-old conscripts can drive them without training?

[hashimgas]

@lischeyboy615 And how old are you 50 years old?? Do you realize how many young men and women could die in a stupid war like this?

[lischeyboy615]

@hashimgas This would teach these lose kids some discipline.... I think the US needs to bring the draft back. We need to make our Army stronger. Your liberal president said it best "Its not what your country can do for you, its what you can do for your country."

[jeterlover03]

@lischeyboy615 yeah well when the Presidents(any president) along with the rest of congress' kids go to war then I'll send my kid!!!!

[Droxen222]

Gah, bring our troops home now, saves lives and money. we should mind our own business and fix our own problems before trying to fix others.

and a Draft at this current time, we be the end of the country. Rebelions, mass riots, ect ect

[Ipaymymortgage]

To zerolizard zero history. Next time REPUBLICANS get us into war?? When was the OTHER time? War of 1812 - Madison(D-R), World War One - Wilson(D), World War Two - Roosevelt(D), "Again and again I say to you, none of our American boys will be sent to fight in a foreign war". Korean War - Truman(D), Nuclear Menace A-Bomb - Roosevelt and Truman(D&D), Vietnan War - Kennedy(D)(Assassinated before he could get full credit for the larger number of deaths). Bailed out by Tonkin Gulf Johnson(D).

[2soontotell]

Ipaymymortgage , kudos for comment!

[zerolizard]

Haha good lord you can read. I'm impressed, but if you could take a moment to read my original comment you will notice that I'm not talking about the War of 1812. I was referring to the Iraq quagmire that you shitty little repubs put us in. I hope you enjoyed getting your ass handed to you in the election.

[crowdaddy13]

just draft republicans aged 17-25.

whats sad is the young men and women that fight and die for us, is the same age group that doesnt vote......very sad.

[metropolitan2dude]

9/11 was a usa cover up our own government killed our own ppl and for what, money.

[khadijahanwar]

War is NOT the answer...when will we learn...no one wants to be bullied or invaded

[zerolizard]

Bring back the draft!!!

Most people who support this clusterfuck are of fighting age but are still in the US. If you support this war and your of age then man up and get over there!!!

Plus the next time the republicans try to sell us a war maybe the youth of the country will get there heads out of there ass and help vote the fucker out!

[Ipaymymortgage]

To zerolizard zero history. Next time REPUBLICANS get us into war? When was the OTHER time? War of 1812 - Madison(D-R), World War One - Wilson(D), World War Two - Roosevelt(D) "Again and again I say to you, none of our American boys will be sent to fight in a Foreign War". Korean War - Truman(D), Nuclear Menace WMD - Roosevelt and Truman(D&D) Vietnam War - Kennedy(D) (Assassinated before he could get full credit for the larger numbers of deaths), Bailed out by Tonkin Gulf Johnson(D). Zero this!

[sincere2da]

I'm in the military and I don't know because the American people really does not know whats going on, I use to be Combat Arms and i am a black person, And America to us is like the Uncle who sent us to college, but molested you. It's iffy, but I am an American because i served my duty, We as Americans have to feel liked we are cared about, if we do, we will be willing to join.

[psychicpsycho20]

I see this in America,our military is still engaged in killing Iraqi people,Afhan people in their very own country,"combating terrorists".The Iraqui people want us to get out of their country,we cannot change their ideals.I see thousands of Iraqui people in America working in tech jobs & other places.We do not have a clue "who" these people are but still they "flow" into the USA!We teach them "how to fly" in schools that most of us cannot afford.They fly into our centers killing many.A draft!No!

[yanksinfinite]

Im 17 and I think that we should bring back the draft because it will help give everyone a sense of their patriotic duty.

[lasheron]

the first patriotic duty is to maintain liberty within this country(USA), look behind behind the TV and Im not saying get up and look behind your physical TV Im saying to examine this society and the law that are being past in secret. Directive 51 by Bush, Secret congressional hearing, Rex8, all these are plans to make sure u go with the program(not one bases on libery).

[panzerelite88mm]

what to invade a country based on lies?you guy are over there(iraq&afghanstan)for israel.

[DCaple0013]

It would be badass to fight a war here in the US. Wed fuck any foreigner up. I want an invasion

[sincere2da]

I love that comment, that's some Red Dawn Shit

[DCaple0013]

What is this Red Dawn???I googled it and got nuttin'. jk. Peace

[00dev]

if i join the army I wouldn't be serving my country i would be serving greedy company's and contractors and the spread of ecomomic enslavement of other countries

[futuresoldier897]

no fucktard your wrong,I live a nice life got alot of shit going for me,I want to join for the love of it,instead of going to collaaage with the preps I want to join the marines.so no son your dead fucking wrong,oh btw the military is not an easy fucking place to get into,you must at least have a high school diploma and pass the asvab not a walk in the park

[willweill0011]

Future solider...From a former Marine Infantry Sargent 1)its its spelled college 2)we are not all preps.

Tyler..Youre a dolt. Look it up, but its an insult to make it easier for you. Powell is a military genius. Not all join because they have to. They all want to join. That is what volunteer means.

[danielraul1989]

Sargent is spelled Sergeant, 2. Your right

[tylerchap87]

Fuck that! every kid i know that joined the millitary from high school were poor kids that had no other options. They did not want to join. They had to join. So fuck you Powell, you are dead wrong. They enlist for a job not to spill their blood for some bull shit.

[seanannapolis]

Powell reminds me of LtCol Markinson on A Few Good Men who said to the dead marine's parents in a letter: "Your son is dead because I wasn't strong enough to stop it". Powell is no decent man. He knew the "evidence" contained in his speech to the U.N. and to Congress was weak at best.

[ChicagoDannyD]

Speaking as a veteran of the Viet Nam War, this man, Powell, is one of biggest losers in U.S. History. 60K men were killed in the Viet Nam War and what did we get out of it? The Powell doctrine: "Don't go into a war without a clear, definable exit strategy and have overwhelming force." He knew all this and, yet saluted Bush in committing this nation to the unending chaos in Iraq, spending 1/2 billion per day and many thousands more killed being their forever police. He's an f*** joke!

[whateverni]

You have not much knowledge of US History if you think this great man could even go down in the top 100 of that list -- hell, you don't even have any knowledge of his duties and responsibilities as Secretary of State(which does not include taking forward the Powell Doctrine and the duties of the Secretary of Defense).

[EarlMcCrackin]

How the hell does he sleep at night? A decent man lying  on behalf of crooks.

[DelinquentFaith]

I understand that the soldiers are putting their lives on the line BUT to say the rest of America will make NO sacrifice is downplaying the HUGE debt we will be left to pay for and the civil liberties we are losing.

[SonicProwler15]

I will fight no war unless MY home is attacked. I was born in it and I will defend it. However I will not fight someone else's war because I live in his country, curently.

[cRuff00]

welllll saiddd

[jeterlover03]

@SonicProwler15 WELL SAID!!!!!!!! I am not unpatriotic because I would not fight in that bullshit war. This war has nothing to do with me...just the people who own this country, and then they try to use bullshit propaganda. "The terriorists are coming". Fear will not control me. Ben Franklin said: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[paran3rd]

Oh thats right.. All wars are funded by the secret society of jewish bankers to make profits for themselves by fluctuating funds. All of the events leading up to war are masterfully puppeteer'd by these bankers as well. Real problems like dictators with rape rooms are a farce (created by banker funded think tanks) to pull heart strings on naive people to get them to rally for a war. lol give me a break.

[Rickdeckard2020]

Is Rockefeller jewish? I didnt know that.

Real problems like Dictators (Pinochet, Saddam, Shah) are created by the US in the first place. Pinochet was put in place after Rockefeller bitched to Kissenger about Allende's impact of Chase banking, who then with Nixon gave the go head for the coup. Saddam was a CIA thug, and supported by the US! The Shah was put to help plunder Iranian Oil after Mossadeq nationalised oil. As I said I dont blame you for not knowing though.

[paran3rd]

So because the CIA operates outside the law for the most part and does extremely f'd up things, we should have the mentality that whatever has happened in the past is in the past and it's that countries problem to deal with now. I don't agree with that and think that the current administration should do whatever they can to correct the problem, even if that means war.

[Rickdeckard2020]

Let me get this straight, You know the US supported Saddam(Rumsfeld shook his hand), You ve heard Greenspan say Iraq was about OIL, you know the 911 Saddam connection is a LIE, that WMDs was a LIE, that Bremer delayed the elections until he could rig them(they would not have democratically voted for Plundering their Oil), that Halliburton got no bid contracts, that over 1 million people died for LIES and PROFITS and you still support the War???? For the love of god What does it take?

[Rickdeckard2020]

Butler: I helped make Mexico, safe for American oil in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912, Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916, China to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

[Rickdeckard2020]

This as gone on and on since very few americans have read 'War is a Racket' and get fooled into killing and mortaging their future with debt that are Billions in corporate welfare.

What politicans say to justify war are LIES, Iraq is about Oil control and PROFITS (Israel and Crony Military no-bid contracts), the 'War on Terror' is a SCAM

[Rickdeckard2020]

'He should be in jail with the rest of the them '

That is correct, Powell has the blood of over a million iraqui men, women and children on his hands. He also is jointly responsible for hundreds of people burning in their houses in Panama. He is one of the many war criminals of the present and past US administraion. He should be tried in international court for war crimes.

[paran3rd]

Explain how you fight a war without casualties for me.

[Rickdeckard2020]

One way Hitlers warmachine could have avoided casualties is not to invade other countries in the first place. The same goes with the US. The US could have avoided over two millions people being murdered by its bombs, napalm, and war in vietnam by not going to war in the first place.

[paran3rd]

That's not explaining how you fight a war without casualties. You are either an Isolationist, or someone that cares about other people being oppressed and will jump in to help them out. To simply sit on the sidelines and compare the U.S. to Nazi Germany is ignorant.

[Rickdeckard2020]

You appear to be missing the point, the point is most Wars fought by the US have not been to defend the US homeland from troops and tanks rolling into Washington, but have been fought to insure hegemony and commercial interests. It is you that might benefit from a little reading (dont worry in my 20s I was also very misinformed about the world even if I had a university degree and had traveled around the world)

[Rickdeckard2020]

I suggest starting with the book by a great American hero Major General Smedly Butler 's 'War is a Racket'

its very short about a dozen pages and dates back to the last century but is as true today as it ever was.

They say the first casualty of war is the truth, the reason being if people knew what the wars were about they would seldom support it (nor accept the murders and debt that went with it)

[paran3rd]

How is what I said misinformed? I know that war is hell. What I want to know is where you draw the line whether or not a war is just? Would you condemn a war that has commercial interests but at the same time saves lives from a dictator that oppresses and murders his people? Why stand on the sidelines when you are in a position to do something about it regardless of the fact that some rich banker gets richer? There will always be people that want to make a quick buck off the misery of others.

[Ashiman12]

Sometimes, war is necessary, but that doesn't mean that citizens of a free nation should be forced against their will to fight for a given cause just because certain other people assume that any given potential war is the necessary one.

[mysticman07]

The nerve of this asshole! who was part of this mess.. He should be in jail with the rest of the them

[Rickdeckard2020]

That is correct, Powell has the blood of over a million iraqui men, women and children on his hands. He also is jointly responsible for hundreds of people burning in their houses in Panama. He is one of the many war criminals of the present and past US administraion. He should be tried in international court for war crimes.

[Ashiman12]

Maybe it's because I'm a Libertarian, but I don't think the State (especially America, the country that practically worships individual freedom) should have the authority to force its citizens to fight and potentially die for a cause they don't believe in. If a person WANTS to fight, then great, but if a person doesn't, they shouldn't be forced to.

[Rickdeckard2020]

Its all fine and well but while people that would not want to fight are having slurpies at the shopping mall before getting back to american Idol, thousands of men women and children are being shreded and burned by you complaisancy (an soldiers risking their life and limbs for you are over there). You should watch the old Star Trek episode called 'A Taste of Armageddon' its brilliant in many way

[Ashiman12]

I understand that that's your opinion and it's all well and good, but in MY opinion, people shouldn't have to fight for a cause they don't believe in, and they shouldn't be guilted into fighting for said cause just because other people ARE willing to fight for it. Whether or not a person wants to fight in a war is a decision that should be left up to them, not to a militaristic mindset that glorifies war in and of itself.

[Rickdeckard2020]

The purpose of my thought is to make wars LESS likely, but if you forego the draft you should at least consider other measures to make wars less likely unless really about self defense like drafting the profit, a national referendum before a soldier can take his first step in another country, making rulers subject to international criminal courts

[aaroncalhoun]

The problem with the draft is that societies members and the Government presuppose that the "state" owns their body, quite literally and that individual freedom and choice have become non-existent. Each person is inherently free and should remain autonomous in mind, body, spirit, finance and so on. Self determination not state control.

[friendsofthefruitsof]

Well said, I would hope a new draft might open the country to asking these hard questions and are avoiding the reasons and values of this "war" Why are we there? I would like some answers, I expect many would too. I ask this question, Are the republicans using his war as a way to dispose of the lowest achieving students and immigrants? It is they who are doing the fighting, not the elite.

[michiganbm11]

colin powell is a great man and knows what he is talking about.

[Rickdeckard2020]

LOL, yes we all saw that in his presentation at the US

[Rickdeckard2020]

at the UN

[Rickdeckard2020]

Thats Crap, he knows full well that a Draft would put a monkey wrech in Imperial wars since no one would support the war unless it was really about defending the US.

If its worth DYING FOR, then it should be worth sacrificing profiteering for, have a Profit Draft, draft all corporate profits to pay for they war (that they initiated for the sake of corporate profits). Thats an excellent solution, if its about defense there will be war, if its about making a buck there wont be one.

[skoupitsa]

Are you saying the Freepers are not sincere in believing this war is about defending the US, and would not put their lives on the line and pay higher taxes for the war? I take issue!!!!!

[Rickdeckard2020]

To answer your question I would need to know who or what is a Freeper? (I have not found a reference in the dictionairy)

[Rickdeckard2020]

Whats a Freeper?

[suzhouhe]

"Freeper" is usually referring to people who post on the conservative website "Free Republic." So Freeper = internet arch-conservative. I think it's supposed to be a sarcastic comment.

[Rickdeckard2020]

thanks