Should the draft be reinstated? Since ending the draft in 1973, the U.S. has had an all-volunteer military. Now, a bill in Congress proposes bringing back the draft.YES Nobody should ever have to face the cruelties of war. But if Americans must fight, the draft is necessary to ensure that the burdens of war are fairly shared. The majority of those serving in the volunteer armed forces are from minority groups or economically disadvantaged rural families. Military service is a patriotic duty, but most of those who enlist do so not out of any greater love for war than affluent kids, but because they have fewer opportunities for achievement in civilian life. It is unfair that the burden of defending our country falls This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. to those who share less of its bounty bounty, payment made by a government bounty, amount paid by a government for the achievement of certain economic or other goals. It often takes the form of a premium paid for the increased production or export of certain goods. . The responsibility of patriotism should be shared by every segment of society, including those fortunate enough to attend college or to look forward to lucrative careers. Under my proposal, all young men and women would be eligible for the draft. There would be no deferments beyond completion of high school, except for reasons of health or conscience. Those who are not needed in the military would be obliged o·blige v. o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es v.tr. 1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means. 2. to make a contribution in national service--in hospitals or schools, for example. The argument that volunteers make better soldiers is not one that I've heard from veterans of combat. It is also insulting to the millions of draftees who rescued the world from despotism despotism, government by an absolute ruler unchecked by effective constitutional limits to his power. In Greek usage, a despot was ruler of a household and master of its slaves. in World War II. As a combat veteran of the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. , I know that the most important decisions I make as a Congressman are about war. The draft is a great equalizer of society, and it would add gravity to all future decisions about putting our young people in harm's way harm's way n. A risky position; danger: a place for the children that is out of harm's way; ships that sail into harm's way. . Congressman Charles Rangel Democrat of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of NO With the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, some members of Congress think it is time to bring back the draft. This proposal ignores the success of the all-volunteer military and the nature of conflict in the 21st century. As the sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. of the U.S. military's technology has grown over the last few decades, we have come to need career soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Draftees serving for two years no longer offer the skills needed for the military. The record of the all-volunteer military in combat is dear. During the 1991 Gulf War, America's all-volunteer force of 500,000 men and women faced an army twice its size. Against American professionals with years of training, the rifle-toting army of Iraq did not stand a chance. Fewer than 200 Americans died, and the ground battle lasted only 100 hours. After 9/11, America's all-volunteer aircrews and special forces triggered the Taliban's collapse in just 30 days. Given the performance of our uniformed volunteers, it is hard to imagine how drafted 19-year-olds would compare on the modern battlefield. The war in Afghanistan involved highly trained Army and Marine Special Forces guiding Navy and Air Force aircrews to their targets using precision-guided weapons. In such an environment, there is nothing that large numbers of young draftees can accomplish. Our volunteers know their work is dangerous. It is up to us to make sure our soldiers are given every possible advantage. That includes making sure they are highly motivated and highly trained. Congressman Mark Kirk Mark Steven Kirk (born September 15, 1959) has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing Illinois's At-large congressional district (map). Republican of Illinois |
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