The United States’ voluntary military could be spread dangerously thin by its current and possible future military endeavors, according to some Democratic lawmakers.
Some believe the best way to acquire new troops is to reinstate the draft.
“If we’re going to challenge Iran and North Korea, as some people have asked, and send even more troops into Iraq, we can’t do that without a draft,” said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a veteran of the Korean War.
Once the Democrats take control of the House Ways and Means Committee in January, legislation officially will be put forward.
Rangel, the next chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said he sees this idea as a way to deter politicians from launching unnecessary wars.
“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,” Rangel said.
Conscription into national service would come with a choice. Those who would agree to military training and service that could place them directly in harm’s way still would do so voluntarily.
Front-line soldiers and sailors would get the current highly specialized training and higher pay. Others would serve in non-combat support roles or in domestic service.
Rangel has introduced similar legislation in the past. Earlier this year, he offered a plan to mandate military service for men and women between ages 18 and 42. However, the bill saw little action in the Republican-led Congress.
“I don’t see how anyone can support the war and not support the draft,” Rangel said. “I think to do so is hypocritical.”
Republican Congressional leadership, for the most part, agrees there is not enough of a troop presence in Iraq but believes instituting a draft is a move in the wrong direction.
“I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “And if we can’t, then we’ll look for some other option.”
Polls by both Gallup and USA Today show seven out of 10 Americans oppose the reinstatement of the draft.
“One of the great things about America is our freedom, and mandating military service is taking away part of that freedom,” said Jared Hupp, Kansas State University freshman in pre-professional secondary education.
Legislation regarding the draft will face a difficult trek to becoming law. First it must pass through both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but it also must bypass a presidential veto. The only way for Congress to override this veto is by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
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