Published: 8/10/07, 7:25 PM EDT
By RICHARD LARDNER
WASHINGTON (AP) - Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush's new war adviser said Friday.

"I think it makes sense to certainly consider it," Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."


(Lets analyse this, Of course they are considering it, with trouble meeting recruiting goals, and having to lower the standard for recruits, it would seem insane not to. Besides, if it is a cause worth sacrifice shouldn't all Americans sacrifice equally!)



"And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another," Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.

President Nixon abolished the draft in 1973. Restoring it, Lute said, would be a "major policy shift" and Bush has made it clear that he doesn't think it's necessary.

"The president's position is that the all volunteer military meets the needs of the country and there is no discussion of a draft. General Lute made that point as well," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.


(Why announce you are considering it then. If Bush wont consider it in his world renowned wisdom why even mention it? Could it be another instance of Bush ignoring his military advisers, or his fear of losing all support when every families children are sacrificed?)



In the interview, Lute also said that "Today, the current means of the all-volunteer force is serving us exceptionally well."

(Correct, it is the leadership of this administration that fails "them" and us!)

Still, he said the repeated deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan affect not only the troops but their families, who can influence whether a service member decides to stay in the military.

(cant fight a war without cannon fodder)

"There's both a personal dimension of this, where this kind of stress plays out across dinner tables and in living room conversations within these families," he said. "And ultimately, the health of the all-volunteer force is going to rest on those sorts of personal family decisions."

(only 54% of all active military personnel support Bush)

The military conducted a draft during the Civil War and both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. The Selective Service System, re-established in 1980, maintains a registry of 18-year-old men.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., has called for reinstating the draft as a way to end the Iraq war.

Bush picked Lute in mid-May as a deputy national security adviser with responsibility for ensuring efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are coordinated with policymakers in Washington. Lute, an active-duty general, was chosen after several retired generals turned down the job.

(Last but not least; why wont the retired military generals take this job? Is it a sign of mutiny, dissension in the ranks? This has always been a dream job for ex-military generals, are they abandoning Bush when they get the freedom to think and act on their own accord? Is there a silent message to the rest of us here?)

Can not say I am THRILLED about it but todays Youth could use a Drill Sargent in there face.....And to Learn what its about to have Discipline and respect

This has mainly been a Democrat initiative to reinstate the draft. Surprised to see Fanta raising it. 19% of people currently approve of the Democrat led congress.

Hey lets save all the taxpayers some money here. Lets have prison inmates serve. We support them at 30K a year per inmate so there is a savings. Also any illegals that are caught will have the chance to go back OR serve in our military and if they make it out alive then they are citizens. We could save a BUNDLE of money.

That might work if they knew how to follow orders to complete a Mission but most pple are in Prison becyae they DO NOT know how to follow the Rules When Mission fail WE fail

Very true philosopher!
I was actually commenting to someone yesterday about the Bush administrations new Illegal immigration enforcement. Good job I say, about time I echo, but one good deed does not make a good presidential term. Let alone a two term presidency, and only enforcing something that was already law!
It is something positive though in a disastrous chain of bad policy decisions.

Fanta I like the one they got going thru Congress that may never see the light of day were if Companies hire Illegals and the Government finds out about it you can not write that employees salary of on there tax bill LOL that would get the job done.

well as much as i do not like the idea

it was good enough for our fathers


and frankly a lot of the youngins today could use good instruction



my bday came up number 3 in 75 right b4 they discontinued the draft


but i tried to enlist but to no avail


pass

Randomx,
Bush did this on his own:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 — The Bush administration plans to announce numerous steps on Friday to secure the border with Mexico, speed the expulsion of illegal immigrants and step up enforcement of immigration laws, administration officials say.

The effort stems, in part, from White House frustration with the failure of Congress to approve President Bush’s proposals to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws and grant legal status to most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. In debate on that legislation, many Republicans said Mr. Bush should first enforce existing laws more aggressively.

Hopefully they will follow through!!!

Under the most significant change, disclosed earlier this week, many employers could be required to fire employees who used false Social Security numbers. At the same time, federal officials would crack down on companies employing substantial numbers of illegal immigrants.

Administration officials told members of Congress on Thursday night that they would speed up construction of fences along the Mexican border, hire more Border Patrol agents and detain more of the immigrants caught illegally crossing the border.

Moreover, administration officials said they would try to match up records of the arrival and departure of noncitizens entering and leaving the United States. Members of Congress say this exit-control system, required under a 1996 law, is essential to securing the nation’s borders, but many lawmakers say the administration has been slow in carrying out the law.

Yea I heard about it on the News last night.......If we ENFORCE HALF of he laws these Dimwits MAKE instead of MAKEING NEW laws the world would be a better place

Fanta..I concur..I hope we get this situation under control soon. Illegal immigrantion is one of the biggest threats our country faces today.
heres something that might make you smile my friend


NH Town Votes to Keep Beach Signs in English Only


MERRIMACK, N.H. --

The signs at a town park and beach in Merrimack (New Hampshire) will remain English only.

Town councilors voted last night not to include rules in Spanish at Wasserman Park. The idea came up after police say Spanish-speakers argued they couldn't read the rules.

i heard rumor that they might re-instate the draft, but for illegal immigrants, offering them citizenship by enlistment or expulsion. i don't know what to think of it.

The biggest threat YOUR country is facing today is not illegal immigration, it's isolation because of your presidents politics.

hmm, you know what gets my knickers in a knot here?

bush did the whole thing illegally according to the UN, and therefore we have very little world support. most of the world is pissed at us for declaring war on iraq in the first place. and now when we need troop support, where's the rest of the world?

oh yeah, that's right. they hate us. we're on our own, and now we might have to institute the draft. you get very little training as a draft recruit. it's kinda like committing suicide unless you're veeeery lucky. but it's ok for bush, his term is almost up. what does he care?

I see theose fingers are working just fine!!

Im for isolation invisible........

I see, you against the whole world, and me in particular.

I just wish my voice would be working as well, you'd have me shouting at you across the Ocean.

Not you andrea, we'd bring you in!!!!
I would just quit helping every country in the world, concentrate on internal problems!

let me see if I got this right, use illegal immigranst and convicts to fill the military. Give convicted felons weapons and ammunition humm what is wrong with that picture? As for the illegal immigrants give them weapons and very soon you will see adds in gun magazines advertising "for sale U.S. Army rifles, never fired, dropped once". As far as a draft goes, I think a couple years of compulsory service for everyone would be a good thing, no exceptions unless bonifide handicapped conditions preclude service. But unlike the 70s those who chose to go to Canada to avoid service would not be welcomed back.

Aye, aye garden, I couldnt agree more!!!