03-05-2003, 03:58 PM
As I am sure you are aware, males are still required to register with selective service. All it takes is a vote in Congress to re institute conscription. Sec Def Rumsfeld addressed that issue rather recently when queried by a reporter on "should we re institute the draft" however, his answer is consistent with the last 25 years of policy regarding how the Armed Forces of U.S. are recruited and made up.
I would be careful in assuming that the Draft will never be resorted to. However, Pres Bush faces a possible revisit of the problem that Pres Johnson faced with regard to trying to successfully pursue a war (presently in Korea) if he does not have the backing of Congress. The activation of larger numbers of reserves will send shockwaves through various sectors of society. Reinstituting the draft would be an enormous political risk that we fall into the same trap as we did in Viet Nam of creating internal social backlash to how the draft is implemented, or how it is appeared to be implemented.
The decision to go for an all-volunteer force and to fully integrate the Reserves into the force structure was a move driven by the Army. The purpose was to ensure that when America chose to go to war, it was not all happening "to some one else>' and that the politicians who made the decisions would be forced to call for reserve mobilization, and thus get the political support to successfully conduct the war.
This structure has allegedly backfired a bit. Most operations of the past 10 + years have been "Operations Other Than War" such as Bosnia et al, wherein massive numbers of Reserves are mobilized to provide capability that once resided in the active force. Pres Clinton's inelegant use of the military arm as a band aid to the world's problems, all of which grew frm his sincere desire to be a very active partner in UN, multinational, peacekeeping operations as we entered the full reality of the multi polar world, beat up the Reserves quite a bit. The fact that he was doing this deployment frenzy while at the same time cutting the active force, i.e. creating a no fooling More With Less environment, created severe readiness problems and particularly material / spare parts shortfalls that were exacerbated by increased operational tempo.
In a word, going to the well for two fights will require a huge Reserve call up. These folks don't come to the fight "ready to wear" save for some of the Air National Guard units. The mobilization time flow can become OBE at a time where, like in Korea, the Battle of the First Salvo may be the only battle that there is.
I would be careful in assuming that the Draft will never be resorted to. However, Pres Bush faces a possible revisit of the problem that Pres Johnson faced with regard to trying to successfully pursue a war (presently in Korea) if he does not have the backing of Congress. The activation of larger numbers of reserves will send shockwaves through various sectors of society. Reinstituting the draft would be an enormous political risk that we fall into the same trap as we did in Viet Nam of creating internal social backlash to how the draft is implemented, or how it is appeared to be implemented.
The decision to go for an all-volunteer force and to fully integrate the Reserves into the force structure was a move driven by the Army. The purpose was to ensure that when America chose to go to war, it was not all happening "to some one else>' and that the politicians who made the decisions would be forced to call for reserve mobilization, and thus get the political support to successfully conduct the war.
This structure has allegedly backfired a bit. Most operations of the past 10 + years have been "Operations Other Than War" such as Bosnia et al, wherein massive numbers of Reserves are mobilized to provide capability that once resided in the active force. Pres Clinton's inelegant use of the military arm as a band aid to the world's problems, all of which grew frm his sincere desire to be a very active partner in UN, multinational, peacekeeping operations as we entered the full reality of the multi polar world, beat up the Reserves quite a bit. The fact that he was doing this deployment frenzy while at the same time cutting the active force, i.e. creating a no fooling More With Less environment, created severe readiness problems and particularly material / spare parts shortfalls that were exacerbated by increased operational tempo.
In a word, going to the well for two fights will require a huge Reserve call up. These folks don't come to the fight "ready to wear" save for some of the Air National Guard units. The mobilization time flow can become OBE at a time where, like in Korea, the Battle of the First Salvo may be the only battle that there is.
Cry 'Havoc' and let slip the Men 'O War!
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete
In War, the outcome is never final. --Carl von Clausewitz--
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
John 11:35 - consider why.
In Memory of Pete