Yes

by Greg Slack

Created on: September 08, 2008   Last Updated: September 09, 2008

Yes the draft will return if the conservative Republicans get re-elected this November. There really is no other way they can field an effective military if things continue, and they cannot afford to keep paying for private companies to handle security.

Sure they may tell us about this new "volunteer" military but how long do you think it will continue as more and more soldiers return home and share their experiences? When they tell others about not having the equipment needed and Haliburton failing to provide adequate supplies, the enrollment will drop until they have to bring back the draft.

This is not liberal media or anti-war propaganda but facts from veterans I know personally. One of them my own nephew. He spent 3 weeks manning a 50 caliber machine gun with no bullets, went his 12 months without body armor, and had no batteries for his night vision goggles while on night watch. This was all due to the fact Haliburton failed miserably in its role of "logistics".

My nephew was actually quite fortunate compared to some others who tell me about not getting fed for 24 hours in their own base camp where food was readily available. Why? Because Haliburton was also in charge of feeding the troops, and after a certain time they closed up the mess hall. This was a problem for soldiers who pulled night watch and a mission the next day, which was quite often for combat troops.

Haliburton and its subsidiaries went from logistics to taking over every aspect of the war they could. They now handle transportation to and from Iraq for all the troops and personnel, their supplies, feeding, and maintenance for everything from Humvees to firearms. We have soldiers trained by our military to fix Humvees, who are now guarding latrines. They were ordered to train the Haliburton people to do their job and when they did they were then made combat priority troops.

Security is now handled by Blackwater; a private army of mercenaries and thugs, who have no one to answer to. They can do anything they want and our boys get blamed for it. Of all the people involved in Abu Grabe only the female officer and troops in the photos were prosecuted, yet the Blackwater employees and so many others were not even mentioned. Blackwater gave the orders for torture and instructed the troops how to carry it out, yet were left out of any testimony.

This is war when run by the very wealthy. The really ridiculous thing is right now their candidate is claiming more of the same if elected and many are going to vote for him despite it. They claim Obama is an elitist when McCain owns 7 or 8 houses ( he's not sure). Well Obama came from a single parent home for much of his life got into Harvard because of his grades and a student loan or two. While George W. Bush went to Yale with a combined 500 on his SAT's and his daddy paying the bill. Excuse me, who is the elitist here?

Very wealthy people who were given their wealth by inheritance and did nothing to earn it themselves, feel no connection to the realities that plague the average person. They do not feel the pinch of inflation, rising energy costs, or the fear that their son or daughter may be called to war. So do not think for one minute they will not call a draft when the costs of dealing with Haliburton and Blackwater become too great. And make no mistake the costs will become too much at some point.

For the life of me I cannot understand how anyone can believe that GW and friends are the good "Christian" choice or more down to earth. How can anyone be the salt of the earth if they never got their hands soiled by it?

Here is the reality of this administration; they firmly believe that if they make it better for the richest 10% it will trickle down to the rest of us. This is the same age-old lie that so many of power and wealth have been telling themselves to justify their greed. If making it better for the rich made the poor so much better of why didn't the poor embrace King Louis instead of beheading him? Or why do the poor in so many Middle-Eastern countries turn to terrorism?

If this war continues the draft will eventually come, there is no way around it. Right now there are a select few making billions on it the way it is, soon others will want to make their share of it, and when enough profits are taken from the principle few changes will be made. Changes like the draft and less privatization. The one universal reality that effects all in war is that sooner or later the people get tired of it, and those responsible will be held accountable.

Do yourselves a favor this election and stop the war profiteering so our children can grow up and not fear a draft. You may think I am just a liberal talking out my butt. However before you right me off remember that in the civil war a man could pay $300 or provide a substitute(slave) and be exempted from service. Who was in power at that time? Republicans.

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