Okay one it was the Maine.... and two interesting that you bring up the example of something being used as false pretenses for a war. The Navy thought that it could have been a coal dust explosion, they even called in experts from the Royal Navy, who also concluded that it was most likely a coal dust explosion that sank the Maine. But the politicians and media were fixated with the idea that the Spanish had used a mine, so guess what? War.
This last decade finally saw tests confirming the conclusions of the original inquiry..... so the naval records now show that the Maine was not lost to enemy action.

Finally, yes Tom I have worn a uniform and done some shooting/ been shot at. However I would never support the idea of the draft. A professional military should be made up of dedicated volunteers.

Please participate only in threads about Canada and their...military. This would be a draft by OUR country.

-Rudey
--OK thanks.

It has minimal ducks or aquatic life. It does, however, have girls who don't carry purses and wear jeans from Farm&Fleet. I don't think they're your type.

What's farm&fleet? Are they hot farmer's daughters? That could work.

-Rudey

There's also access to the NCO and Officer's Clubs! Our prom was always held at the O-Club, and there's talk of a certain reception being held there. Not 100% sure, though.

Farm&Fleet, also known as Fleet Farm, is a farming supply store that sells clothing (like Carhartts) as well.

And I really don't think you would like them.

somehow I don't think 99% of the GC population would care for FleetFarm.

And it is Fleet Farm, by the way. I refuse to accept Blaine's reversal of the name :p

What a stupid opinion! Makes me mad.
This was on our Iowa State Daily yesterday.


February 16, 2004
LETTER: War not worth the human sacrifice


Up until three weeks ago, the war in Iraq seemed somewhat plausible. We had invaded this foreign country in order to liberate its people from the shackles of oppression and cruelty.

Even for a hard-core liberal like myself, this siren song was quite seductive.

Then, I got word my friend was being called to active duty. In an instant, the high-minded objectives, the rhetoric about "freedom" and "liberty," the flags prominently displayed all over the country -- they all seemed hollow.

Now that I personally knew someone whose life is on the line, the price was simply too high.

The only reason my friend joined the National Guard was to pay for school.

He had no delusions about glory, honor or duty. A few years back, he examined his options and decided he was willing to trade one weekend a month and two weeks a year in order to put himself through college. Tossing sandbags in a flood or handing out food to tornado victims was a chance he was willing to take.

Now, he has been uprooted from his life as a hard working student and thrust into a war that none of us understands.

We are about to send him halfway around the world to a hostile land where the everyday citizens want him gone, and the extremists are willing to kill him in order to drive the point home.

Are the lives of our brothers and sisters worth what we have accomplished in Iraq?

The infrastructure is in shambles; suicide bombers kill more innocents every day, and our exit date is still unknown.

Weapons of mass destruction remain ever elusive, despite the fact that before we arrived in Iraq, our leaders assured us that canisters of nerve gas and plutonium would be stacked to the ceiling in every warehouse.

Worst of all, our actions have created an environment much more conducive to terrorism than ever before.

In effect, we created a breeding ground for terror while at the same time putting our brothers and sisters within the terrorists' reach.

My friend's life is in your hands. Pick up the phone and call your senators, your representatives, your president and anyone else you can think of. Tell them you are not willing to send your friends off to die for nothing.

Our citizen soldiers are not political capital to be spent on personal agendas. They are our brothers and sisters, our friends, our neighbors, our lovers. Would you risk any of them for the mess that is Iraq?

I know I wouldn't risk my friend.

Micah Wedemeyer
Decatur, Ga.

I have a few things to add:

First, military families CAN live quite comfortably with all the 'extras' that we are afforded. And, the salaries are getting better. USAA is a great bonus, it's kind of like Wal-Mart, they do EVERYTHING there!

Second, my family calls all of their in-laws 'the OUTlaws'...or rather they call themselves that.

Third, I will not go on and on about my opinions on this war. You may read that elsewhere, but I will give my opinions on a draft. I don't think that a random draft would be completely effective. Let people volunteer first, and then see what happens afterwards. I'm sure everyone heard about he massive influx of potential soldiers that flooded recruiting offices after September 11th. (There are two types of people in this world, those who defend, and those who need to be defended.) I do agree with the opinions stated by others regarding some type of service by people upon high school graduation. I think this could resolve a lot of the issues with delinquency in our country. It sure could've helped my brother out! Like you stated, it doesn't necessarily have to be 'fighting'. There are many things that young people could do to get a bigger picture of the world around them.

Fourth, I really enjoy reading your comments, Russell. You always sound like you know what you're talking about. :D

aj

I strongly oppose a draft and I'm in the Army.

The problems today stem directly from Clinton. Not only did he reduce the size of the army, but many of the most vital men and women in the army have left because either they don't like how the administration is over-using them or because the army isn't nearly as competetive as the private sectors. Feet on the ground enlisted soldiers and officers are not re-uping, and we can't fill those position with experienced people. Recently Congress made the decision to expand by almost another corp...but that is going to take decades to do. It won't be over night.

A professional army is much more effective and skilled than a draft army. A draftee army will be sluggish and more people will die. The draftees will not be willing to work as hard or learn what is needed b/c they don't even want to be there. That is a very dangerous situation and I would not want someone like that beside me in battle.

It is something like 2/3 of the enlisted families live below the poverty level. While there are a lot of benefits many things get messed up in the beaucracy. Officer's do make more, but I will not be making half as much as if I went out and worked in the career that I am getting my degree in.

I don't like the idea of a draft, for many of the reasons that have already been stated. A mandatory one- or two-year period of military service would be a better approach, IMO. You could possibly allow young men and women who want to go to college right out of high school to defer their service until they've completed college; that way, you get more skilled people, although that could cause problems too.

I recently learned something very interesting: Apparently, in New York State, if you are a male between the ages of 18 to 24, and you get or renew your driver's license, the DMV turns your name over to the Selective Service. (I haven't been able to verify this, though.)

That isn't a New York thing, it's nationwide. Men are still required to register for the draft.

Dee

Most of, if not all, of the countries that have compulsory military service do not have a college deferment--why should the US? Many of my friends during my freshman year were around 20-22 because of their home countries' military requirement. Most did basic clerkwork, while others were typical "soldiers." Even in the case of our own draft, we only allow a 1-year deferment of service for students...no more men taking an abnormally long time to complete school just to avoid war.

Some states put 18 year old male names into the Selective Service when they first register to vote to make it automatic. If they do not register at 18, then they register for the draft separately.

Did your friend not know what would happen if he accepted money from the National Guard and a war broke out?

I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who think that the National Guard is simply a once a month exercise so they can get a paycheck, and not a form of the military. I'm sure he didn't complain about the paycheck, and I'm sure he received some very good training in the meantime.

Sounds more like the money he spent for tuition was wasted, if he's that stupid!!

I agree.

-Rudey