Charles Rangel (D-NY) Introduces H.R.5741, Legislation to Bring Back the Military Draft (VIDEO)

Rep. Charles Rangel is again calling for a military draft to highlight the fact that relatively few families are bearing a disproportionate burden in fighting the nation’s wars.




It should be noted that the President cannot initiate a draft on his own. Congress would first have to pass legislation (both the House and Senate), and the President would have to sign the bill into law.

Rangel (D-NY) introduced a bill  to reinstate the draft. The bill would mandate military service for men and women between the ages of 18 and 42. Deferments would be allowed only for completion of high school up to the age of 20, and for reasons of health, conscience or religious belief. Recruits not needed by the military in any given year would be required to perform some national civilian service.

Rangel previously introduced similar legislation in 2003 and 2006.

Rangel said lawmakers who support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should require “all who enjoy the benefits of our democracy to contribute to the defense of the country.”

He was quoted in the past as follows:

"I dare anyone to try to convince me that this war is not being fought predominantly by tough, loyal, and patriotic young men and women from the barren hills and towns of rural and underprivileged neighborhoods in urban America where unemployment is high and opportunities are few. As we see who are the troops coming home wounded and killed, I challenge anyone to tell me that the wealthiest have not been excluded from that roll call."

I respect the point that Rangel is making. However, I disagree with the notion of a draft. The only legitimate reason to re-instate the draft is if America faces a crisis that requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply. President Obama is bringing our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq. We have not reached the tipping point that requires a draft.

Another point that I'd like Rangel to consider is SUICIDES!  Does he know that the U.S. Army reported a record number of suicides in a single month among active duty?   In June, there were 32 soldiers who are believed to have committed suicide, and suicides "for the first half of the year are up 12 percent over 2009."  I suspect that the number of suicides would rise dramatically if the military were made up of people who were forced to serve via a military draft.

Villagers, what say u?