Pelosi: Selective Service Idea Not On Agenda
POSTED: 1:39 pm PST November 20, 2006
UPDATED: 3:16 pm PST November 20, 2006
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WASHINGTON -- New York Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel continued on Monday to press his argument that the military draft should be reinstated.
Rangel touched off a firestorm Sunday when he said the Bush administration would never have ordered the invasion of Iraq if the military was staffed through the draft.
The war in Iraq never would have occurred if "members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," he said.
The congressman insisted that his push for reviving a military draft wasn't just a political pot stirrer. He told an audience at Baruch College that his primary objective in calling for the draft was to ask frank questions about the basis and objective of the war.
Rangel said he will introduce a bill next year requiring Americans to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18.
He also wants to hold hearings about troop levels and future plans for Iraq and other potential conflict regions, he said.
The military drafted men during the Civil War, both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. The Selective Service System keeps an updated registry of men age 18-to-25. There are now about 16 million in that group.
Rangel has said the all-volunteer military disproportionately puts the burden of war on minorities and lower-income families. He unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on the draft in the past. In 2003, his measure was defeated 402-to-2 in the House.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
http://www.fox5vegas.com/politics/10364911/detail.html
POSTED: 1:39 pm PST November 20, 2006
UPDATED: 3:16 pm PST November 20, 2006
E-mail this story | Print this story
WASHINGTON -- New York Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel continued on Monday to press his argument that the military draft should be reinstated.
Rangel touched off a firestorm Sunday when he said the Bush administration would never have ordered the invasion of Iraq if the military was staffed through the draft.
The war in Iraq never would have occurred if "members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way," he said.
The congressman insisted that his push for reviving a military draft wasn't just a political pot stirrer. He told an audience at Baruch College that his primary objective in calling for the draft was to ask frank questions about the basis and objective of the war.
Rangel said he will introduce a bill next year requiring Americans to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18.
He also wants to hold hearings about troop levels and future plans for Iraq and other potential conflict regions, he said.
The military drafted men during the Civil War, both world wars and between 1948 and 1973. The Selective Service System keeps an updated registry of men age 18-to-25. There are now about 16 million in that group.
Rangel has said the all-volunteer military disproportionately puts the burden of war on minorities and lower-income families. He unsuccessfully sponsored legislation on the draft in the past. In 2003, his measure was defeated 402-to-2 in the House.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
http://www.fox5vegas.com/politics/10364911/detail.html
