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Thursday, March 17, 2005

Big Fat Warning That A Draft is Coming

And here's a big fat warning sign that they're gearing up for the draft. Looks like they'll be coming for our overly well compensated doctors first. I guess that makes me feel better about those nonchalant residents I couldn't get to register to vote in Oakland last summer...

There are already signs that the Selective Service System (SSS), as it is known, is gearing up for business. By Mar. 31, the SSS boards in every state must certify to Washington that they are ready to induct the first young men within 75 days.

”They're putting in place the mechanisms to actually do a draft,” said Dustin Langley, a spokesman for the Troops Out Now Coalition representing more than 400 labor, community and human rights groups.

”In the past the SSS has basically been a mailbox. They haven't even prosecuted people for not registering,” he said. ”In their latest Performance Plan, they talk about increasing efficiency, but it is more than that. The report goes way beyond basic housekeeping.”

”They need two sets of boots at home for every one on the ground overseas. If you do the math, it's clear that they can't maintain the current level of the Iraq occupation -- let alone send troops anywhere else -- without a draft. It's impossible.”

Community activists note that youth of color are already being deployed at higher rates than whites. Minority groups make up 35 percent of the military, and black servicemen and women alone make up 20 percent of the total. That far outstrips the percentage of African Americans in society, where the figure is about 12 percent.

By the way, it's evil to participate in this war. Just say no to any forced enlistment. Jail would be a more honorable choice. Uh oh, my bosses at CNN and our big advertisers (we have none for the record) and the Tribune Review editors don't like my Big Angry Talk...who cares? It's the Internets, where there is actually a Free Press, and a very good online site called the Free Press. Go figure.

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