Bush today: "more troops in Iraq", spends $28 mil to gear up DRAFT in 2004

My April 1st, 2005 scenario draws nearer! I hope I am wrong--that the $28 million to reduce DRAFT activation time to 75 days from the current 8 months is merely to make the Selective Service System more efficient and is not suspicious. I hope I am wrong, that they have NOT decided that by 2006 they will have to have the draft supplying a steady flow of inductees and they are actively gearing the draft up to have the first Draft Lottery on June 15, 2005. I hope I am wrong.

This official Selective Service site clearly says that $28 million is being spent next year to have the draft ready for activation within 75 days by March 31, 2005, conveniently AFTER the 2004 election. The scrubbed Draft Board recruitment ad (the first in decades), was just the tip of the following $28 million iceberg:

http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html

Strategic Goal 1: Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Manpower Delivery Systems (Projected allocation for FY 2004 – $7,942,000)

Strategic Goal 2: Improve overall Registration Compliance and Service to the Public (Projected allocation FY 2004 – $8,769,000)

Strategic Goal 3: Enhance external and internal customer service
(Projected allocation for FY 2004 – $10,624,000)

Strategic Goal 4: Enhance the system which guarantees that each conscientious objector is properly classified, placed, and monitored.(Projected allocation for FY 2004 – $955,000)

Total=$28,290,000



An annual report providing the results of the implementation of these performance
measures will be submitted by March 31, 2005. This report will address attained versus
planned levels of performance, explain unattained target levels, and identify where and
how strategies, performance goals, and performance indicators should be changed to
ensure that the SSS reaches its strategic and annual goals and objectives.

tie that paragraph to this one:

Strategic Objective 1.2: Ensure a mobilization infrastructure of 56 State Headquarters,
442 Area Offices and 1,980 Local Boards are operational within 75 days of an authorized
return to conscription.

<snip>

They are reducing draft activation time to 75 days from the current 7-8 months. The first draft lottery according to this official document could be June 15, 2005.

Question: why does a dormant agancy need to be ready to answer all correspondence in 10 days?

They said "no plans" yet they are conducting nation-wide exercises far beyond what is needed for a dormant agency. This is really a plan to get the whole system ready for activation within the 75 days proscribed, although Congress must authorize the actual activation. They are trying to stop this discussion by saying "no plans", making everybody think it's off the table. They just mean Bush has "no plans" to ask Congress at this time. Yet on April 1, 2005, according to this he could ask for activation and have it in 75 days.

Also draft boards reported being "unexpectedly" asked during summer training sessions to fill the Board vacancies (salon.com from a Philly draft Board member)

Also Rumsfeld's leaked memo said "long hard slog" and "we have not made any truly bold moves yet"--and that was after Iraq and Afghanistan.

They are even making sure the Alternative Service is all exercised and ready to go within 75 days of March 31, 2005.

This is called Performance improvement but it looks exactly like a readiness action. They are bringing the whole system up to 90% + operational capability after 30 years of dormancy. Obviously, with a war on terror this could be considered prudent (although you don't need a draft to catch Osama Bin Laden and several thousand al-Queadas). Then why did they scrub the Draft Board notice? Why not come say out front we are filling the Draft Boards and gearing up the system in case the President needs it to fight the war on terror?

Congress would of course have to approve, supposedly after a Joint Session by the President where he could easily say "we are not going to cut and run" (same was said in Vietnam). By March 31, 2005, the draft may only be 75 days away.

This changes the dynamics of this issue, because people will say OK, Bush is getting the draft ready by June 15, 2005 if we need it. Now do I trust him or the Democrat more to not reinstate, given Iraq and PNAC?

We're happy with troop end strength. We actually tried to reduce them this year but Congress won't let us. The all-volunteer force is soooooo much better for us.

Good reason to go to Canada. I think most of the activist peace protesters are in good shape for C.O. status. They look at a consistent pattern of opposing all wars. However, if they are going to monitor them, there are bound to be a lot of abuses and harrassment. If they don't change the "Don't ask. don't tell" policy, all the guys could show up in dresses if they don't want to serve. It would certainly be interesting if the only guys who actually wound up being drafted were gay and everyone else was faking it.

Cool out. They are just taking attendance after you get your CO from your Draft Board, after your name has been drawn in the lottery and after you pass the medical and after you have been inducted and placed in a service or non-service job such as conservation. You could be placed planting trees and they have to "monitor" your 2-year service somehow for the AS.

<snip>

Strategic Goal 4: Enhance the system which guarantees that each conscientious objector is properly classified, placed, and monitored.(Projected allocation for FY 2004 – $955,000)


Strategic Objective 4.1: Ensure a mobilization infrastructure of 48 Alternative Service Offices and 48 Civilian Review Boards are operational within 96 days after notification of a return to induction.

<snip>
Note they are even making sure the Alternative Service is ready to go within 96 days of March 31, 2005.

This means the earliest date you can go for your CO if you are in the first draft would be 21 days after the first Lottery of June 15, 2005, if there is a Lottery on June 15, 2005 if Bush is re-selected. See how this is planned out already here in 2003. It would take about 21 days from the first Lottery for the first group of 20-year-olds to apply for the AS. It's just basic operational planning I know but they are reducing the time needed to activate from 8 months to 75 days there is no doubt now.

They are gearing up the draft here in 12 months to the point where it is poised to start drawing names and inducting.

draft-dodgers--and Canadians respect the ageements they sign. You'd have to be living in Canada as a young teenager and then become a citizen too to avoid conscription this time around.