Oiling up the draft machine? (via Brian Kane)
Serve Your Community and the Nation: Become a Selective Service System Local Board Member
Don't look now, but the Bush Administration appears to be firing up the Selective Service machinery, albeit very quietly. The Administration will, of course, downplay the significance of this move, but it does give some indication of how the Bush Administration may be planning to deal with potential manpower shortfalls in the wake of the war in Iraq. With word of mouth regarding conditions in Iraq not being all it could be (no pun intended...), it's entirely possible that the military could be looking at the possibility of having trouble meeting recruiting quotas. How to correct this problem? Easy...just reinstitute the draft. It's not quite that simple, of course, but the Selective Service has the "Help Wanted" sign out....
The Selective Service System wants to hear from men and women in the community who might be willing to serve as members of a local draft board.
Prospective Board Members must be citizens of the United States , at least 18 years old, and registered with the Selective Service (if male). Prospective Board Members may not be an employee of any law enforcement occupation, not be an active or retired member of the Armed Forces, and not have been convicted of any criminal offense.
Once identified as qualified candidates for appointment, prospective Board Members are recommended by the Governor and appointed by the Director of Selective Service, who acts on behalf of the President in making appointments. Each new member receives 12 hours of initial training after appointment, followed by 4 hours of annual training for as long as he or she remains in the position. They may serve as Board Members for up to 20 years, if desired.
Local Board Members are uncompensated volunteers who play an important community role closely connected with our Nation's defense. If a military draft becomes necessary, approximately 2,000 Local and Appeal Boards throughout America would decide which young men, who submit a claim, receive deferments, postponements or exemptions from military service, based on Federal guidelines.
Don't put it past the Bush Administration to work furiously behind the scenes to fire up the Selective Service machinery and them attempt to foist a fait accompli on the American public and their teenagers. If there is one thing that this Administration has discovered, it's that using "the war against terror" as a justification will get it virtually whatever it wants. After all, what true American patriot would even think of opposing "the war against terror"?
Of course, if things get bad enough, your son or daughter could always look into becoming a Canadian citizen. The language is easy to learn, it has the best hockey in the world, and where else in North America can you legally drive 100 (KM/hr)?? Of course, they also use gravy on their French...er, Freedom fries, but it's just part of getting used to a different culture, eh??
