2008 Woodie Awards
Draft: Dropping the F-Bomb of Freedom
In Time of War, Americans Must Answer the Call to Duty
Cross, Brian
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Opinion
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Like it or not, the United States has launched a multi-front war against terrorism. As a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, our President has engaged the armed forces in an all-out war to bring those responsible to justice and deny them safe haven by confronting nations who harbor and give aide to them.
The men and women of the US military have fought bravely all over the globe, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the jungles of the Philippines to the deserts of Iraq. More then 1,100 men and women have given their lives and nearly 10,000 have been wounded in the struggle to bring security to Iraq. Our army overseas in Iraq consists of nearly 40 percent National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers.
As a result of this ongoing conflict, the armed forces have developed a serious problem: they are running out of people. The men and women of the National Guard and the Army Reserve are being called out in numbers to fill the gaps that our active military is unable to do. We no longer have enough volunteers to maintain prolonged conflicts and endure long occupations.
The US has not instituted a draft since the Vietnam era, when nearly two million men were called to duty to serve their time, but the fact of the matter is it's time to start again.
The conflict in Iraq will not stop anytime soon; George W. Bush has been re-elected for a second term and has no plans of pulling our troops out right away. The US government is bolstering the number of troops to 150,000, by sending over more units and keeping those whose tours of duty are already up, forcing them to stay longer than expected. Army sergeant Marvin Lee Trost in the 82nd airborne division was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed this week. Tell his wife and kids that we don't need a draft.
How fair is it that the men and women who volunteered to fight for their country are the only ones paying the price? Constantly, they are being called upon to put their lives in danger while the rest of us here at home continue on with our lives.
The men and women of the US military have fought bravely all over the globe, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the jungles of the Philippines to the deserts of Iraq. More then 1,100 men and women have given their lives and nearly 10,000 have been wounded in the struggle to bring security to Iraq. Our army overseas in Iraq consists of nearly 40 percent National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers.
As a result of this ongoing conflict, the armed forces have developed a serious problem: they are running out of people. The men and women of the National Guard and the Army Reserve are being called out in numbers to fill the gaps that our active military is unable to do. We no longer have enough volunteers to maintain prolonged conflicts and endure long occupations.
The US has not instituted a draft since the Vietnam era, when nearly two million men were called to duty to serve their time, but the fact of the matter is it's time to start again.
The conflict in Iraq will not stop anytime soon; George W. Bush has been re-elected for a second term and has no plans of pulling our troops out right away. The US government is bolstering the number of troops to 150,000, by sending over more units and keeping those whose tours of duty are already up, forcing them to stay longer than expected. Army sergeant Marvin Lee Trost in the 82nd airborne division was serving his third tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed this week. Tell his wife and kids that we don't need a draft.
How fair is it that the men and women who volunteered to fight for their country are the only ones paying the price? Constantly, they are being called upon to put their lives in danger while the rest of us here at home continue on with our lives.