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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
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 Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:25 pm Rumsfeld: 'The last thing we need is a draft' |
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CNN.com
Rumsfeld: 'The last thing we need is a draft'
From CNN's Paul Courson
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has sent letters to congressional leaders urging them to pass the final 2005 budget supplemental bill before the Army runs out of operating funds.
The Army has slowed its spending, so it can continue operations in Afghanistan and Iraq through early May when the funds are due to run out, Rumsfeld said.
He sent the letters Wednesday, along with handwritten notes that read, "Our folks out there need these funds."
The letters were sent to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran.
"I want to emphasize how important it is that Congress pass the final legislation prior to the upcoming Senate recess," Rumsfeld wrote in the letter.
The Senate is due to recess on Friday.
Without its passage, Rumsfeld warned he would have to move funds which would "seriously disrupt other activities," and he might have to invoke the "Feed and Forage Act" to keep the deployed troops operating.
The Feed and Forage Act allows the military departments to incur obligations in excess of available appropriations for clothing, subsistence, fuel, quarters, transportation and medical supplies, according to Pentagon officials.
Rumsfeld invoked the act in September 2001 after the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Military budget gets Senate hearing
The Pentagon's military budget was the focus of a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday. Lawmakers questioned Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the military draft, troop levels in Iraq, armor for troops and something called the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator.
Sen. Daniel Inouye, the Democrat from Hawaii, said, "For the first time in many years the Army and Marine Corps are not meeting their recruiting targets. There are some who are already discussing the draft."
Rumsfeld leaned closer to the microphone and said, "I think the only people who could conceivably be talking about a draft are people who are speaking from pinnacles of near-perfect ignorance."
He added, "The last thing we need is a draft. We just don't." He explained that recruitment and retention in the part-time forces have been affected by active duty troops who are staying longer in the regular military.
Rumsfeld also staunchly defended the number of U.S. troops used in post-major combat operations in Iraq, saying the Pentagon has consistently followed the recommendations of commanders on the ground.
He also refuted comments made in 2003 by Gen. Eric Shinseki, then-Army Chief of Staff, who said he believed several hundred thousand soldiers might be required in Iraq following major combat -- a figure far lower than the actual number of soldiers there.
"The fact of the matter is that the military experts on the ground from the beginning have said what they thought the number ought to be," Rumsfeld said.
"The more troops you have, the more targets you have, and the more people you might get killed. The more troops you have, the more of an occupying power you are, the heavier footprint, the more force protection you need, the more logistics you need and the more intrusive you are on the people of that country."
The size of the U.S. military presence in Iraq has ranged from about 110,000 to 150,000 since May 2003, when President Bush declared major combat operations were over.
Rumsfeld noted the Soviet Union had 300,000 troops in Afghanistan during the war there in the 1980s and that "they lost." He said the United States used a fraction of that force and quickly toppled the Taliban in a matter of months following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Testifying at the same hearing, Myers said that before the Iraq war was launched Bush met with his commanders and asked if "anybody had any reservations, if they had everything we needed, and if we're ready to go."
"Everybody gave a thumbs-up on that," he said, adding Shinseki was present.
Asked if Shinseki had raised any objections, Myers said, he "certainly didn't bring up a couple hundred thousand" troops for post-combat operations.
"All the service chiefs were in total support of Gen. [Tommy] Franks' plan, the numbers we had planned, all of that. We were all on board," Myers said.
Fortified, 38-pound leggings
Rumsfeld also discussed a prototype version of fortified leggings the Army wants to try. At $9,400 a pair, they use air conditioning technology and weigh 38 pounds, according to one lawmaker, who asked whether they could protect a soldier from roadside bombs.
Rumsfeld did not address the cost or the effectiveness of the prototype, saying instead that the idea is to avoid having "vehicles operating without appropriate armor in areas outside of protected compounds."
Myers said, "There is an effort ongoing in the armed services to continually improve the garments they wear," to deal with an increased threat.
Myers is slated to retire from the military September 30 after 40 years. Last Friday President Bush named Marine Gen. Peter Pace Myers' successor.
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Rumsfeld testifies before the Senate Defense subcommittee on the fiscal 2006 Defense Appropriations bill.
Last edited by Puck on Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:33 pm |
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Uh oh....
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:07 am |
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Good going Rumsfeld. He's right.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Jeff Miller
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:03 am |
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If there ever is a draft I'll make sure to pack to go to canada, good thing I'm only 8 hours from the border. 
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Lord Borg
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:21 am |
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is right. I love this country dont get me wrong. But it really should be a personal choice to Join the Armed services
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:57 am |
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Chris, you personally have nothing to worry about, you'd get out on a medical.
Jeff, I really don't see them chasing you down, either.
Compulsory service, IMO, isn't such a bad thing. Like right after HS, w/e. Many countries do this. Lord knows America's youth could do with some discapline.
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zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
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Location: Texas
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:06 pm |
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^ I'm sure they could use some structure or discapline, But I wouldn't want to get drafted into a war that I didn't believe in. If I were a boy and got drafted feeling the way I do about this war, I would not do anything. I would stand there with my gun and stare straight. I personaly would not fight for something I did not believe in.
And I don't think sending kids to war is a good way to show discapline. That is my opinion though.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 4:44 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | Chris, you personally have nothing to worry about, you'd get out on a medical.
Jeff, I really don't see them chasing you down, either.
Compulsory service, IMO, isn't such a bad thing. Like right after HS, w/e. Many countries do this. Lord knows America's youth could do with some discapline. |
Discipline 
And yes, discipline is necessary, but being forced into the military? Not a good thing, unless it's ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. But it doesn't look like the draft will return.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Lord Borg
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:00 pm |
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| zero wrote: | ^ I'm sure they could use some structure or discapline, But I wouldn't want to get drafted into a war that I didn't believe in. If I were a boy and got drafted feeling the way I do about this war, I would not do anything. I would stand there with my gun and stare straight. I personaly would not fight for something I did not believe in.
And I don't think sending kids to war is a good way to show discapline. That is my opinion though. |
If you were being shot at you wouldn't shoot back?
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Jeff Miller
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
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Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:25 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | | Jeff, I really don't see them chasing you down, either. |
Good, Than I won't worry. . If our country was being invaded than yes I would do something about it.
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zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:52 pm |
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| Lord Borg wrote: | | zero wrote: | ^ I'm sure they could use some structure or discapline, But I wouldn't want to get drafted into a war that I didn't believe in. If I were a boy and got drafted feeling the way I do about this war, I would not do anything. I would stand there with my gun and stare straight. I personaly would not fight for something I did not believe in.
And I don't think sending kids to war is a good way to show discapline. That is my opinion though. |
If you were being shot at you wouldn't shoot back? |
If I am there against my will, and don't believe this war is right, then no I would not fight. I would much rather get sent to prison or jail or something. They have every right to shoot at us. We invaded thier country... for nothing.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
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Location: United States of America
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:09 pm |
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^That is complete and utter BS. I love how uneducated people are today.
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And some have to live with our scars
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zero
Rear Admiral
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Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:47 pm |
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I may seem that way to you, Theresa. But in my heart I feel this war was wrong. You can have your own opinions, but don't try to shut down my views. I never attacked yours, even though I do disagree with some things you say.
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Theresa
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:50 pm |
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Not quite. Facts prove otherwise. Where facts are concerned, opinion is irrelevant.
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zero
Rear Admiral
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:52 pm |
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If you must have facts, maybe we should take a look at the WMD's we found in Iraq??? 
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Theresa
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Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:54 pm |
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There's a lame answer if I ever heard it. Tony Blair may have only given that as a reason, but Bush didn't. And here again, we have the lack of education. Self-education, btw.
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Some of us fall by the wayside
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zero
Rear Admiral
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:00 pm |
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Maybe to you. Need I remind you I am 20 years old and you are pushing 30, unemployed.. so I'm sure you have a lot more time to watch the news and read up on things than I do.
I am against this war, I have my reasons. You are for it, and you have your reasons. I wont argue personal opinions or beliefs with ya. Pointless. 
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Theresa
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Joined: 17 Jun 2001
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:05 pm |
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Gosh, even when I was employed I made time to know what was going on in my world, especially if I felt qualified to discuss/debate it.
And your stuck on the "personal opinion" stuff, I still offer facts. If you choose to ignore, fine.
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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sabertooth1217
UPN Boycotter
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 11484
Location: Texas
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| Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:05 pm |
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If there is another draft and I am picked (currently I am 17; 18 in december) I would go. I really do believe that there should be a line in between the ability to force people into the Army. Yet I can see how if there would be no one joining up we would need the draft.
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webtaz99
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| Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:03 am |
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| Jeff Miller wrote: | | If there ever is a draft I'll make sure to pack to go to canada, good thing I'm only 8 hours from the border. |
If you leave, STAY OUT! 
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Jeff Miller
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:56 am |
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How about you don't tell me what to do and we will get along fine.
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Theresa
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Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Fri Apr 29, 2005 12:23 pm |
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How about I agree with him?
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Jeff Miller
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:23 pm |
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*Edited* I won't fight with you. People have rights to their opinions.
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:22 am |
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| Theresa wrote: | | ^That is complete and utter BS. I love how uneducated people are today. |
Such as the intelligence services, J/k.
It's basically what people accept as facts and what they disagree with. I'm not on either side because I don't know all the factors and information, and never will.
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