Phase 1: Get anyone we can back in...

[Ogre]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/03/60minutes/main658994.shtml

Sucks if you were ever in the army...

[Spartan]

*is happy he doesn't live in the USA* =/

[LordArt]

This doesn't surprise me at all unfortunately. Should I start a poll when everyone thinks that a normal draft will be started? And from what I understand, even though I'm in my 30s, I'll still be eligible for said draft.

[Ogre]

I am still eligible... FUCK!

Hopefully I can blow the physical... Maybe having that gut could be a GOOD thing. Adam is screwed though... Rich would probably get pulled in.

Hope everyone is happy going on another Christian Crusade! Onward christian soldiers!

[RobinHood]

DAM!!!! Sending Grandma to WAR! Guess it's a good thing I'm Lord of "House Gimpy" or otherwise I might get pulled in.

[Strider]

I need to drop 5 more lbs given my muscle mass, neck size, hieght, etc. That basiclly means I get the two yellow stripes on my PT uniform that signifies me getting half rations during bootcamp. Then again that is also for a Volonteer not a Draftee. So they might fudge numbers a little bit... in which case also, Ogre, the Gut might not be as helpful as you think... just remember Pvt. Gomer Pile (for the weight issue not for any other sort of parrallel)

I can deal with the endless marches (yay Drum Corps) with the wieght (yay having played the Tuba)... Adam might have a bit of a problem... 60lbs (avg weight of gear, your screwed if you get Com Specialist... another 20-40 lbs added on... or Heavy Weapons Detail, though thats just an extra 15-25) over countless miles?

I also got the music thing in my favor, they always need a few good brass players, though if they are at the point of drafting I don't think that it would matter much.

Hopefully, if the draft holds off till the end of next fall, I will have my degrees and I can put into officer school etc.

Next, there is always the option of enlisting before the draft starts, so at least I can sorta get the placement of my choice. Marine Corps or Army, I am still debating. Maybe I might persue that career that they keep calling me about. I have always considered enlisting throughout the years though... I've talked about it on a few occasions, hell after 9-11 I was highly considering enlisting, I didn't then because I wanted to finish with my education first. Now, well, UPS does have a Military Leave Policy, though I am not sure if it applies to people who were employed before they enlisted versus people who were enlisted at one point then employed and then recalled or signed up for another tour... I'll have to talk to HR about that.

::chuckles:: ...can't really play the religious grounds for non-violence now can I? (Asatruar against Violence... like a Satanist for Jesus or at least a meat eating Vegan... though I think the meat eating vegan would have more respect in the long run). Not that I would want to, as we all know I enjoy battles and general mayhem. Maybe I can weedle in as a Chaplain for those of "Alternative Faiths".

On a slightly different but similar note, to Quote my one Philosophy Professor:

"Bush May Lie but Now Everyone Gets There Chance to Die"

Just remember, the new version of the Draft running around is for ages 18 (17 with parental permission) to 36.. and thats including women at this point too I think. ::ponders:: Get married and have kiddies quick, they'll only be able to take one of you... in theory... ::ponders military-baby nursery/educational services for military parents:: mmm breeding and educating tommorows Divenely Mandated Zealots Today.

Note: Normally I would not be intolerant of a draft (Hell I still carry my Selective Service (hehe SS) Card proudly in my wallet. I have said many times to my classmates and coworkers that if a draft happens and I am selected I would go... ) if it was not for the fact that I do not agree with or condone the Iraq War as it is currently being portrayed or supported by our government. Due to the obvious media manipulation blunders, blatant missinformation stratagies that have failed, and the painfully obvious lack of proper logistical planning as well as the lack of properly used Intellegence I feel that the Government has lost its right to call on us to cleanup there mistakes.

Then again... who am I to fight against something that is Mandated by the Higher Powers... ::sighs:: What is our country comming to?

Alll this reminds me of our talk today during my War Lecture on the "Vietnam Syndrom" reemerging... Iraq, the Vietnam of the 21st Century. Terrorism, the Communism of the 21st Century. America, the Crusaders of the 21st Century. Homeland Securtiy, the Secret Police of the 21st Century. ::shakes his head::

Well I need to get off to class. I could ramble more, but they might be reading. ::chuckles::

-Rich

[Ogre]

Yes, gut alone would not cut it... However, I am sure I can fail it for other things in conjunction... I can (probably) make my heart RACE and THUNDER in my chest because I did it to myself once before by accident. Plus there is one more thing going for me, see below...

Draft... I have always felt that if I felt strongly enough to fight for something, I would voluteer... Thus I set myself up for consciencous objector status when I did the selective service thing. May not be quite what I believe, but it is documented, so at least I would not have people shooting at me for a war I did not want to be in. I may be stuck doing something for the army, but I can avoid a lot of the more dangerous shit... Not all, but still.

Most enlistee's can't do 60lbs over long distances, so Adam would just be made to work harder.

And Rich, of course they are reading...

He isn't out of office yet so FUCK ASHCROFT!

[StormSeeker]

Yeah, really.

Someone in PsiScape told us that they were drafting retired servicemen and women the other night, and I couldn't believe my eyes after digging up news stories on the subject from google.

I suppose it's only a matter of time before they start drafting people who weren't in the army before; despite all the protests against a formal draft. It's too bad they can't restrict members of the army to those who WANT to fight the war. At least that'd be one surefire way of ensuring the war didn't continue much longer.

It's ridiculous, and suddenly moving to Canada is looking like a much better idea.

[Ogre]

Hey, be happy... You aren't draftable yet...

Too bad we can't make them restrict a draft to the "Red" states... That would be appropriate.

[StormSeeker]

I AM happy I'm not draftable yet, and unless I go for US citizenship, I won't become eligible; but I do have friends who may very well be. Hell, most of Omni and a third of PsiScape could be eligible by the time the formal draft takes place, if it does.

I realize the majority of folks likely wouldn't be in a danger zone as far as fighting goes; but still. It's taking people away from their families, their dependents, their lives. In this day and age, you'd think humanity would have learned and not be dragged into repeating history again, to the detriment of those concerned.

Well, maybe. Okay, so probably not. But we can live in hope, anyway.

Too bad we can't make them restrict a draft to the "Red" states... That would be appropriate.

Here, here.

[Guest]

So, how do we start the impeachment proceedings? The shrub has got to go.

[Guest]

Your hope is a lie, stormseeker. Warfare is integral to the being that is manhood. As creatures of war, men are driven to war on each other. It has been this way since the earth was inhabited by humans. Put away any hope you have for the situation. There is no way out. Utopian dreams will allways remain just dreams. Its better for your mental health not to have them.

www.abrupt.org/LOGOS/sow/sowintro.html

[StormSeeker]

Actually, *I* decide what's "better" for my mental health.

What you've stated, is your belief and perception upon things; not mine. And whilst valid as an opinion; that doesn't make it mine. Though thank you for contributing it, it's always nice to hear other people's thoughts

I would also say my opinion is more optimism, than Utopian. Utopian tends to refer to a collective pool of idealized concepts; not merely one. Nor is hope for a more positive outcome, Idealism. It's a momentary lapse from the usual Realism I stick so closely to, into Optimism.

It will take more than ye olde "it's inherent in mankind" argument to make me change my mind. Especially when followed up by interpreted religious beliefs from someone supposedly in contact with Satan

You might as well have pointed me at the online bible.

*headshakes*

[LC]

>>>Just remember, the new version of the Draft running around is for ages 18 (17 with parental permission) to 36.. and thats including women at this point too I think. ::ponders:: Get married and have kiddies quick, they'll only be able to take one of you... in theory... ::ponders military-baby nursery/educational services for military parents:: mmm breeding and educating tommorows Divenely Mandated Zealots Today.>>>

OK now i know why my 2 fertility Goddesses are freaking. Guess if i stay single AND become pregnant, I should be safe. See guys my Goddesses ARE looking out for me (lol)

LC

[Obsidian]

Doesn't it seem weird that, although you're effectively being forced into service by a draft, you're still required to pass the physical?

Like, I understand what it's for and all, but it would be to easy to fail it, if you truly didn't want to fight. Force your heart-rate to rise, tell them about the pain you have here, and here, and even here, 'accidentally' break your trigger finger (although that's not exactly the best solution). Without a trigger finger, you're useless to the American Military.

Or you could just fudge the psych test.
Doc: So, why do you want to fight in the war?
Patient: SO I CAN KILL PEOPLE! LET ME AT THEM! GIMME MY GUN, LEMME START SHOOOOOTTIN! YEE HAW!
Bam, done. Or tell them the voices told you to join

All this talk reminds me of a news report, from when the war in Iraq was still only beginning. When it was, in fact, still a war against Afghanistan.

The SAS, elite Australian troops, some of the best and most highly trained (legal) troops in the world.
Involved in a gun-fight. Handed in their report after it was over.
The American captain/general/whatever almost refused their report, demanding they tell the truth, and not write such nonsense.
The reason?
Why, in the three hour long gun-battle against the 'terrorist's' the SAS used 33 bullets. 33. Wounded or killed 13 enemy soldiers, and took one minor injury to their ranks. They had less 7 or 8 people with them.
The American captain plain-out stated, "This has to be wrong. We use more bullets than that in the first second."

Go the trigger-happy, "I THINK HE'S STILL ALIVE!" Americans.


edit: post-script. I know you aren't all trigger happy. Just like we don't all get around with Kangaroo's and Koala's. I love stereo-types.