I would gladly serve if it were mandatory.  Many countries do require it.  I would rather citizens, not hired mercenaries (Blackwater, etc.), performed the defense and security duties for our country.  Our current system that relies on "independent contractors" is just a way of avoiding a draft.

by high5apparatus on 07/27/2010 10:52:44 AM EST

Your going to end up in Iran if this thing passes. The bill passes, millions of Americans are thrown into brainwashing camps, and your off to wage another war of aggression for Israel and the military industrial complex.

by Young Turk 87 on 07/27/2010 01:27:15 PM EST

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First of all, there are no "brainwashing camps".  That sounds like a Glenn Beck fantasy (like his FEMA camps).  If the goal of boot camp was to brainwash recruits, then it would have to be considered a miserable failure, since the military servicemembers that I have known are all independent thinkers.

Second, U.S. foreign policy toward Iran will not be affected by the outcome of whether this bill passes.  The only effect will be that the Army and Marines will have less trouble meeting their recruiting goals.  Since the minimum service requirement will be only two years, instead of the standard four-year enlistment, the effect of more people serving for a shorter time will only create a slight increase in the overall size of our armed forces.

The biggest problem with this bill is that it is being considered during a time when we are fighting two wars at the same time.  It will have virtually the same effect as the draft, where more non-volunteers will be sent to die in war.  The civilian service option must be clearly defined, because otherwise it will be just another draft.

by USNavyVet on 07/27/2010 05:25:09 PM EST

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Should there be a check against the President increasing the enlistment all willy nilly from 2 years to 4 years or 8 years or as long as "whatever" is happening?

by nastrodamus on 07/27/2010 05:59:14 PM EST

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On the first point, there will be brainwashing camps on military bases when war with Iran comes. The drum up to this war in the coming years is going to be ridiculous. Israel has never been pushing as hard as it is today for war with Iran. Its going to happen.

Christian fundamentalism will takeover within the US military. Its become increasingly pervasive within the Pentagon and on US bases. There are plans to build several more huge tax payer funded megachurches on US bases where christian fundamentalists and christian zionists set the narrative of the war in terms of the religious angle.

On the second point, a war with Iran will involve a major ground force component. Israel will be protected at all costs even if it destroys the country.

The bill needs to be more clearly defined. I have no doubt that this administration or the next will want to go to war with Iran, and will find a way to make this bill work to their advantage in some way.

by Young Turk 87 on 07/27/2010 06:15:14 PM EST

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