Tell Congress to stop dodging the draft question
PO Box 656
Sparks, NV 89432
(775) 356-9009
info@mothersagainstthedraft.org
Please forward this message to your family and friends!
May 18, 2005
Dear members, supporters, and friends,
Today marks the 88th anniversary of the passage of the Selective Service Act. It’s a day that should serve as a solemn reminder to every mother and father in America that by simple majority vote, Congress could again pass legislation reinstating the draft.
For those of us with draft aged children, that threat is more real than many would like to believe, and far more real than Congress is willing to admit.
Top military leaders have been warning us that our military is seriously over-stretched and undermanned. Just last month, for the third straight month the U.S. Army missed its recruiting goal, but this time by a whopping 42 percent and the Army Reserve fell short by 37 percent. According to Army Reserve chief, Lt. Gen. James Helmly, the Reserve is a “broken force,” no longer able to meet its commitment in Iraq and Afghanistan. General Richard Cody, the Army’s vice chief of staff, recently told a room full of reporters that the situation is serious enough that he’s losing sleep worrying about the future of the all-volunteer military.
Whether they want to our not, it’s apparent that Congress will soon be forced to make some unpleasant decisions.
The math is simple. If there aren’t enough volunteers joining the military then Congress must either reduce our commitments, drastically increase taxes to hire a mercenary force, or draft our children. And if as predicted, our commitment to this policy of “pre-emptive war” in the “global war on terrorism” is indeed “generational,” it will swallow not only our sons and daughters in a new draft, but our grandchildren as well.
It’s time for Congress to stop dodging the draft question!
As you know, Mothers Against the Draft delivered a simple six question Compulsory Service Survey to every member of the 109th Congress. To date, only 2 of 535 members of Congress (Congressman Ron Paul of TX and Congress Barney Frank of MA) have had the courage tell their constituents the truth about where they stand on the draft. In addition, thousands of citizens have signed our online Petition to Congress Opposing Conscription. Those too have been ignored.
http://www.mothersagainstthedraft.org/images/surveys/survey1.pdf
You have an absolute right to know if your elected officials would vote to draft your sons and daughters. And they have an absolute duty to tell you the truth.
If you are as outraged as I am, it’s time to make your voice heard!
1. Call your Congressman’s office and express your concern regarding the threat of a new draft and urge him/her to respond to MAD’s Congressional Survey on Conscription. It’s easy to do, it’s important, and it will only take a few minutes of your time. Just call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you don’t know your Congressman’s name, the Operator will ask you for your address and connect you to the right office.
2. Send an email to your Congressman. We’ve already drafted one for your use, or if you prefer, you can create your own email on our website. (Click here to send an email to Congress):
http://capwiz.com/mad/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7603206
3. Forward this email on to your family and friends and ask them to do the same.
All 3 Action Items will take you less than 10 minutes.
With your help, we can stop the draft before it starts!
Sparks, NV 89432
(775) 356-9009
info@mothersagainstthedraft.org
Please forward this message to your family and friends!
May 18, 2005
Dear members, supporters, and friends,
Today marks the 88th anniversary of the passage of the Selective Service Act. It’s a day that should serve as a solemn reminder to every mother and father in America that by simple majority vote, Congress could again pass legislation reinstating the draft.
For those of us with draft aged children, that threat is more real than many would like to believe, and far more real than Congress is willing to admit.
Top military leaders have been warning us that our military is seriously over-stretched and undermanned. Just last month, for the third straight month the U.S. Army missed its recruiting goal, but this time by a whopping 42 percent and the Army Reserve fell short by 37 percent. According to Army Reserve chief, Lt. Gen. James Helmly, the Reserve is a “broken force,” no longer able to meet its commitment in Iraq and Afghanistan. General Richard Cody, the Army’s vice chief of staff, recently told a room full of reporters that the situation is serious enough that he’s losing sleep worrying about the future of the all-volunteer military.
Whether they want to our not, it’s apparent that Congress will soon be forced to make some unpleasant decisions.
The math is simple. If there aren’t enough volunteers joining the military then Congress must either reduce our commitments, drastically increase taxes to hire a mercenary force, or draft our children. And if as predicted, our commitment to this policy of “pre-emptive war” in the “global war on terrorism” is indeed “generational,” it will swallow not only our sons and daughters in a new draft, but our grandchildren as well.
It’s time for Congress to stop dodging the draft question!
As you know, Mothers Against the Draft delivered a simple six question Compulsory Service Survey to every member of the 109th Congress. To date, only 2 of 535 members of Congress (Congressman Ron Paul of TX and Congress Barney Frank of MA) have had the courage tell their constituents the truth about where they stand on the draft. In addition, thousands of citizens have signed our online Petition to Congress Opposing Conscription. Those too have been ignored.
http://www.mothersagainstthedraft.org/images/surveys/survey1.pdf
You have an absolute right to know if your elected officials would vote to draft your sons and daughters. And they have an absolute duty to tell you the truth.
If you are as outraged as I am, it’s time to make your voice heard!
1. Call your Congressman’s office and express your concern regarding the threat of a new draft and urge him/her to respond to MAD’s Congressional Survey on Conscription. It’s easy to do, it’s important, and it will only take a few minutes of your time. Just call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you don’t know your Congressman’s name, the Operator will ask you for your address and connect you to the right office.
2. Send an email to your Congressman. We’ve already drafted one for your use, or if you prefer, you can create your own email on our website. (Click here to send an email to Congress):
http://capwiz.com/mad/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7603206
3. Forward this email on to your family and friends and ask them to do the same.
All 3 Action Items will take you less than 10 minutes.
With your help, we can stop the draft before it starts!
Starmail - 18. Mai, 22:39
