McCain: World War III Would Justify Draft

John McCain said last night during a campaign tele-conference that he would bring back a military draft in the United States only in the case of a 'World War III' scenario.

Reuters reported:

Many Americans are fearful the U.S. government will be forced to reinstitute the draft given the prolonged Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Asked about that possibility by a potential voter in Florida during a telephone "town hall meeting," McCain said: "I don't know what would make a draft happen unless we were in an all-out World War III." ...

McCain, a Vietnam veteran, said the draft during that conflict weighed most heavily on lower-income Americans, and that this should not be repeated.

But McCain may be more open to the draft than it seems. During a July 2006 interview on CNN, McCain was asked about the following statement by Newt Gingrich: "We're in the early stages of what I would describes as the Third World War and, frankly, our bureaucracies aren't responding fast enough." Asked whether he agreed, McCain said:

"I do to some extent. I think it's important to recognize that we have terrorist organizations which -- who are dangerous by themselves, are now being supported by radical Islamic governments, i.e., the Iranians, which makes them incredibly more dangerous because they are trained, equipped, motivated and assisted in every way by the Iranians."

Also, as ThinkProgress noted, "Last October, President Bush himself warned of a coming 'World War III' with Iran. 'I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III,' said the President. 'It seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.'"

Comments

[drheelin]

09:38 AM on 06/28/2008

I just hope that soon, in the name of gender equality, that women will have to register for Selective Service when they turn 18. This is the most blatent, obvious case of govenrmental sponsored pure sexism since way back when, when women were not allowed to vote. This registration would definatly soften the effect of of a draft. Even if women were not put into combat situations, this would free up tens of thousands of men for front line combat.
Personally I think it would be wrong to put the women on thea back lines, making sure they had dinner ready for the men when they got home from work, but you have to start somewhere.

[StrangerSearching]

09:51 PM on 06/27/2008

I sir, am not getting drafted into SHITake. Not for the neocon agenda of taking a dump on everything this country was built on.

[user168]

05:57 PM on 06/27/2008

As long as John McCain is in power, I wouldn't rule out a WWIII. John McCain doesn't seem to understand “What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?” For that matter, he will destroy the world's "long-term-common-good" and "purpose of education".

[OkieMon]

04:12 PM on 06/27/2008

if world war III breaks out a draft will not be relevant as the us and russia will incinerate each other.

[JohnnieP]

01:31 PM on 06/27/2008

John McCain is a maniac. A Vote for McCain this Fall is a vote for certain armegeddon in the next
four years. The United States needs a president whose mental faculties are still intact.

Barack Obama 2008

[Ashera]

01:04 PM on 06/27/2008

WOW! What a concept, return of the Draft? Lets see, first and foremost all those BOO HOO Senator Clintons supporters, who are crying in their beer & whiskey, should be the first one to be drafted by their friend McShameless! Especially all the Harriets and Lannys out their!
They definitely won't be missed!

[nogimmicks]

12:22 PM on 06/27/2008

Since his friend, ultra-neocon Norman Podhoretz, has already declared that we are in WW-IV (see his book), it is only logical to start it now.

Seriously, we must pass a law, that the draft applies ONLY to those who voted for the candidates advocating it.

[Sundialsvc4]

07:28 AM on 06/27/2008

As long as you have all three Branches of Government locked-up by an industry that profits immensely from war .. as General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower accurately foresaw back in 1961 .. then you have an apocalypse all right, and I assure you, it does not matter whom of these two you elect (or, I should say, that the "paperless" voting-machines simply choose in your name).

This is the Internet: use it. Read what "President 'Ike' " said. No one wore more stars on his lapel (five!) than he did. A more-qualified expert on the subject never lived, and we basically owe "D-Day" to him.

These are people who start wars, foment wars, and then sell weapons by the billions to both sides. Treason? Sure! Profitable? Hell, yeah!

"Be afraid, for chrissakes... be very afraid... be 'afraid enough.' "

"The draft?" Chuckle... surf to http://thomas.loc.gov (that's THE Library of Congress) and read what these cats are talking about when they say "national service." The Universal National Service Act of 2007. Every male or female, age 18 to 42. "Read it and scream." It's about 350 signatures away from becoming law, and DON'T KID YOURSELF that they won't do it.

"Aye... aye... and the motion carries." (Whack!)

"Greeting: ... Mom."

[outsidein]

03:15 AM on 06/27/2008

watchin it all go up in a cloud of smoke....McCain = The Apocalyptic candidate?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMf9oBpvI0o

mama save me.

[the964kid]

08:55 PM on 06/26/2008

"McCain: World War III Would Justify Draft"

In other words the war McCain and Bush are trying to start.

[CC1]

11:15 PM on 06/26/2008

Bingo! They're perfectly happy sending off our husbands, wives, sons and daughters off to war because after all their own family members don't have to go get killed (or kill innocents in other countries). They are not the ones inconvenienced.

[GnitenGoodLk]

12:38 AM on 06/28/2008

McCain's son is in Iraq. (Maybe...who knows...he was deployed, but he could be in an air conditioned office in Germany for all we know)

But your greater point is still spot on

[dotmafia]

07:30 PM on 06/26/2008

If McCain sincerely believes that in the event of World War 3 that the United States would be able to institute a draft... then he's woefully ignorant to the fact that there wouldn't be anyone left in Washington to institute it.

[clearthinker2008]

04:39 PM on 06/26/2008

John McCain has been elected my new experienced profession liar.

[CC1]

11:15 PM on 06/26/2008

As is just about every single American politician since 1776.

[clearthinker2008]

04:26 PM on 06/26/2008

If we're headed for a "WW 3" who would the US being playing....American circa WW2 or Germany circa WW2? We cannot let this man become President of the United States.

0bama 08

[ObamaOhio08]

01:55 PM on 06/26/2008

"McCain, a Vietnam veteran, said the draft during that conflict weighed most heavily on lower-income Americans, and that this should not be repeated."

Okay McSame, how about instituting the draft on the children of those who received the Bush tax cuts?

[truthynesslover]

03:16 PM on 06/26/2008

How about the children of people who voted FOR bush.that would only be fair!

[Quitcherbichin]

04:18 PM on 06/26/2008

"Okay McSame, how about instituting the draft on the children of those who received the Bush tax cuts?"

If he were to do that the only people who would not be eligible for the draft would be those who did not file an income tax form. All of the taxpayers who filed, AND PAID INCOME TAX, received a tax cut. I guess maybe you either did not file or don't have any kids.

BTW, every person, and I mean every person with no exceptions except physical disability should be REQUIRED to give two years to military or public service upon graduation from high school and attaining 18 years of age. If they drop out of high school they get drafted upon reaching 18. No deferments for college.

[deminmo]

01:37 PM on 06/26/2008

As I write on this blog, there are fighters low buzzing the
area. Whiteman AFB is about 2 hours from my house so
flights aren't unusual. Frequency has increased though.
And low altitude fly-overs are really un-nerving!