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

[XME]

I have to say I simply don't believe him.

He has said that he will NEVER GIVE UP in Iraq. Soldiers have been killed by the thousands, enlistment is down, and we are seriously low on troops. If we have a situation that requires soldiers are urgently needed elswhere (Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, etc.) and we still have most of them in Iraq, where he will NEVER give up (even if there is no urgent need in another country, but just so he doesn't have to give up in Iraq if more troops are killed and elistment keeps going down)...th­en how are we to believe that he wouldn't push for a draft so he can "win" in Iraq, at any cost?

[shelobo]

McCain IS probably going to push for the draft to be reinstated ,congress can stop him hopefully.­Iraq will NEVER change whats happening ,for this reason stated in this article ,Gunmen Assassinate Leading Iraqi Judge in Eastern Baghdad,Officials in Iraq say gunmen have shot and killed a senior judge in eastern http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-06-27-voa11.cfmoa11.cfm

[bluescat47]

Talk about threat inflation. Iran is a decade away from a bomb and the national security bureaucrats, Larijani among others, are not suicidal. Former Centcom chief Fallon, when asked about the Iranian threat (their vaunted "navy" etc), said "Are you kidding? These guys are ants."
The Gulf states alone have almost 200 more modern jet fighters than the Iranians. We are not exactly facing Stalin's Red Army here, but leave it to McCain to ramp up the fear level. For one day, can he talk about higher ed, or urban renewal, or anything but war?

[woodguru]

All McCain needs to do to get the republican religious dimwits behind it is to say we need it for our war on terror and he'll get the same result as "we need to immediately drill on protected areas to lower the price of gas" or "we need to build 45 nuclear reactors" and it becomes gospel just like the bible.

This is the most ridiculously exaggerated case of the blind following the moronic in the history of the US. I'll be a disappointed and unhappy camper if we can't put a bigger group of smart and aware people together than the dimwitted sheep who put Bush in office and let him run amuck without oversight or accountability.

[woodguru]

Between Bush going AWOL from the National guard after a couple of weeks and starting a war illegally and McCain having a far more discoloured military career than anyone could have without having a daddy who was a fleet admiral these guys look like a matching pair of morons.

As Bush was making sounds about a war in Iraq we all siad no way will he get it by congress, n=but it happened.

Now Bush has said if we didn't want a world war III we had better worry about Iran not getting nuclear arms and McCain says the only reason he could think of a draft is in the event there was a WW III, that sounds just a bit too close to home. The noises start we better listen what with the little pieces of info about hard intallations being built in Iraq.

[jojojo]

actually Bush was gone long enough that he was a deserter, not simply AWOL.

[deminmo]

woodguru,
What Bush said was "Have the knowlege to produce a nuclear
weapon" They have that. They just haven't developed the weapon
yet.

[shaefromTn]

McCain is one scary little man he does not need to even be considered as president!!!!!

[Arleen1]

Could this World War III be the anxiety that Black, Kristol and McCain have been alluding to? Bomb Iran. If they were to really start this war as an October surprise, what would that mean for the election process? What could be done to thwart that move? How can the American people intercept or anticipate their move? What rights do the American people have with the constitution, the legislative and the justices system in question?

[deminmo]

Without committing treason by taking over the White House,
we have no course except through our Senators and Representatives.
Bush has signing statements and Executive Orders in place. He can
decide what constitutes a threat to the US. He can declare a "national
emergency" and then martial law. He can disband the Congress.
By not paying attention to Bush, we have given him unlimited powers.

[kadene]

This guy is scary. His conversation seems to have a homing device that brings him back to war, every time. Is this part of the martial plan to further impoverish this mighty nation? And is war the only solution to the challenges facing America in the 21st Century? Seems to me he comes alive only when there is talk of war.

This guy is scary...

[americanalien]

McCain wants to send your children to war. Tell the old man he can't have your baby. This woman said it perfectly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq30lapbC9c

Obama 08.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

I hate to burst your bubble, but so far Obamma has't spoken out against this draft. Until he does, or until he says, he will fight tooth and nail to block such an action, this draft is goign to go forward. Its up to us to tell Barack, he hasn't won yet and if he refuses to end this war NOW, Go for impeachment NOW, repeal the FISA bill he signed, his public won't back him. Its the onlyw ay folks to get this through to him. His advisors are all CFR, he is CFR and will go with anything Bush and co want. I am not sure who is more dangerous, McCain, as he is so out of touch with reality, or Barack. The only decent candidate was forced out before he had a chance, make that 2 people Biden and Kucinich. If it was me, I would be telling my kids, get duel citizenship and move the hell out before they can get to you.

[rowzeer]

Let there be a draft (EVERYONE GOES) and see how quickly this unnecessary war ends!!!

[heal57]

McCain can't have my grandchild either. No draft, no war. We don't want American imperialism anymore. It's a new generation. We don't want war. We want $$ spent in the USA with a strong defense and great intelligence, but no draft, no more freaken war. And the Vets and soldiers get their education, healthcare, and any disability payments as quick as possible. Let's become the America we can be proud of.

Independent for Obama '08

[deeoneakin]

Trust me, if this guy gets into office World War 3 will always be one push of the red button away.

[richardmcnoggin]

Trust me, if Obama get into office after a nuclear attact on the USA the button will be dismissed as an overeaction,,,

[Taan]

McCain has a war fetish, having lived in and around the military all his life, he has no working knowledge or concept of diplomacy. Nobody wins in a war. Makes you long for the era of tar and feathers applied to scoundrels. Politics is organized crime. How do you expect the government to act to the public benefit when much of Congress is bought and paid for in advance, McCain among them. He has swung to and fro on national issues so often an observer gets dizzy watching his vacillating. If he is the very best the Republicans can dig up for their candidate, it would appear that the party is bleeding itself dry. They did it with Bush. Twice. So why not once more if McCain can hold himself together until November.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

More republican rhetoric, lies, concocted wars. There are no grounds for a draft and one would be based on a war Bush cannot instigate. A draft would mean that Bush intends to attack Iran Illegally, under false pretense, which is an impeachable offense. Only congress can incite a war. At this time, there are no grounds for a war, nada, Zero. The jig is up, the farce has been exposed. They want a war and a draft too bad, people in hell want icewater, but it does not mean there are legal grounds for it. And No, we are not in the throws of WWIII, never have been, a gross lie to be sure. Sorry McCain, you won't be getting your draft anytime soon.

[DMW1]

Read these facts and let me know if you're quite so sure:
http://www.stopthinkvote.com/facts/militaryfacts.html

[deminmo]

cruise, what part of "legal" has Bush & Chaney followed
for almost 8 years?

[jqcitizen]

John McCain and I have one thing in common. We both have an honorable discharge from the US military.

His service is much more commendable than mine, for sure, but to compare this ill conceived military conflict in Iraq to WWII is nuts. Question; Why did the congress, of this nation, declare war on Dec. 10, 1941? The answer is not because the president said we have to.

If there is one person out there that thinks there is not a DRAFT in existence today, just ask the next National Guard member you meet. Deployments are endless for these people. This venture to get Osama Bin Laden has gone longer than WWII and every male in this country is REQUIRED to sign-up for the 'Draft' at age 18. -And that is a fact....

[SwamiBarmi]

"His service is much more commendable than mine..."

Why, because he crashed a plane, failed to eject properly, and collaborated with the enemy to receive preferential treatment? Or is it because he's voted against any plan that would have searched for reportedly sighted POWs remaining in that country? There's a good reason why McCain is reviled by his fellow POWs. Scratch that: there are MANY good reasons why McCain is reviled by his fellow POWs.

[jqcitizen]

Swami-
It is late and might not receive this regarding my statement that McCains service was more honorable than mine.
I should have made it clear that I had been released from the military in '63 and never served overseas. It was the so-called Cold-War peace.
McCain first got his plane shot (accidentally) on the deck of a US Navy aircraft carrier by a wayward missile. Later shot down in combat and ultimately held as a POW.
I don't badmouth McCains service, I just wish he would remember that in all wars that there are KIAs and MIAs too.

[Skepticat]

With ICBMs travelling at around 25,000 MPH most of North America could be hit within 20 minutes of
launch. I suspect a draft response to WW3 would be brief indeed.

[spiderbucket]

And rich kids will never ever ever ever be called up in a draft unlike yours.

[iswideopen]

WAR-MONGER­ER!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!