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

[DMW1]

The miltary is missing benchmarks, using stop-loss more, retaining recruites despite drug abuse, pregnancy and alcohol abuse. The Pentagon is already using a company to keep tabs on all draft age boys in high school. Top military officials said last October we need to reinstate the draft JUST TO MAINTAIN IN IRAQ.

I urge you to visit this page:
http://www.stopthinkvote.com/facts/militaryfacts.html

Please share that page with everyone you know who would be concerned with this issue. Especially if we're merely sending our troops to die for oil as McCain alluded to in early May.

Thank you.

[Thron]

This guys is in his way is a progressive. He is thinking ahead of time for what he wasn't made for, but became along the way, War. America shouldn't make the childish mistake to walk so close to a screaming truth. McCain is an ex prisoner of a war we lost, therefore he lost. Who can rationally expect him as a president to loose another war, or to avoid another war.
He said, "My friends I do not love war", but he will send you to it, because as a military, war is the only imposing tool.
8 years of war has made us wicker, and more isolated as well as disliked. Is it possible that 4 more years could help for the better.
I foresee a ripple effect in that way. Iran is bombed, the all region gos ablaze. Other countries interest are disrupt. China step him, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, and all kinds of terrorist. America becomes the prime target.
Now we are in an infinite multiple wars. At home wiretapping, spies sniffing on Americans. Fear of nuclear attack from terrorists, zero freedom. Generation lost for the wars. Sicker planet cause neglected for other matters. Our way of life long time gone
Can we afford the same mistake again after Iraq. Like, " we go in bomb the hell out of them and come back just in time for the 8 pm Faux news A.K.A Fox news braking news.

[Twopennygal]

And MoveOn.org's Alex ad just became a whole lot more relevant!

[ShantWhite]

I second this!!

Initially, I thought that ad was a bit misleading as if he was advocating a draft, but I'd never heard him mention anything of the sort. But who knew???? Obviously MoveOn.org did, because here he goes....

powerful.

[mshazen]

I am surprised you would think its misleading maybe being from Arizona I more familiar with this man but believe me I would not put it past him in a heart beat and I don't think he needs WWIII to do it, our troops are already thin and he all about increased troop deployment, and attacking Iran.

He still believes we should not have pulled out of Vietnam we could have won in his opinion. I find it hard to believe he is polled stronger in National security there is not one thing about this man that makes me feel safe George Bush has less of a warlike mentality than this guy.

[beboy]

We all can all be glad that a brave Democrat like President Nixon finally ended the draft.

[soupson52]

Oh. that's right. He was a republican ridden out of office on the rail. Justice was served, unlike this time.

[soupson52]

and he did that because? He also ran on a "secret" plan to stop the war, which he immediately escalated!

[kellygrrrl]

pack up the grandkids

don't forget the Kevlar

[ivorytower54]

Furthermore, not only could theorictically the next PODUS not need congressional approval for a draft, they already have authorization to attack Iran.

The Defense Reauthorization Bill Public Law 110-181 H.R.4986 SEC. 1258. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IRAN states that the US should not allow Iran to undermine Iraqi security by assisting insurgents. Later in this section it call the "Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps" (The Iranian Special Forces) terrorist. Couple that with their support of covert nuclear power programs and with the SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM stated in SEC. 3132 of the act and any PODUS has all the legal justification that they need to bomb Iran. And as long as he gave updates the congress would have no recourse other than defunding troops in the field. No congressional mandate for a draft would be required. That could all be accomplished by executive order. By the time that the arguments were decided by the supreme court McCain would undoubtedly appointed a sympathetic Justice and boom a slim majority upholds his streatch to reinterpret the war making clause of the consititution. A shocked congress could only defund the war. McCain could then fund it off the books without approval until impeached.

[darthdarcy]

So is that the plan start WWIII, so as to reinstate the draft..?

[ivorytower54]

I'm not so sure that the President would have to get consititutional authority for a draft. In the past that has always been the case, however, the passage of the War Powers act in 1973 would posit and intertesting wrinkle into these discussions. The US has not had a draft since this act was passed and given the way that that Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the consititution has evolved, I would not be suprised if a President attempted to start a draft without congressional authority. Given the attitude of the congress during the Bush Administration's tenure I would think that they might not even call for a check and balance. Believing that allowing the draft would finally put public sentiment over the top against the war. That the death and dying being far removed from American suburbs would suddenly jolt the country awake to the happenings in Iraq. If the congress did assert its authority to check an expansionists adminstration's assertion that they didn't need congressional mandate for a draft, then it would then be up to the congress to approve on or if they didn't think one necessary to "win" or out and out oppose the war. Possibly a no win situation either way for the congress.

[richardmcnoggin]

This is a great thread; I can't wait till we are invaded and occupied by some enemy of this country in the future and hopefully the liberals are in charge when it happens... We will see them groveling at the feet of the occupiers; the liberals and socialist lovers without their guns they banned years earlier; They will wonder how the occupiers can be so evil to the poor, poor liberals...I am sick and tired of the socialist, passive mentality that permiates our society, what happend to freedom and inividuality that this country was founded on?

[jneems]

I don't speak Limbaugh, but are you suggesting that the Conservatives have done a wonderful job of running this country for the past 8 years?

You let us know when Iraq and Afghanistan invade Kentucky, ok? LOL

[DShawn233]

For a man that claims to"Hate War" McGaffeAlot sure seems to get off on talking about fighting "Wars." It's as if someone in a room yells: War!!! Then McGaffeAlot runs around pumping his fist saying: "Where, where, where!! Gimme, gimme, gimmeeeeeeee!!!!"

[truthynesslover]

If its on tape ,along with the hundred years response what better t.v.spot could we ask for?Let HIM make HIS case!

[BeyondKen]

Are we in the 'last throes' of WWIII yet?

[jcwtts1]

when bush bombs iran I don't think it will be the last throes...

[1differentdrummer]

No, but we're turning a corner, or maybe it's corners. This kind of blather sells big at the VFW and Legion. Good thing we have so many sensible vets in both organizations who know war isn't heck, it's hell.

[hypnus]

My friends all this talk of WW III has gotten blown out of proportion. Sure, we may have another small war here or there, but nothing really big. I’ve got too much invested in next fall’s TV season. I’m really looking forward to the return of Sky King, the Untouchables, and Dragnet. There will be no WW III while Sky King is still on the air I can assure you.

[Trittydi]

Don't underestimate the blood-lust and greed of the Corporate American Military Industrial Complex.
*

[peterdangit]

Haha, I could actually picture him saying that...

[Trittydi]

They will NEVER, EVER - repeat -- N E V E R -- get either my son or my daughters for their bloody wars.

Never - not ever. My children are NOT going to die for Imperialistic Corporate blood-lust and greed.

NOT going to happen.
*

[smurphette]

I couldn't agree more,Canada here I come!

[sociocanuck]

Canada welcomes you - and the Conservative Party won't intervene to have you deported as long as you're (a) not a draft dodger (b) not a foreign refugee (c) willing to promise to give a seriously good long thought about voting Conservative, since nobody else can protect you from the terrorists...

Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it.

The "Liberal" party of Canada needs its own Barack Obama. I still wouldn't vote for them (Canadian advantage: our third leftist national party actually has representation in parliament), but at least I'd feel less annoyed when the Two headed Monster flipped back from Right to Center-Right.

[Chuckbutcher]

Oddly enough Reuters chose a 6/7 article of mine for Blogburst blogs to go with this article, War and John McCain. The article has to do with the experience of warfare.

[Obama09]

Here's what Bob Dylan said in 1963 unfortunately nothing has changed in 45 years

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

[instagladiator]

BINGO! Thank you for that post.

[UncleHomer]

You can't do better than Dylan. And when it comes to Bush/McCain might I add:

"And he worships at the alter of the stagnant fool
and when he sees his reflection he's fulfilled
But all he sees is with his eyes
and his eyes they just tell him lies

And there's a woman on my block staring into the chill saying
Who's going to take his license to kill."