Saturday, November 08, 2008

"This is not a draft"

In all fairness, we can't really call Obama's proposed national service plan a new draft. First, he's not talking about requiring young people to do military service. Second, we are getting decidedly mixed signals as to whether the service will be compulsory. At first, the word "required" was used freely; now we see much talk of tax credits, less talk of requirement.

Nevertheless, this new program certainly feels like the next step toward a new draft. Just as Ike's planners made sure that the national highway system could see usage as a military transport system, Obama's civilian service corps could make mustering a draft army much, much easier.

After all, this is the guy who said (vis-a-vis the establishment of ROTC programs on all college campuses):
I think it's important for the president to say, this is an important obligation. If we are going into war, then all of us go, not just some.
Hm. And when did you sign up, Barky?

You probably already know this quote, from a speech he gave in Colorado Springs:
"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."
God only knows where the money is to come from.

Obama now seems to have drawn this big idea from his secret buddy Rahm Emanuel, that noted rust-proofer of brakes, who wrote the following in a 2006 book ominously called The Plan:
It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service. ...

Here's how it would work. Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They'll be asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we're hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities' most pressing needs.
Wittily, Emanuel adds: "This is not a draft." This puckish reference goes, of course, to Magritte: "Ceci n'est pas une pipe."

I always get a little worried -- more than a little, truth be told -- when politicians insist that our post-Apocalypse clean-up crew is insufficiently staffed. That sort of talk makes me wonder what they're up to. Especially when we think back to the ominous words of one Joseph Biden:
"It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking... Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heads - Canada, tails - Mexico

Care to join me?

Last Lemming said...

...a "generated" crisis...

Buddhist with an attitude said...

myiq2xu, I'm from Montreal and you can come crash at my house anytime for any length of time.

Anonymous said...

I understand that sales of guns and ammo have been through the roof since election day. People must feel they need more to bitterly cling to these days....

Anonymous said...

"three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service..."

After three months of training and indoctination, for what period will they be on the "Civil Emergency Callup List"? How long will they be be required to serve at that point? Presumably as long as Dear Leader pleases.

okasha skatsi said...

Mexico. Canada is way too cold for a desert creature like me.

What, exactly, is a "civilian security force?" A militia? A corps of informants happily turning their neighbors in to the state police? A Blackwater internship program? The Obama Jugendverein?

Obama is looking more and more like Richard Nixon with a tan.

Anonymous said...

I am old enough to remember "Hell no, we won't go!" I expect to hear it again.

Obama supporters I have mentioned this civilian security service to are shocked by the way. Naturally. Many never paid attention to what he was saying.

Calgary is nice, myiq2xu, if you don't mind having to plug your car in during the winter months. Kind of in the plains but close to mountains.

djmm

Strawman said...

To draft or not to draft. A part of me thinks it would be a great idea if for no other reason than to teach the hip-hop generation that there is a world outside of MTV. On the other hand, I have a younger son and I will gladly pay for his ticket out of the country if 'they' decide to send him into an unnecessary war a la Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, etc.

Anonymous said...

For what it's worth, when the BBC reported Obama's victory, they spoke of Russian missiles going into Kaliningrad, which they said would present his first big foreign policy challenge.

Of course, they forgot to mention how many countries in eastern Europe have signed military alliances with the US since 1990, as well as the US plan to put ABMs in Poland.

I wouldn't be surprised if the "generated crisis" (within 6 months, right?) involves Russia.

b

Mike J. said...

We had something like this during the Great Depression, it was called the Civilian Conservation Corps. If things get that bad again, a new CCC would be vastly preferable to unemployed young people joining fascistic movements in droves.

Anonymous said...

Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."



9/12 ?

Anonymous said...

The sales of guns and ammo have actually gone up since well before election day. It's due to the fact that many believe the 2nd Ammendment will come under attack during the Obama presidency. Also since Obama is half black, many neo-nazi groups and White Nationalists were preparing theirselves for a nation-wide "chimp out"-as they put it-from the african-americans if Obama lost the race. To add to the matter, they are many whom believe that the USA is heading in the direction of martial law, and with good reason. Now, go educate yourselves, dipshits.:D

Anonymous said...

"Obama supporters I have mentioned this civilian security service to are shocked by the way. Naturally. Many never paid attention to what he was saying."

Ha! I've been doing that for months. The looks on their faces is priceless!

I'm mulling over Mexico, Costa Rica, and Spain.

Oh, and I've read that Obama plans to require service from Americans over age 55, too.

Anonymous said...

Mike J - I agree, something like the CCC would be a good thing in the coming time of mass unemployment. But unlike what Rahm and Obama are promoting, the CCC wasn't a national security force.

b

Anonymous said...

This is one of my main reasons for voting against Obama. I don't want my loved ones subject to a draft. But think about it. Rahm spent about 6 or 7 summers living in Israel, where this is the way of life.

I have told this to all my friends, but they were inclined to believe McCain was most likely to reinstate the draft, even though I have a YouTube with him stating the exact opposite.

Heck, Charles Rangel (D) is the most vocal proponent of reinstatement of the draft. I am officially afraid.

Anonymous said...

Ah, "Simon Templar!" I always liked "The Saint"! (Along with The Avengers, the Prisoner...)

Zee, I am thinking Scotland in the summer and Greece in winter.

djmm

Anonymous said...

oo, djmm, that sounds nice!

Ivory Bill Woodpecker said...

I doubt this will go through once the Dems think about just how unpopular such measures would make them with the general public.

Or if the Dems are stupid enough to do it, watch the GOP reap rewards in future elections.

Nadai said...

If things get that bad again, a new CCC would be vastly preferable to unemployed young people joining fascistic movements in droves.

Unless the new CCC is a fascist movement with the US government and military behind it.

Anonymous said...

CHAINS you can believe in.

Anonymous said...

WHY? Why does the US always need to follow in Israel's footsteps?

They invade and steal Arab lands...then we do. They create a police state...then we do?

Should the US have it's tail docked?

Then...no more...having the tail wag the dog?

You cannot win a so called "war on terror" when you ARE NOT on moral high ground....i.e....when you commit terrorism yourself.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Hitler Youth or shall we say Obama Youth

Anonymous said...

There's a big difference with the Hitler Youth, because the Hitler Youth wasn't set up by the State. What the Rahm plan sounds like, is the draft. Three months of 'basic training' obviously means the military. No point arguing semantics on this one.

The indoctrination will be heavily anti-terrorist themed, just like the propaganda for most of America's aggressive actions nowadays. 9/12 can't be far off.

Where to go might depend on whether you've got enough energy to learn a new language. If you haven't, then in Europe try 'neutral' Ireland or Sweden.

b

Riot_NY said...

To be frank, I am not familiar with Obama's plan. I am, however, familiar with what "encouraged" civil service does that is good.

For those of us who are appalled at the selfishness, the thievery, the out and out evil that is committed by the members of our government; we should see civil service/ action/ involvement by our youngest adults as good, no matter how it comes about.

Just as we encourage/ trick/ force our children to eat their vegetables because we know it will keep them healthier; we should do the same for the young minds of our society, knowing that a well informed populous is the most dangerous to the powers that be.

One need only look back to the power of the youth movement of the 60s and 70s. College students changed the world. Do you know why? because they had a personal stake in the matter. The majority of the "kids" at that time had their eyes wide open because they knew that in a year or two they would be "adults," and the world's problems would soon be their problems. Ask a kid today what s/he thinks about Venezuela/ Darfur/ China... I'll bet you anything more than 70% of them reply, "huh?"

An apathetic populous is what our oligarchy is banking on. I mean, Nixon is the one who did away with it. That should tell you something. He sure as hell didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart.

So, the draft? abso-fucking -lutely. Make these kids eat their damn vegetables so they can grow up to be big and strong like us. RIOT!

DarkGravity said...

Obama's CNSF doesn't look anything like the CCC to me.

1. CCC only came about during a time of crisis, as a way to put people to work. This CNSF thing looks like it will exist despite our prosperity.

2. I'm not a history buff, but it seems that the CCC was a voluntary program unlike Obama's CNSF plan which looks to be required.

3. The CCC's goal was to work with the environment, while Obama's CNSF goal is national security, which he states should be equivalent to our military.

Two different things to me.

I'm not conservative, but it seems wierd that they are willing to spend the money to "militarize" the entire nation's youth, but will not build more fence line or hire more people to help secure the borders. Nor will that money be used to secure our ports.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to hear the wailing and whining from the Obamabots when this happens. Remember the stupid MoveOn commercial with the woman telling John McCain he couldn't take her baby from her for a draft? HA HA HA. Looks like they'll have to update it now!

I'm too old for Obama's Youth Corps draft so I plan to sit back, eat bonbons, and laugh my ass off as his whiny zombies (or their kids) get called away from their Cheetos and Red Bull and forced to actually engage in physical labor.

Still troubled by the whole thing, though, joking aside. And starting to wonder if Rahm Emanuel plans to use these wunderkinds to relive his daddy's glorious days in the Irgun, massacring Ay-rabs, raping their women, and plundering their villages. How nice.

Anonymous said...

I think we should do something now believe that the whole world together in the crisis sinks doo see what the previous president has done wrong, let that person to help and to each other n times presidend to address the mistakes is nothing to solve the people of the world must help each other rather than together world leaders iks Aleen because then you go to listen also to the plate in burers change the law of e law does not help at this cisis as working together in the world have everyone together and not the leaders Aleen everyone every citizen