House Defense Policy Bill Would Require Women to Register for Draft

[sayuridoll]

WASHINGTON - The House Armed Services Committee approved an annual defense policy bill early Thursday morning that includes a provision that would require women to register with the Selective Service System.House passage of the policy measure came about a month after Defense Secretary Ash Carter approved final plans to integrate women into all

Comments

[aasin]

The draft is for the defense of the nation. I know a lot of people don´t see the possibility of the draft being used ever again but Vietnam was not that long ago when you think about it and given that the US does not have the best PR image in the world these days, it is not so far fetched.

In before someone comments that Vietnam was not a threat. There are bigger and much more stronger countries that would not mind to see the US come crashing down.

In regards to the women signing up for the draft. Yes they should.

[blackjedii]

Vietnam was bc France asked us to help them bc they didn't want to lose the region.

I'm not against what you're saying but at the same time considering the rise of drones / long-range missiles / super-hi tech fighter planes... yeah, we're not THAT defenseless.

[meadowphoenix]

No Vietnam was not that long ago, but the state and structure of war has so rapidly changed since then that it might as well be a different ball game. Anyway, the National Guard is for the defense of the nation, the draft is an outdated notion of loyalty to the state.

[omimouse]

If the populace of a country has lost faith to the point that a draft is required for its defense, then maybe that's a country no longer worth defending.

[amyura]

Really? You're using VIETNAM as the reason we should keep the draft? If anything what happened with Vietnam goes in the anti-draft column.

And since then, we've been involved in many even-less-justified conflicts around the world, particularly during the cold war, when in the name of "fighting Communism" the US was intalling dictators in developing countries so long as they wouldn't ally with the USSR.

[roseembolism]

So...Which bigger and stronger countries are there that a) would be interested in a fight with us, and b) DON'T have nuclear capability.

The cold hard fact of the matter is there are now two types of conflicts: bushfire wars that don't need huge numbers of soldiers, and existential wars, that will last at most a couple days. In neither case is a draft needed.

There's also the fact that our particular style of warfare requires well-trained, motivated soldiers, not reluctant conscripts. The last thing the military wants is a bunch of draftees who don't want to be on site. That is why the Pentagon has flat out said, it doesn't want a draft.

[aasin]

The idea of fighting a nuclear power is not likely, but the role of the military should not be dealing with what ifs. If nukes were the ultimate deterrent then these nations would still not be bulking up their militaries but they still do. Just have to be safe. I agree with the Pentagon. Hopefully the draft is never needed, but if it ever in the whatever percent chance is needed then yes I do see why it is an annoying necesity.

[roseembolism]

I'm not going to accept vague replies here- answer the question: name the countries that we would be going to war with, that would require a draft, that wouldn't respond to a serious war with nukes.

Russia and China have large armies because they share borders with potential non-nuclear enemies, and they also use them for internal control. There is no military conflict scenario between us and them, in which a draft would make a difference. All other countries are not even in the running.

So seriously, give me your detailed scenario in which we need a draft. Don't talk in generalities.

[aasin]

You´re moving the goalposts but I ain´t budging.

If you seriously think a nuclear attack would stop Russia from attacking us you´re out of touch with reality and soldiers would still be needed. Not saying it is likely, but again you´re arguing with me about the 1-2% this would actually happen.