STOP THE DRAFT

Yesterday I mentioned Ed Gillespie's move to quash any reasoned discussion about the draft. Here is what Representative Tim Ryan (D) Ohio said on the floor on October 5, 2004:

"It is the same people who told us that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11; the same people who told us Saddam Hussein had something to do with weapons of mass destruction; the same people who told us we would be able to use the oil for reconstruction money; the same people who told us we would be greeted as liberators, not occupiers; the same people, the same President who told us the Taliban is gone; the same President who told us that Poland is our ally 2 days before they pull out; the same President who tells us Iraq is going just great; the same President who tells us the economy is going just great; the same people who told us the tax cuts were going to create millions of jobs; the same people who told us that the Medicare program only cost $400 billion when it really cost $540 billion."

— Rep. Tim Ryan, October 5, 2004

Exactly what is the president's word worth anyway?

This action alert is from an email sent out by Howard Dean:

Last week 60,000 of us demanded honesty about the draft—and people took notice. Cable news channels and major newspapers have been buzzing about the draft ever since.

Other organizations also heard. MoveOn and a group called Win Back Respect produced a TV ad about this issue. Over a million young people will see it on The Daily Show, MTV, and ESPN.

You can add to this momentum even more—sign the petition demanding honesty about our military commitments:

www.democracyforamerica.com/nodraft

We still need to get the message out. The mainstream media coverage has focused on unsubstantiated rumors of some "secret plan" for a draft. They are missing the point.

It's not about a secret plan—we should be concerned about a draft because, when it comes to meeting all of the military commitments he has made, George Bush has no plan.

He says he will "stay the course". But if we stay the course with this president, he will face a choice: drastically reduce our commitments or reinstate the draft. Add your voice to the growing numbers asking which one he will choose:

www.democracyforamerica.com/nodraft

He failed to bring meaningful allied help into Iraq. He allowed al Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran to become more dangerous. And he has left our homeland unprotected by sending the National Guard to Iraq. George Bush says he has no plans to reinstate the draft—but his reckless decisions may leave no choice.

A quiet draft has already begun—and it is no secret. Active duty soldiers who finish their commitments are being forced to stay on. We have begun calling up forces like the Individual Ready Reserves, consisting of older reservists who have not been on active duty and have not trained for some time. And there's no end in sight.

Americans need the facts. Join us in demanding the honesty we deserve.

Thank you,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. Here's what some of the over 60,000 people who signed the petition are saying about the draft:

"As a young American who cares deeply about my country, I deserve to know if a draft will be put into effect. If not, how do you plan to fill the troop commitments necessary for success?"
—Ajay N.

"I have heard so many things over the years from politicians that have not been true that I no longer take anything for granted. I don't see how the country can continue under the present commitments of our armed forces with a complete volunteer military. If the intention is to bring back the draft I would like to know now and not after the presidential election. An informed voter is an intelligent voter."
—Charles M.

"Staying the course means we're going to need more troops in our go-it-alone strategy. How will we get them?"
—Carl T.

"A feasible, realistic plan needs to developed, shared with the American public and put in place to bring peace in Iraq and end American occupation of the territory. Can this be done without instituting a military draft? The American people want to know before the 2004 presidential election."
—Sharon S.

"Our forces are stretched thin and the situation in Iraq is getting worse. We will no doubt be there a long time and other troubles lurk on the horizon. Be honest with America and tell us how we are going to do this without the draft."
—Phil S.

"My wife and I have deep concerns about this issue. We've been through the Vietnam years and saw how the draft split this country in half. We don't want to have to relive our worst nightmares, not with our sons."
—Lance K.

"A straight and clear answer, please."
—Janice M.

Add your voice: www.democracyforamerica.com/nodraft

We really can't afford to take George W. Bush's word on anything, so take action today!