Sorry, Charlie

Charles Rangel is again calling for reinstating the draft, arguing that “The Army has failed to meet its recruiting goals in successive months since last February, despite increasing enlistment bonuses to $30,000 and enlarging the corps of recruiters, among whom there have been widespread reports of fraud committed under the pressure of meeting their monthly quotas.”

He adds, "Everyone knows that we went into this war with an insufficient number of troops, but the problem now is filling the ranks of those units that are already on the ground, we are only able to keep troops in field by extending deployments, calling back veterans who have previously served in combat and placing an unsustainable burden on the Reserves, who typically were attracted by the extra income they could earn after serving on active duty.”

"These practices have devastated the troops' morale, made life more difficult for military families, and in many cases caused the loss of civilian jobs, homes and even marriages."

Rangel speaks from personal experience, having earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in action during the Korean War, and while his credentials (including a 92% rating from the ACLU and 8% from the Christian Coalition – very good marks for this voter) require one to give special consideration to any proposal of his, instituting the draft at this point in time remains a terrible idea.

Those serving in Iraq today shoulder the burden of what may arguably be the worst foreign policy decision making in modern times. It is an unwinnable war, a war based upon lies and greed, started and led by a corrupt and incompetent administration. No American should be forced to die for such a cause and no amount of American deaths can redress the crimes Bush and company have committed there.

Forget it, Chuck. Not this war. Get us the hell out instead.