Perhaps Russ would answer this question, would he now support a draft to obtain more troops for U.S. military needs around the world?

Shouldn't President Bush be asked, now, before the election, if he will call for a draft anytime soon? Anytime within a two year period after the election, if he wins?

Shouldn't the voters know what might become of themselves or their sons or daughters or spouses before they vote?

The President and the Secretary of Defense have already made it quite clear that they have no intention of instituting a draft. The only legislation toward that end introduced in the last 30+ years was introduced by Democrats. No professional military person wants to share a foxhole with a draftee and there is zero chance of that happening again under a Republican administration.

enditem, peddle your Shinola somewhere else. This is a blog run by and for military personnel, veterans,  and those who care about them. You'd have better luck selling refrigerators in Siberia than trying do sell your leftist propaganda to the Mudville regulars. Now go away, you're smelling the place up.

Bless Russ for speaking for those no longer able to speak. To have dishonored our brave men who gave their all for our country is a shame that rests heavily on Kerry's shoulders and those leaders who were so eager to accept his false
testimony. Others were against the war that took so many of our brave men, but they did not resort to falsehoods to state their view. There is a differnce between standing up for your views and tearing others down so that your views are the only ones listened to.

Bill Faith
How are you?

When ae we going to get out of Iraq and under what conditions?

Can you cited me to some statement by Bush that says he won't institute a draft after the election?

Have you read Kerry testimony to Congress? It says he was reporting what other soldiers had said to him. He was not making up stories, just reporting.

I'm new to the "blogs," so be gentle. Just saw "We were Soldiers" for the first time last night and cried like a baby. Not just for the tragic deaths-- but for realizing how terribly the vets were treated when they returned from the hell. Now SKerry and Co. are doing it all over again-- sewing the seeds of doubt, emboldening the enemy. DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT! God bless all of our soldiers. God help America.

enditem: I may have responded more harshly to your earlier comment than I should have and I may be sorry. I was tired, my back hurt from a marathon blogging session, and something pushed my "goldurned lefty trolls!" button. Polite, reasoned discussion is always welcome at Mudville or on my site. Insult someone on active duty or a veteran who served honorably and you'll be invited to move downwind and just keep going.

Russ Vaughn is not a politician, nor is Greyhawk, nor am I or any of the other guest bloggers. Russ served honorably in Viet Nam while I was still in high school and is damned well entitled to state his opinion on things. You might be absolutely amazed at the number of us who agree with what he says and marvel at his ability to speak so well for those of us less eloquent.

We're going to get out of Iraq when the job is finished, so that we leave behind a stable government which provides all of the citizens of Iraq with basic rights like life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the right to express themselves freely even if they disagree with the elected government.

I'll try to come back soon with links to back up my contention that the Bush administration does not desire or intend to nstitute a military draft. In the mean time, if you truly wish to know more about that subject you might want to stop by Blackfive or Captain's Quarters and start scrolling.

Video, audio, and a transcript of Kerry's estimony to congress are available via Backcountry Conservative. John Kerry reported as fact testimony from the Winter Soldier "investigation". If you're interested in knowing more on that subject you'll want to visit the wintersoldier.com. Please note in particular Yesterday's Lies: Steve Pitkin and the Winter Soldiers. The bottom line here is that John Kerry repeated lies, which he knew were lies, to the U.S. Congress as truth.

Grateful Mom: Here you are among friends. Welcome and please come back often.

I'd like to add to that Bill
To his credit, Tim Russet confronted Kerry with his own words from 1971 on Meet the Press. Kerry had said, during an April 18, 1971, appearance on Meet the Press: "There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free-fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare. All of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down." Kerry said those who condoned or engaged in such activities were war criminals.

If Kerry is not a liar then he is an admitted war criminal. And if he is liar, then he's a liar and a war criminal for the 1970 meeting in Paris with members of two North Vietnamese delegations.

This thread is done. Only comments praising the fine artistry of Russ's poems will be allowed from here on end.

Thank you, ma'am. I wouldn't have wanted to take responsibity for squelching commentary even if I had the power, but I agree you're doing the right thing. There's one other post of mine where I'll be posting a response to a reasonably polite off-topic question but it's good to know that if that sets off inappropriate discussion it won't be allowed to continue too long.