Bush wants the Draft? I think not., page 2

Originally posted by Herman
Bush is...For the draft? I think not.

Don't believe the propaganda.

I haven't looked at this in a while, but having come across the actual speech being analyzed in your above link as "proof" Bush is against the draft, let's contrast the article with Bush's actual words:

Campaign 2004: Bush rules out return of military draft
Kerry blasts president for creating record budget deficit

By STEWART M. POWELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON BUREAU

President Bush yesterday ruled out resuming the military draft as the death toll of Americans in Iraq topped 1,000 after 17 months of combat and occupation there.

Bush, addressing a question from a supporter in Sedalia, Mo., said the key to avoiding resumption of the draft, which ended in 1973, was to provide enough benefits to the nation's volunteer armed forces to encourage continued recruitment.

White House - Bush Remarks Sept. 7

Got a question? Yes. Future farmer of America, there you go.

Q Mr. President, if the war on terrorism continues, do you feel that there will be a need for the draft? And do you want to start the draft again?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, first of all, the war on terror will continue. It's going to take awhile. And, no, we don't need a draft. What we need to do is -- don't worry about it. What we need to do is to make sure our troops are well-paid, and well-housed, and well-equipped. (Applause.)

And that's why -- and that's why over the last three-and-a-half years we've increased military pay by 21 percent. And that's why our housing is better. (Applause.) We've improved housing. You see, you keep a soldier in the military by appealing to his family or her family. When the housing is good, when the health is good, they stay. When the pay is decent, they stay.

And so, therefore, in making a volunteer army work, it's best to treat our soldiers with the best we possibly can. And we made great progress in doing just that. No, I'm -- we don't need the draft. We don't need a draft at all.

Bush does go on to talk about how to avoid the need for a draft with the article's citation for how to attract volunteers, but Bush doesn't rule out a draft at all in my reading. In fact, he's quite careful and stunted in his choice of words when directly addressing the draft issue. Stammers and all are White House transcript issued.

Q Mr. President, if the war on terrorism continues, do you feel that there will be a need for the draft? And do you want to start the draft again?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, first of all, the war on terror will continue. It's going to take awhile.

And, no, we don't need a draft. What we need to do is -- don't worry about it.

...

No, I'm -- we don't need the draft. We don't need a draft at all.

So with hesitation, we don't need a draft right now. There's ways to avoid one, and should they work...no draft. But this is far from a promise or even stating a postion as against a draft, should the need arise.

And I love this one... "don't worry about it."

Until after the election no doubt.

Intrepret it how you like, but it's far from a determined line in the sand against a post election draft, and his words "rule out" nothing.

What say you teenagers?

Convinced Bush doesn't have a foot on both sides of the fence with this one? The flip flopping history of Bush on campaign statements (I discussed earlier in this thread) appears quite relevant now.