AMERICA FEELS THE DRAFT AGAIN WITH TALK AND TESTS

AP - The Selective Service System is planning a comprehensive test of
the military draft machinery, which hasn't been run since 1998. The
agency is not gearing up for a draft, an agency official said. The test
itself would not likely occur until 2009. Meanwhile, the secretary for
Veterans Affairs said that "society would benefit" if the United States
were to bring back the draft and that it shouldn't have any loopholes
for anyone who is called to serve. VA Secretary Jim Nicholson later
issued a statement saying he does not support reinstituting a draft.

The Selective Service "readiness exercise" would test the system that
randomly chooses draftees by birth date and the network of appeals
boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others
who want to delay reporting for duty, said Scott Campbell, Selective
Service director for operations and chief information officer. . .

The administration has for years forcefully opposed bringing back the
draft, and the White House said Thursday that its position had not
changed. . .

In remarks to reporters in New York, Nicholson recalled his own
experience as a company commander in an infantry unit that brought
together soldiers of different backgrounds and education levels. He said
the draft "does bring people from all quarters of our society together
in the common purpose of serving."

Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat who has said minorities and the
poor share an unfair burden of the war, plans to introduce a bill next
year to reinstate the draft.

House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi has said that reinstating the draft
would not be high on the Democratic-led Congress' priority list, and the
White House said Thursday that no draft proposal is being considered.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/12/22/2931388-ap.html

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