PART TIME SOLDIERS Many years will pass, I dare say, before we, as a nation, really come to appreciate how much the National Guard troops have meant to our nation. They, in recent times, been the chief means of national survival.
Natural events, such as hurricane Katrina and the record-smashing flood conditions she caused along our southern border cities, towns and countrysides, caused a sudden realization that we may have overused our safeguard of reserve strength. That seems to have been the first time many citizens ever heard hat it was possible for us to overdraw on our use of such troops intended for use in dire circumstances. The National Guard was formed, and I think wisely so, to be a trained, equipped and modestly experienced in military realities. It was intended that it stand ready to supplement the Regular Armed Forces in time of stress. It was
composed chiefly of volunteer soldiers for whatever reason some of which deserve to be questioned .When it was suggested that national guardsmen be sent into flood ravaged areas, many people were surprised – some astonished - when we were told we were already stretched about as thin as we dare to have them be in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places where we still maintain troops as a lingering aftermath of some action in which were engaged there years ago.
It was only then when we were faced with such a choice, that many citizens realized how much we have have depended on this at-home, stand-by force to take the place of a Regular Army we have allowed to, more or less, lapse. It has proved to be far less troublesome politically to simply call out the reserves than to recruit warriors by means of a draft law. When we find ourselves ordering a part time soldier back to his third or fourth tour of combat duty in Iraq, we should begin to see how thinly we have spread our “extra” protective forces.
It is as time for us to realize that such a gross miscarriage of justice and of common sense is wrong. The matter of starting a draft is political rather than a military problem No politician is going to even suggest that such a plan be out into effect because he knows that we, the voters, will, most certainly, cast him into total oblivion.
Such reasoning indicates, quite clearly, on whom much of any blame for such conditions ultimately rests. I believe we are quoting Pogo of comical Swampland fame when we say: “we have met the enemy and he is us.”
A National draft of our youth - with a sunset clause as a part of it – is essential
to our future well-being.
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net May 24, 2006 [c470wds]
