Strong possibility of a draft? You do the math:

November 22, 2004--63% of the army's combat strength is currently deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans or South Korea. In the military world the rule of thumb is that you must have two soldiers at home for every one abroad to maintain long-term deployment. Among other things, this allows for the replacement of "casualties" and troop rotation to avoid battle fatigue. However, the current reality regarding troop deployment by the U.S. military is now in the reverse. There are now two soldiers deployed for every one at home. In order to correct this it would take the creation of about 100,000 more troops.

In addition, Selective Service, which usually plays a much more passive role in terms of recruitment, is ratcheting up its role as stated in its fiscal 2004 performance guidelines. These guidelines outline re-staffing draft boards, assigning regional coordinators and registrars into high schools to ensure current compliance of registration for the draft.

This most pertinent information was passed on by Navy veteran and SNAFU (Support Network for an Armed Forces Union) founder Dustin Langley. Langley gave a highly informative and spirited talk at the Los Angeles office of the International Action Center. The forum last Friday, November 19 was about the prospect for a military draft in the near future. Among the evenings’ other speakers were United Teachers of Los Angeles Human Rights Committee member Andy Griggs and artist and activist Sally Marr.

Marr presented footage of anti-war film material she has screened before high school students throughout the state. Marr's efforts have prompted students to rethink their views about enlisting in the military. Peter Dudar assisted her by reading some of the students' heartfelt testimonials.

Griggs spoke about the Opt Out Program he has been organizing for as an effort to counter aggressive military recruitment of high school students, especially from oppressed communities of color.

Langley, who is also a leading organizer in New York for the International Action Center, addressed the highly aggressive and desperate methods military recruiters are engaging in due to the low level of troop recruitment and the military's need for more troops to continue the illegal occupation of Iraq. Langley pointed out that the Selective Service is preparing itself for the remobilization of the draft system as early as March 2005.

Today's editorial in the New York Times and a front page article in last week's LA Times about unrealistic quotas given to military recruiters expose the corporate media's anxiety over the reality of a possible draft in the U.S.

On Oct. 28 Selective Service filed a request to the federal government asking access to the Department of Education's computer files.

Stay informed and motivated by coming to our IAC forums and together we'll take that information into the streets.