Of course, there are many other factors that contributed to Vietnam, but such a simplistic argument that drafts prevent or cause wars is similar to the equally logically fallacious argument used by people who wish to instate the peacetime draft.
Freedom from national compulsion, including compulsion to serve was one of the reasons our nation was founded. One of the causes of the war of 1812 was the forced conscription or impressment of American seamen into the British army -- but the British were not above impressing their own citizens, when needed, into military service, something the Americans abhorred. "The Napoleonic Wars increased English need for sea power and led to the impressment of a large number of deserters, criminals, and British subjects who had become naturalized Americans" ("Impressment," Columbia Encyclopedia, 2008). America was resistant to a professional federal force in general (hence the need for the amendments allowing semi-or nonprofessional state militias the right to bear arms and preventing the forced quartering of servicemen) because of the anger the British military abuses of freedom had aroused in the colonies. During the Civil War, when New York failed to meet its recruitment quotas, making it "subject to provisions of the Enrollment and Conscription Act passed by Congress on March 3, 1863," meaning "conscription was to be employed when enrollment targets were not met by a community," New York City rioted for three days straight in an "orgy of violence" ("1863 Draft Riots," Mr. Lincoln and New York, 2002).
Thus, a peacetime draft is not a part of a long tradition of America. Freedom to choose to serve, unless historical circumstances necessitate a mandatory draft, is part of the American tradition. A professional highly-trained army accustomed to the sophisticated technological equipment in use today, rather than individuals who serve for a paltry two years is likely to offer far more effective resistance to any threat. Democratic nations that do deploy an effective universal draft, like Israel, are, in the case of Israel, nations that are involved in what might be called an constant state of tensions or war with neighbors -- and fortunately the size of Israel...
Women be Drafted to Serve in the Military? Opinions vary on whether women should be drafted to serve in the military, or in particular, in the U.S. Army. Women currently serve in the U.S. Army and even on the front lines. But should they be drafted, if the country makes conscription legal again? This paper points to legal opinions and public opinions on this controversial topic. The Presidential Commission on the
In fact, during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Slonim notes that the need for a bill of rights was not even a topic of discussion until Virginian delegate George Mason raised the issue just several days before the Convention was scheduled to rise on September 17; Mason suggested that a bill of rights "would give great quiet to the people." Following this assertion, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts moved that the
The US Expanded Effort against Boko Haram Introduction The Nigerian nation has, for long, been burdened by ethno- religious violence and communal conflicts. For instance, in the country’s middle belt (i.e., Plateau state), several outbreaks of gory violence have been witnessed between diverse communities, ever since the democratic system of governance was reinstituted in the country in the year 1999. Furthermore, the urban hubs – Kano and Kaduna – have faced riots
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