Rock the Vote and Alliance for Security Blast Congressional Move to Vote on Military Draft

Rock the Vote and Alliance for Security Blast Congressional Move to Vote on Military Draft Legislation

10/5/2004 5:19:00 PM

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Jenny Murphy, 202-295-0121

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 -- On behalf of young Americans and their families, Rock the Vote and Alliance for Security call upon Presidential candidates to give military draft legislation the attention it deserves.

Following is a joint statement from Bobby Muller, president of Alliance for Security and founder of Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation, and Jehmu Greene, president of Rock the Vote on today's scheduled vote on HR 163, the Universal National Service Act of 2003:

"The military draft is a serious issue that deserves serious debate, not political gamesmanship. Until today, this bill had not seen the light of day, nor was there any discussion that it would be taken up on the floor of the House. Suddenly, with exactly four weeks left before the election, the bill is brought to the floor for a vote. Doesn't an issue that involves our troops and the lives of young Americans deserve more than a politically motivated gesture?

"It's clear why this vote was suddenly scheduled: the issue of the draft is on the public's radar screen and people are concerned. Growing anxiety about troop commitments, prolonged instability in Iraq and the ever-present concern about another terrorist attack on American soil have people worried that the draft could be reinstated. And while politicians and military leaders are rejecting any notion of the draft, the public is not easily convinced. Our young men and women -- and their parents - - deserve real answers from Congress and the Presidential candidates.

"Let us be clear: the question is not if we want to have a draft, but whether or not current and future requirements will ultimately necessitate a draft.

"We call upon Congress to not give short shrift to this issue. A hastily scheduled vote will not make it go away. And it will only fuel concerns that a draft could be reinstated with haste and secrecy equal to that with which this vote was pushed through. There is a lot of confusion out there and the public has a right to know whether our current foreign policy is making it more or less likely that the draft could be reinstated.

"We also call upon Vice President Dick Cheney and Senator John Edwards in tonight's debate -- and President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry in their upcoming debates -- to be upfront with the American people about the strain our military is under and what they are going to do about it Simply saying that they will not reinstitute the draft is not a sufficient answer as our military is stretched to its limits.

"The time has come for a national debate on the military draft, not a few minutes of political theater."

Rock the Vote is a national non-profit that promotes youth voter participation. Alliance for Security is a new initiative of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation aimed at engaging the public in a dialogue about foreign policy and national security issues. Bobby Muller will be on the Kent State campus tomorrow as part of his nationwide "Tour of Duty" college tour on the draft. Rock the Vote will be at the University of Missouri on Thursday with the "Rock the Vote Tour" for the Presidential debate.

For more information, contact Jenny Murphy at 202-295-0121.