Clinton was eligible for the draft but was never drafted. Cheney was never eligible for the draft and avoided ever being eligible by claiming deferrments until he was too old to be drafted. Had Dubya fulfilled his committment, I wouldn't be saying a thing about his service. Indeed, despite the chorus from most Democrats attacking Dan Quayle's service, I never did.
Unlike most people on either the left or the right, I realize that even in a major war effort, the majority of those in the military will never see combat. At least in the Army, it takes about 4 people to support every combat soldier. In the Air Force, it takes something like 40 people to support every pilot.
I respect those that have the courage to demonstrate their beliefs through their actions rather than through their words. I respect someone who is a conscientious objector. If a draft was implemented, something I have advocated for years, I would respect those who say, "I won't carry a rifle but I'll be a medic." I would respect those who say, "If drafted, I will go to prison rather than going into the military." I have no respect for those who would dodge it by fleeing to another country. That is an act of cowardice. Similarly, I have no respect for those who rail in favor of war but are unwilling to sign up. What you say is irrelevant. What you do shows your character or lack thereof.
As for me, I have served as a Scout Platoon Leader, Detachment Commander, Battalion WMD Officer, Battalion Liaison Officer, Tank Company Executive Officer, Headquarters Company Commander, Battalion Assistant Operations Officer, Tank Company Commander, Battalion Logistics Officer and, finally, in my current position as the State Family Programs Officer. Not once in my entire career has the Army asked me if I wanted a particular assignment. That ain't the way it works. You get told to do a particular job and you do it to the best of your ability whether you like the assignment or not. I have no control over whether I'll be assigned to a unit deploying to Iraq or whether I'll be assigned to some position that supports those deployed to Iraq. Let me repeat that the battalion with which I spent 15 years is currently in Iraq. It was not my choice to leave that battalion 2 1/2 years ago and it won't be my choice if I get assigned to a battalion that is deploying.
I freely admit that my sacrifices have been minimal. I've missed a lot of weddings, funerals, and graduations and, although I'm a season ticket holder at Marshall, one year I only managed to go to one home game as I had duty every other time. (Pissed me off too). I have been called up several times for natural disasters (mostly floods) and when that happens, you generally get a phone call in the afternoon that tells you to report to a location the next morning. From that point, I've been gone as little as three days and as long as eight weeks.
Although I think Dubya's policies are doing long term damage to the safety and security of the United States, if called on to go to Iraq or any other place in the world, I will go without hesitation because civilian control of the military is one of those Constitutional principles I swore to defend. I did not swear an oath to uphold and defend the President of the United States. I did not swear an oath the uphold and defend the Democratic or Republican parties. My oath is to the Constitution and it is to that document I owe my highest loyalty.
|