The first of a series of three national live call-in programs that explore the crisis in military manpower and the possibility of a post-election draft.
There are over 135,000 U.S. ground troops currently serving in Iraq—tens of thousands held past their release date. The Army National Guard will come up 10 percent short of its targeted enlistments. Where will the new soldiers come from? Until that question is answered, fears of a reinstatement of the draft will not go away.
This national "town hall" call-in gives Americans a forum for discussing frequently asked questions on this critical issue. Veterans, enlistees, family members, and eminent policy and military experts talk with viewers nationwide about the soldier’s view of Iraq, military families struggling with unexpected deployments, soldier protection and veterans’ support issues, and how the draft could be reinstated.
This program addresses the military aspects of the issue, including shortfalls in recruitment and protective equipment, recent changes in Selective Service preparedness planning and the effect of extended deployment on military readiness. Is the Pentagon allocating enough money for protective equipment?
Additional programs in the FAQs series address other aspects of the draft, including The Military Family Crisis and The Politics of the Draft.
GUESTS:
Ret. Lt. General Robert Gard, Senior Military Fellow of the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation.
Paul Rieckhoff, Iraqi Vet and Founder of Operation Truth.
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