USA goes conscription...

[CerberusIV]

Why conscript? It would be easier to do a foreign legion type of expansion. Allow volunteers from other countries to serve and give them US citizenship once their time is up.

There would be a political outcry about immigration but these people wold have worked, even risked their lives, to become US citizens. Surely it would be less controversial that the draft if the US really needs to increase its troop numbers.

[Pekka]

YES! Hear hear, there is a wise man in this thread by the name of CerberusIV, listen to what he says.

I'm all for foreign legion, in fact let's do it, give me M-16 and let me be the first one to go!

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Daz
Ooooo, yea, Sikander. Lets make the world a bit more polluted, courtesy of the only friggin country that wont sign the CO2 emmision agreement from Kyoto.

Back to reality, though. I'm talking long term warmongering here. I'm talking US policy to invade the "axis of evil". Why else bother calling the "axis of evil"?

There is never gonna be enough professionals to keep up with the new wars...

This is obviously very speculative, but a couple of years ago, nobody thought 9/11 was possible. Anything is possible.

You call that back to reality? You asked me a question, I gave you an answer. Quit being a *****.

[uh Clem]

Originally posted by CerberusIV
Why conscript? It would be easier to do a foreign legion type of expansion. Allow volunteers from other countries to serve and give them US citizenship once their time is up.

There would be a political outcry about immigration but these people wold have worked, even risked their lives, to become US citizens. Surely it would be less controversial that the draft if the US really needs to increase its troop numbers.

As an added benefit, foreign troops will be much less hesitant about firing on American citizens, meaning they'll be invaluable when domestic dissent gets out of hand.

[Pekka]

uh Clem, and that's why they can't be used inside the US at all, in action that is, against its own citizens.

[VetLegion]

In Heinlein's starship troopers only ones that can vote and hold public office are veterans. One can speculate if such militarisation of society would be good or not.

Daz, I see you are a Croat. Where are you from?

[Pekka]

Yeah, but it's not a movie though.. it wouldn't work that way. They'd be highly trained, super motivated troopers ready to throw their bodies against N Kore.... I meant who ever the enemy is.

[Daz]

Sikander:

When you say "nuk'em" what am I supposed to say? DO you really view this as a serious option? Do you think that in that case China would stand and watch? Do you think the US gov would even think about using nuclear weapons?

Did I give you the impression that my question was not a serious one, thus giving me such an answer? You could at least put a " " to let me know you're joking.

....you're not joking...right?

[VetLegion]

well Pekka your own readiness is legendary on Apolyton OT, but you are overestimating the rest of immigrants, they just want a piece of wealth

Plus, if USA really is the new Rome, army of foreign mercenaries would be the first sign of its decline

[Daz]

I see conscription as the only answer. One more thing. I think that the more the USA wage wars, the less people are going to join the army. I bet we'll see a negative trend in a year or so, after the patriotic hype has passed.

[Pekka]

VetLegion, Not necessarily decline.. It will come a necessity at one point. So what are we waiting for, let's think about it and make the best out of it and work it.

Yeah, sure there are lots of immigrants who don't want to join, but they wouldn't join in the first place. There's not going to be a million man foreign troops for the US anyway. I would never turn down a good man who wants to fight for me for practically free. Why should the US do that? It's a good way to avoid the draft, or at least soften the blow and draft little less. Plus these people are not mercenaries, these are the soldiers of the US. If some people don't like it that some young guys are willing to do that, so what? Would they like it better that their sons and daughters would go? I don't think so. Free meat!

[DarthVeda]

I'd sign up

[uh Clem]

that's why they can't be used inside the US at all

For the time being.

[Pekka]

I mean, you don't have to love the idea, but why be against it? If we would assume that it's not a big security risk.. then why the hell not? I didn't get any replys from mr Rumsfeld when I tried to email this to him.. I don't think he even had the time to read it or if anyone even gave it to him
bastards!

[uh Clem]

Originally posted by DarthVeda
I'd sign up

What's stopping you?