BreakTheChain.org

Dear Friends and Family,

If you are anything like me, you will not be surprised by the realization that as the Bush Administration continues to pursue historically unprecedented policies of unilateral pre-emptive military intervention and occupation strategies, and our commitments in Iraq and around the globe continue to expand, our ability to rely on an all volunteer army becomes more unrealistic by the week.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-op-arkin21mar21.1.682985 8.story

A single year after the Iraq invasion, we have approximately 180,000 troops deployed in Iraq and Kuwait...and in order fill out the ranks of the 478,000 active duty army ground troops now deployed globally, it has already been necessary to call up and mobilize between 200,000 - 300,000 reserve troops (2/3 of available reserve forces) to active duty. Furthermore, military experts are estimating that by the end of 2004, it will be necessary to require a second tour of active combat duty in Iraq for at least 50 -75,000 active ground troops in order to maintain troop strength. (Department of Defense stats)

The shocking part comes however, when you realize that while you were privately wondering how we will meet our escalating military manpower needs, behind your back and without public debate or comment, Congress, the Pentagon, and the Bush Administration have created pending legislative draft bills (identical bills HR 163 and S 89).

http://thomas.loc.gov/ (type in HR 163 or S 89 to access the bills).

The draft is to include all young men and women 18-25 years old, and as described in the bills there will be no exemptions for education or hardship of any type, with the exception of a medical exemption.

The Bush Administration and the Pentagon have also created Selective Service Document 94801 and stealthily filled the 10,350 draft board vacancies nationwide. Furthermore they have already established a data base network of draft eligible students in 92% of U.S. high schools. The Department of Defense has also quietly pre-tested the logistics to begin drafting our 18-25 year old men and women beginning in the Spring of 2005, within 45 days of passage of the bills. Click here to view a very scary document. Note the language used.

http://www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html

Ominously, the Pentagon and the Bush Administration have also already negotiated agreements with our allies to close their borders to potential draft resisters and conscientious objectors.

All that remains to be done to activate the draft is to call for a full Congressional vote, and our children will be enlisted. If they are in school they will be removed at the end of the semester.

Enforcing accountability is the essence of democracy

Outrageously, we have so far heard no public debate, seen or heard no media coverage, and the few times the issue has arisen, there has been an outright public denial by the Bush Administration of the need or desirability for a military draft. We are being purposefully misled.

It is obvious the behind the scenes work to immediately enact and begin the forced conscription of our children specifically without debate shortly after the election, is clearly the agenda of those crafting the plans. It's very clear the Administration wants to avoid discussion and open dialogue in order to be able to present to the unsuspecting public the accomplished fate of an already established and mobilized draft. After passage, and in the face of an already activated draft, there will be no possibility of dissension or opposition; case closed. Those who object will be accused of being unpatriotic and unAmerican.

Stop the draft before it gets started

In the months leading up to the war on Iraq, those elected officials in the Senate and the House seeking open debate were bypassed and silenced, and American citizens had no say in the matter. Let us not allow that possibility to occur with respect to the draft. As American citizens we must retain our civic and Constitutional rights by acting now to demand public dialogue and full disclosure by our senators, representatives and presidential candidates in this election campaign year. This must be a presidential campaign debate issue.

If we do not make a committed choice to act, the draft issue will be pre-emptively determined for us behind closed doors. Let us not be ambushed shortly after the election by failing to respond, because once the military draft is passed into law there will be no legal recourse personally or nationally. It will be a done deal. The ramifications of standing mutely by will be drastic to us all, no matter where you stand on this issue.

Here's what you can do ~ Act now

PLEASE call, email, fax and write both of your U.S. Senators, U.S. Representative, and presidential candidates.

http://www.senate.gov/ senators

http://www.house.gov/ representatives

http://mygov.governmentguide.com/mygov/bio/?id=298&lvl;=C&azip;=02215&bzip; John Kerry

http://mygov.governmentguide.com/mygov/officials/congress/?azip=90265&x;=21&y; =5 President Bush

Use your own words, or copy and paste the following into the message box contained on the websites for the above links.

Senator/Representative/Presidential Candidate THEIR NAME HERE

As a concerned American citizen and registered voter, I am shocked and appalled that I have heard nothing from you about the pending draft bill legislation HR 163 and S 89, and Selective Service Document 94801. As our current administration continues to pursue historically unprecedented policies of unilateral pre-emptive military intervention and occupation strategies, and our commitments in Iraq and around the globe continue to expand, our ability to rely on an all volunteer army becomes more unrealistic by the week.

Spin doctoring statements to the contrary, the reality is it has already been necessary to call up between 200,000 - 300,000 reserve troops, and military experts are forecasting that it will be further necessary to commit at least 50-75,000 existing troops to a second tour of combat duty in Iraq.

In this election year we the people are entitled to public debate and full public disclosure in order to make an informed and conscious voter choice as it relates to the draft, taking in to account the exact basis, nature and consequences of further proposed military involvements going forward. This is crucial, and we absolutely demand dialogue in the media, and full accountability amongst our elected representatives at all levels of government with respect to these issues and the draft.

Irrespective of where you stand on this issue, it is a serious breach of faith to ambush an unsuspecting American public shortly after the November 2004 election. Please be accountable and speak up now.

Enforcing accountability is the essence of democracy. Thank you for your responsiveness.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME HERE

Time is of the essence. Act now and pass this along.

Forward this email attachment and letter to as many people as you can in and out of your state, and follow up with them on the phone requesting their participation in getting this urgent message out across the country now.

Thank you for making a difference by participating in the pro democracy process.