Conscientious Objection, the Draft, and War

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Ain't going to happen.
The draft ain't gonna happen
either.

Those in power don't want to
agitate the populace by actually
making them suffer the effects
of their bad electoral decisions.

Yep. It's great to live in a country
where we can balance the wars of
imperial aggression on the backs
of the poor and the foreign.

Thank whoever I am too old, and not fit to go anyway. Even if I was 25 years younger, and we had the draft I'd tell them exactly where they could stick it, because to me war is wrong on every count. It doesn't matter what reason, I'd prefer to not get myself killed. Better to be invaded and live under another master than to die needlessly trying to defend something that you may lose in the end. If they do however bring in a draft, then the gun lobby enthusiasts should be the first ones called up before anyone else, then put in the front line. That way when they make the charge, if they get too trigger happy the rest of the battalion won't be wiped out. Seriously, if they were going to bring it in it would have been by now.

Surely its more if you object to THIS specific war? I notice a lot of regular servicemen are against it, and refuse to go, but have been quite happy to travel to other conflicts.

We havent had the draft for a long while, but while i'm quite happy to defend my own country, and even attack others for similar principle (your D-day Normandy style thing, with a clear and present danger.) I'm somewhat adverse to go and get shot in a desert somewhere for vague political reasons.

Ladybug - wrote, 'They aren't Sociopaths ya know!'

Actually there is a school of thought that believes that in order to take on the offensive or initiative role in an episode of violence that requires one to dehumanise your 'enemy' to such an extent as to make all actions in their regard effectively sociopathic.
Combine this with the mob mind required in order to synchronise a military operation and motivate your forces toward a good result for your side and you have behaviour that is for all intents and purposes sociopathic.
peace j

For the record, I will weigh up any proposed threats and react in the best interests of the greater good, means I have to keep an eye on a lot of components, lol......

Being a CO does not prevent you from joining the army.

The Unit in the Bristish Army with the most Gallantry medals per head is actually the Medical Corps, A unit which does not carry arms but a Red Cross.

I joined the Army, not to take lives but to save them. A paradox but that is one of the reasons why I joined.

Also please remember that it is not usually the military who choose where or when they will fight but the politicians.

The politicians ought to go over and fight if they are so keen on sending other people's kids to do the job.

Just don't forget that presently everybody that is in Iraq or Afganistan is a volunteer, nobody made them join the Armed Forces, they all joined of their own free will knowing that the was a possibility of going to war.

Slightly off topic from the thread about the draft but it has to be said.

I can recommend Richard Holmes book Dusty Warriors if you would like a view from inside the British Army and it's current role and the view of those in uniform.


Personally I would always favour a smaller volunteer army against a bigger conscripted one.

Even when the was the draft or national consription as there was in the UK there were still volunteers who wanted to join.