Senate Votes to Require Women to Register for the Draft
WASHINGTON — In the latest and perhaps decisive battle over the role of women in the military, Congress is embroiled in an increasingly intense debate over whether they should have to register for the draft when they turn 18.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved an expansive military policy bill that would for the first time require young women to register for the draft. The shift, while fiercely opposed by some conservative lawmakers and interest groups, had surprisingly broad support among Republican leaders and women in both parties.
The United States has not used the draft since 1973 during the Vietnam War. But the impact of such a shift, reflecting the evolving role of women in the armed services, would likely be profound.
Under the Senate bill passed on Tuesday, women turning 18 on or after Jan. 1, 2018, would be forced to register for Selective Service, as men must do now. Failure to register could result in the loss of various forms of federal aid, including Pell grants, a penalty that men already face. Because the policy would not apply to women who turned 18 before 2018, it would not affect current aid arrangements.
“The fact is,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, “every single leader in this country, both men and women, members of the military leadership, believe that it’s fair since we opened up all aspects of the military to women that they would also be registering for Selective Services.”
The Supreme Court ruled in 1981 that women did not have to register for the draft, noting that they should not face the same requirements as men because they did not participate on the front lines of combat. But since Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said in December that the Pentagon would open all combat jobs to women, military officials have told Congress that women should also sign up for the draft.~
The last time this country used the draft in Vietnam,the way the democrats prosecuted the war in a seemingly unending fashion generated a lot of resentment.
We don't seem to fight wars to win them anymore as much as we seem to send young men into a never ending meat grinder to die or be maimed while our politicians strut around bickering with each other for political points.Instead of simply going in, complete the mission as quickly as possible and then get our people out.
I'm sure there will also be plenty of deferments for the well connected and if whatever war they're drafting for goes sour the weasel politicians will carve out exceptions for whatever group that is popular to pander to at the time. It seems like the only time politicians can be resolute is when it comes to taxes.
The truly interesting test will be when protests erupt and the burning of draft cards/notices occur and the first woman is prosecuted for draft evasion.
I got a feeling the powers that be will lose their resolve then.
No comments:
Post a Comment