|
|
Article: The virtue of an all-volunteer force. (Briefly Noted).
- Article from:
- Regulation
- Article date:
- June 22, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Cato Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
LAST JANUARY, AS CONGRESS AND THE public grappled with the possibility of U.S. military action in Iraq, war opponent Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) introduced "The National Service Act of 2003" to reinstate compulsory service for U.S. citizens and permanent residents between the ages of 18 and 26. According to a statement his office released on January 7, the nation's defense should not be "the sole responsibility of paid volunteers."
"If our great nation becomes involved in an all-out war, the sacrifice must be equally shared," Rangel said. "We must return to the tradition of the citizen soldier."
The congressman admitted that the legislation was ...