__ / \ /____\ .________/][][][\_______. \___________ __________/ ! / /!/ //!\ \! __!_\ ! / /_/ // \\ \ \_____ / __ // /\ \\ \_____ \ / / / // ____ \\ \____\ \ /_/ /_//_/ \_\\_\______\ T-File_6______January_28_2005 Dealing With The Draft By Emoticon *_TABLE_OF_CONTENTS <-- You are here 0_INTRO_TO_WAR_ 1_CONSCIENTIOUS_OBJECTION_ 2_PRISON_ 3_DODGING_ 4_DEFECTION_ 5_SECOND_AMMENDMENT_ 6_FIN_ _INTRO_TO_WAR_ The year is 2005, and we've been pounding the Middle East for the past four. First Afghanistan, then Iraq after the former became boring. Thought it'd be just another reality show to boost ratings over the weekend it took to topple the region. Boy were we wrong. The year is 2005, and we are are still in Iraq and Afghanistan. Israel is occupying Gaza, but that's no matter, after all, we didn't even know that was a country. The year is 2005, and the conservative beast whose heart and sole is war, is suffering from clogged arteries. It's weakening. Our troops are wearing thin. We have over 30 soldiers over the age of 50 in Iraq. We are extending tours of service, and recalling wounded men. The year is 2005, and Iran is next on our list. Right between our current host countries, it's the perfect target, and they look like terrorists. Sure they are Persians, not Arabs, but who has time to consider such minutia when it comes to the war on terror? We are going to attack if they aren't "forthcoming enough" with information about their nuclear weapons - like Iraq. Certainly it doesn't take much to realize that a shortage of human capital and a frantic beast of a reich looking for a new enemy to ensure it's identity, means a draft is unavoidable. In fact, every 18 year old male fills out a selective service card "just in case". It seems unlikely that the regime can maintain relevance in any other way than through its military endeavors, and as such, a draft is possible, if not inevitable, in the near future. This document explores a few courses of action we have contemplated for avoiding such an unfortunate situation as being drafted for such a pointless waste of life. -_-_-_-_- _CONSCIENTIOUS_OBJECTION_ The First suggestion I hear while discussing the issue of a possible draft with friends and foe alike is that of conscientious objection to military service (or CO). To apply for conscientious objection to military services, you are required to appear before a local board and explain yourself. There are two types of objection - objection to military combat, and objection to any military service. "Beliefs which qualify a registrant for CO status may be religious in nature, but don't have to be. Beliefs may be moral or ethical; however, a man's reasons for not wanting to participate in a war must not be based on politics, expediency, or self-interest. In general, the man's lifestyle prior to making his claim must reflect his current claims." -http://www.sss.gov/FSconsobj.htm So, in order to successfully conscientiously object to military services, you have to give proof that you are living consistently within your professed beliefs, might I suggest having a bunch of people who you haven't shot at testify that you generally do not participate in war in your every day lifestyle... This qualification could be a simple matter, after all proving your anti-military beliefs shouldn't be too hard, however, it could be used as way to obfuscate the process enough to give the board overwhelming power to be dicks, and reject you for any of the vague reasons that could arise. Case and point, if you are not a member of an organized religion, but are simply against the idea of war in general, they could entrap you in a debate as to wether war is ever necessary, and therefore decide that your objection is "political" - one of the examples of an unacceptable basis for CO. If you are successful in proving that you are a pacifist and refuse to fight, then you will be placed in a noncombat military position. I venture to say, however, that if you are needed on the front lines, there is little legal recourse you have against the military should it disrespect your CO status - especially if you are dead. If you are successful in convincing the board that you are opposed to the entity of the military and wish to take no part in it, you will be placed in a nonmilitary job that benefits "national health, safety, and interest." Seemingly, it would be harder to take you out of this position and place you in combat, but I still would not put it past our government. The long and short of conscientious objection is that it is most likely very reliant upon the fairness of the draft board members. For more information see http://sss.gov. -_-_-_-_- _PRISON_ "Registration is the law. A man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years. Even if not tried, a man who fails to register with Selective Service before turning age 26 may find that some doors are permanently closed." -http://www.sss.gov/FSbenefits.htm The ominous and ambiguous passage above pertains to registration for selective services. Despite the fact that there is no draft at present, registration for selective services is still mandatory. I have been unable to find evidence either way, but I can only assume that after serving your term and\or paying your fine, you will still be made register (granted you are still under the age of 26), so the act of simply ignoring your selective services registration is truly fruitless. Another way you can end up in prison is by filling out your registration and then ignoring you call of duty should a draft arise. The consequence for this probably depends on the draft's legislation, but there is no doubt the penalty is severe. -_-_-_-_- _DODGING_ The 2001 "Smart Border Declaration" between the U.S. and Canada implements a "pre-clearance" program when traveling between the countries, which would stop would-be dodgers from looking at our neighbor to the north as a way out [http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/24.html]. Of course you can go to many other countries, although the list may narrow. If we remember Vietnam, shortly after the situation ended, an amnesty was granted, allowing dodgers to reenter the United States freely. This case might not be the same, especially under the current administration. They don't want the war to end, let alone grant amnesty with draft dodgers - after all their "for us or a terrorist" logic makes draft dodgers terrorists. Because an amnesty is less likely this time around reentering the country is extremely risky. Picture for instance, if you are back home visiting your family, you may get pulled over for speeding and give your license and registration to a cop, who then looks up your name in a database, and a nasty little flag next to your name tells him to arrest you for being an evil terror liberal. -_-_-_-_- _DEFECTION_ Defection, or legally becoming a citizen of another country, is an intriguing suggestion. "Noncitizens who are not required to register with Selective Service include men who are in the U.S. on student or visitor visas, and men who are part of a diplomatic or trade mission and their families. Almost all other male noncitizens are required to register, including illegal aliens, legal permanent residents, and refugees. The general rule is that if a male noncitizen takes up residency in the U.S. before his 26th birthday, he must register with Selective Service." -http://www.sss.gov/FSwho.htm The above means that you cannot defect and then move back into the country, going about your daily life unaffected by the draft. Yes non-citizens can be drafted! Theoretically, you could however move to another country and obtain citizenship before being drafted and therefore not be a draft dodger, and then move back after the draft period has ended. -_-_-_-_- _SECOND_AMENDMENT_ The final option this document shall touch upon is pleading the second amendment. That's right shoot em up. When they knock knock at your front door, give those punks a taste of the constitution in the form of hot lead. This is how it should go down: "Hello, I'm Private Public from the U.S. military. I've been sent to abduct you into our -" "Wait. Are you alive?" "..Ye-" "OMG!!," calling to someone in the house "This ones still alive! He's playing dead!!" BANG! BANG! BANG! You then drag the body into your basement hole, and repeat this whenever a cop comes to your house following some lead that you are a "multiple murderer". -_-_-_-_- _FIN_ I hope this was informative, entertaining, or at least impressively long. -_-_-_-_-