◆ SpookStack

npulsory military conscription is a retative omer to American life, coming info perma- existence only in the "Cold War’ era. Prior to time the dominance of American imperialism not as clearly established and the need for a round massive army was not felt. 2 history of the peace time draft begins aficr . 4 War IL With the victory of the Allied pow- | a 1945, the majority of Americans assumed ar was over, that the troops would be demo- d, and that wartime conscription would be L American imperialism, however, had other « The American rulers wanted to take advan- of victory to secure their political and eco- ¢ dominance. That meant the dispatch of @ ares J the world to insure capitalist pene- a. — sbilization. I's, however, were tired of the war and blishing a permanent pence time Bise of the revolis the bulk of the demobilized. 'p character of these troop revolts ived, and in 1947 the Amcrican he "Cold War" against the post- upsurge. They hoped to prevent dolition of capitalism in Europe and roll back alns made in Russia by the 1917 revolution. erm-~4 the masses of the colonial world, ey “wat was teally for democracy, be _ seriés of struggles for independence which we today. Seeing the progress of the Sovict 185 an altractive alternative for the colonial ‘ation, the American rulers rnilitarily encircied aviet Union and intervened directly and in- ly In numerous colonial countries, = * ® external drive required changes within the d States, It becathe necessary to curtail po- dissent and labor militancy. In 1947 Tru- launched a program requiring all gevern- employees to sign loyalty oaths, taking the teps in what became 4 decade long witch hunt . stifled, political disgent, forctd radicala out 3.labor movement, apd brought a conserva- abor bureavereev irfie Lise bebe ad reveny weed Over 7,000 U.S. soldiers have died in Vietnorn wor A standing army was forsren as a means of intervening in forciin kinds to stop revolts inimi- cal to U.S. interests. ‘The explosive postwar period and the aggressive aims of American fercign pol- icy dictated the need for a large, standing, con- script urmy. A sranlier, volunteer army would not have been sufficient to slop the revolts in Korea, Lebanon, Santo Domingo, Vietnam, and many other revolis to come. After several temporary extensions of the World War Il Inw, America's first peace time dralt law, the Selective Service Act, was passed In 1948, This Inw, which docs not serve the needs of youth and requires them to throw away two years of their lives and perhaps their very Sivesy han been renewed by Conyress ceveral dimes and is the same law that Is used today. ‘The law reflects ‘American society, eapecinily the racial diserimina- tion that permeates American bfe, Stuilent ester ments aren blatant example of this, where wenlth'er, more privileged youth avold the drall, while glutte dwellers and workers’ sons are sent lo die. ‘ ‘The President, Congress, und many other ‘effi dial” men and bodies are currently tryinr to find an “improvement” to the draft law. Their aun is not to do justite to America's young men, but to make compulsory military rervice more palatine to the youth who are :che!lng al the id . wht ina ing away two'or mere vital years war they cannot justify. Padeteoiel at = hed The mast of et tht beeewn eed . a wo ee a ee ee ed ene niitirism and its desninecring: foreign policy. By { Ineding a movement to eod American aggression { and demobilice the Clr, a blow will be struck | + demand to abolich the draft Agstinnt the drett is partof the antivar movement. There $s ane prpas ent within the ar move- ment that if enouyh sen refuse ig ve in the avinsd ferees [he voir cffort woul ‘come im- | end tar ro it would WEL Ge to bptid ment oe pon eanperttars od the Katt This arpaeeat se oe ione one ford. ferakon. At this tims, oer er, there is neg: } iow that / the sentiment fore > civil disodye ner mdve | ment apoied the reff cvish. The frarhetming | nie mal r he of their | be law nees, Tt is defend the } vu nal cooperate ‘These men | ¢ Sse to fight ina war (het var sents wnt especialy owl hnportant pe foot men eta re reser iad rovernmer t has ne digit fe fo aan : | Se don ose tee Heo) Sintes is top policeman i, for the eepitali fom ht itis diiven to malotaia a standing nem, Fae andi, alone with heavy gove erent inextrienbly ted to Americn’ ann AL Uie thee, je Uae! ayia cinploy- Wer Mmere tee ee dn ie a war peo the yes tidoe eal able | . hafisme the desi, arins | sod eh pion Sed os dealt Monch on . . ae at