January 8, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 4, 1423

WASHINGTON, Jan 7: A US lawmaker staunchly against a possible invasion of Iraq on Tuesday announced he would introduce legislation for an all-inclusive military draft to ensure that all Americans would feel the “pain and sacrifice” involved.

Pointing out “a glaring absence of the affluent” in the military, New York Democratic Representative Charles Rangel told a press conference that if war were inevitable, the military should include a more equitable representation of the American people.

“For those who say the poorer fight better, I say, give the rich a chance,” said the lawmaker, a high-school dropout who became an infantry foot soldier in the Korean War.

“For those that support the war who come from these classes have no fear that their kids will be involved,” he said. “I don’t know what their portion will be if they thought they would be involved.”

“The system of selection of carving out the responsibility of fighting for America is inequitable,” Rangel said.—AFP