Won’t Bring Back Draft, Bush Vows

President Bush today rejected any notion that he might reinstate the draft to supply the military with troops in the Persian Gulf War.

The draft was suspended in 1973, and any decision to reinstate it would likely touch off a fiery debate in Congress, which would have to approve such a move.

Asked by a reporter at a morning news conference if he could give a “100% guarantee” not to reinstate the draft, Bush said:

“I have absolutely no intention of reinstating the draft. I’ve heard no discussion from any of our people about the need to reinstate the draft. We have an all-volunteer army that is totally capable of getting this job done.”

Bush also said he would not agree to a war surtax to help pay for U.S. involvement. “I can see no reason for a war tax. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

The President announced that he is sending Defense Secretary Dick Cheney to the Gulf, and said he himself is prepared mentally to order U.S. forces into a ground attack against Iraqi troops if necessary.

In a prelude to a possible ground offensive, Bush is sending Cheney and Gen. Colin L. Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Saudi Arabia late this week to confer with commanders in the field.

Bush said Cheney and Powell will talk to allied commander Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, but told reporters that this does not mean a decision is near on when or if allied ground forces will be sent into action to expel Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait.

He did say, however, that he looked forward to hearing back from Cheney and Powell after their trip on whether a ground war will be necessary, while noting that he personally was “somewhat skeptical” that allied air power will be sufficient to push Iraq from Kuwait.

“Saddam Hussein will not set the timing over what comes next. We will do that. And I will have to make that decision if we go to ground forces.”