{"id":47705,"date":"2020-01-05T17:00:21","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T17:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/05\/world-war-iii-trending-on-social-media-crashed-the-selective-service-website\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:47:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:47:53","slug":"world-war-iii-trending-on-social-media-crashed-the-selective-service-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/01\/05\/world-war-iii-trending-on-social-media-crashed-the-selective-service-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Widespread fears of a new draft crashed the Selective Service website"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Air strikes and an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, a big new paycheck for troops and two Marines’ rifles go missing at Camp Lejeune in this week’s Briefing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Qasem Soleimani <\/a>is not Franz Ferdinand \u2014 the Austrian Archduke whose assassination sparked World War I \u2014 but Americans are worried the Iranian general\u2019s death in a U.S. airstrike on Jan 2 could spark a broader war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following news of the Iranian commander<\/a>\u2019s death World War III began trending on social media and crashed the Selective Service website, where Americans who are eligible for the draft go to register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to the spread of misinformation, our website is experiencing high traffic volumes at this time. If you are attempting to register or verify registration, please check back later today as we are working to resolve this issue. We appreciate your patience,\u201d the Selective Service tweeted Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The draft was abolished in 1973, but men 18 and older still register for the possibility of conscription in the U.S. military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Selective Service says it would require Congress and the president to pass and sign legislation to authorize a draft in the event a national emergency constituted the need to conscript eligible American citizens into the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe post daily to social media as part of our mission to inform men about their requirement to register and let others know about the opportunity to serve as a local board member, along with other pertinent information,\u201d the Selective Service tweeted Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quds Force commander has been among America\u2019s top adversaries in recent years helping sow discontent and instability across the Middle East for years, but his death is unlikely to precipitate a global conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\t