Is military draft in the works?

[kalian]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/greeley/cst-edt-greel23.html

There's a sign on the horizon, no bigger than a man's hand, that there's a military draft in the works. The Defense Department has announced that Selective Service is making preparations for another draft, "in case one is needed." The New York Times in an inane editorial pleads with the president to articulate a goal for the war that if it "was clear and comprehensive and people understood how to reach it, then Mr. Bush could . . . even bolster the desperately straitened military with a draft if Americans understood the need to sacrifice."

If the editorial writers of the New York Times are talking about a new draft that would send young men and women to die in the deserts of Iraq fighting crazy religious fanatics, then the idea is certainly being whispered about in the upper echelons of American society. A draft would not be proposed before the election -- if it were, Bush would be wiped out in a landslide. But a wise person would not bet against the draft being proposed next January.

What in the world is the Times talking about? Why should Americans sacrifice for the Iraq War? Not by the wildest stretch of the imagination can one seriously argue that the war in Iraq is to defend vital American interests. We found that there were no weapons of mass destruction there and no connection with al-Qaida or the Sept. 11 attack. The only issue seems to be whether we can impose democracy on Iraqis who don't seem seriously to want it or to prevent a civil war that will happen anyway as soon as our army leaves. Americans are supposed to accept the need to sacrifice their unwilling sons and daughters to fight for such absurd goals?

...more...

The end of the article poses a very interesting question...

[Donkeyboy75]

1. Wow.

Although I agree that Bush will in no way propose a draft before the election, Kerry should make it a huge issue, and make Bush declare his intentions on the matter.
Thanks for the post. I'm a Chicagoan, and this editorial flew under my radar. I'm doing my best to make this well-known.

[Kahuna]

3. Bush will deny. And then what? He's a lame duck. Reelection..

isn't in his future and he can do whatever he wants.

[Dems Will Win]

4. Kerry said on 4/14 NO DRAFT. + Kerry has a NO-DRAFT PLAN

Kerry has said no more young men sent to fight and die for oil!!

[many a good man]

2. War on Terror as Fitness Regimen

It might be better if one sent men and women in their 40s to fight in a foolish, unjust, immoral, criminal war. It would be good for them. They'd have to lose weight and get back in physical condition.

Don't think of it as a Draft, think of it as part of America's war on obesity.