If the United State were engaged in a real war on terror I imagine a draft would be appropriate and even an acceptable condition for a majority of Americans. The most disturbing aspect of the current action in Iraq is that we are NOT fighting a real war. Now before all you necons get your panties in a twist let me describe what I consider to be a real war based on contemporary technology.
There was NO reason for any - not one American solider to have set foot in Iraq. Between the Air Force and the Navy (net centric warfare) the U.S., could bomb the Iraqi infrastructure to rubble returning that country to the stone age. Same with Iran should we need to manage their involvement. Why then did we invade? That too is obvious if you look at history. I won't go too deep here or get into Vietnam, but there too the war was based on the Pentagon's desire for extended and new contracts. How many of you know that the weapon systems we use today went into development during Vietnam? Most folks don't realize or understand that the Pentagon represents the largest most expensive socioeconomic organism in America. It must be fed and constantly upgraded regardless of whether we are at war or not. If we're not at war, and the Pentagon needs cash and wants new weapon systems - look out because they have always been able to find a way to get the cash they need. And no, 911 was a legitimate terrorist attack - coming at just the right time for the military war machine. They don't get that much cash for just missiles and bombs, but the real cash begins to roll in when the troops are in the mix where the acquisition of new troop based systems and the replacement existing arms and equipment are required.
My son at age 17 is Air Force jROTC. My family has a long heritage of service to this country. Do I want my son to enlist or be drafted when he graduates? No I don't, not unless our leaders begin to FIGHT a real WAR. After 911, I was so pissed off I was hoping Bush would simply turn sand to glass in the middle east, take their oil, and be done with it. Fortunately someone like me did not have their finger on the button. Cooler heads prevailed, but BUSH engaged in the WRONG war and type of warfare. Given today's technology there is NO reason for the U.S. to ever put troops on the ground again. Unless of course we engage in a humanitarian conflict in a third world nation where loss of infrastructure would not come into play. Darfor, for example. Another shinning example of compassionate conservatism? Another place where boots on the ground might be justified is where our real enemy is camped out, and that's not in Iraq according the latest NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) report.
What has happened to our country over the last five years will have repercussions for decades to come. All we've done in Iraq is create an opening for Iran, create a training camp for terrorists from around the world, borrowed a Trillion dollars from our good friends the Chinese, and oh yes - sacrificed over 3,000 brave young warriors for no legitimate reason. Your children's children will be paying for the Bush re-election war for many many years to come. And not just in taxes, but in a continuing flow of terrorists. And yes, Bush did use the war to get reelected. Remember all the terror alerts back in 2004 every time Kerry would bump up in the polls. A continuos series of alerts issued in the months leading up to the 2004 Presidential election - ZERO alerts reported after the election, until just recently. The nexus of politics and terror (
YouTube - Countdown: The Nexus of Politics and Terror Part 2) practiced once again by an out of control power hungry administration.
And please don't pull out any of that BS about how we haven't been attacked here because we're fighting them over there. We have done NOTHING in Iraq that would prevent Al Quida from sending another 20 men over our open borders to blow something up. That is perhaps the biggest lie of all. Remember, the 911 (19) came to this country with legal visa's. We have no understanding of their timetables and likely never will. I suspect though that we will see another attack here in the homeland sometime after the next administration is in office. Bin Laden won't settle for the Democrats pulling out of Iraq when Bush has provided him with the biggest recruitment drive possible. American troops on Islamic soil is a blessing from Allah for Al Quida. They need us in Iraq, generations of new recruits for generations to come ready willing and able to give their lives in the holy war against the infidel Americans. Thank you Mr. Bush, and let's not forget - thank you Mr. Cheney... bucket heads.
Water treatment and desalinization plants, bridges, power stations, shipping docks and ports, government and military C3 (command control, communication) installations, railways, and food distribution systems are ALL targets of opportunity that could be taken out from the air with minimal collateral damage. Again, no troops on the ground required. How much of a threat would any middle east country be if the leadership could not communicate, commute, or feed and water their people? Bomb 'em, then wait six months and do it again. NO troops on the ground or Trillion Chinese dollars required - so, why are they there and not in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan where out real enemy rests comfortably?
Welcome to the machine, its time to feed.
~A