I've been worrying about the concept of the all-volunteer army. Since instituted in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War, it has seemed to work well, only because we did not bust our manpower needs (and we took on no longterm commitments).
Now we are watching as the military long-retired are being called back after gaps of 8 or 10 or more years. Like everyone (and especially since I have two teenaged boys), I fret about the return of the draft (does anyone know the lyrics to "O, Canada"?)
More below the fold.
But I'm worried about something else. I don't know where the John Kerry -- willing to serve but also able and willing to analyze and articulate -- of the future will come from.
It's not politically correct to say so, and it comes with the caveat of the obvious exceptions to the rule, but we have an army of hapless, clueless young people out there. As even conservative hawk Jim Reames says, "For the majority, the reasons [for joining the military] seem to pivot around the kingpins of either getting a post-high school education and/or the hope of better job opportunities in the adult world. Others join because most of the opportunities in the adult world amount to temporary jobs with low pay and no benefits."
I've got two relatives in the service - one a National Guarder, and another a nephew who joined the Marines six months ago - who said they'd vote for George Bush, adore "Support Our Troops" stickers, and admit to liking "blowing things up." Just like the young men Michael Moore filmed that were driving tanks listening to violent jams on their headphones, these are the people our country doesn't support in any other way (education/jobs/etc.) but is perfectly willing to use as cannon fodder. I think it will backfire. [Look at the recent incident of the soldier filmed shooting a reportedly injured, unarmed Iraqi in a mosque - remind anyone of Vietnam?]
We won't have any John Kerrys to come back, throw their medals over a fence, and tell us the truth -- because we aren't sending people disposed to see it.
And the volunteer army is a disingenuous way for the U.S. to wage war. If going to war is really worthy, then let ALL of America's sons and daughters be eligible, not just the children of the poor and the dispossessed, but the offspring of congressmen and Monsanto executives, too. Yes, let's bring back the draft -- with no exemptions this time -- and watch the GOP suddenly think twice about shedding young American blood to snare Iraqi oil and resources.