Monday, October 22, 2007
Reinstituting the military draft will accomplish no military objective.
Since the War on Terror’s beginning on Sept. 11, 2001, it has been political. Republicans generally favor proactive foreign prosecution, while Democrats generally favor defensive domestic protection. While the presidency and both houses of Congress were Republican, the war was fought in foreign theaters like Afghanistan and Iraq. (Yes, Iraq, where Al Qaeda-backed terrorists attack our troops, instead of attacking our office workers in New York.)
Opponents of America’s military involvement in Iraq thought the Congressional elections of 2006 were their deliverance: the president’s party had lost control, and it was only a matter of swearing in the freshmen before our troops would be coming home.
Of course this hasn’t happened, because a Congressional majority understands the difference between campaign rhetoric and sound government policy. While campaigning against war might bring in votes these days, voting against the war is selling out America’s security.
nutgraf
The only reason for a draft is to undermine the morale of military forces fighting the war. While domestic war support drops, military war support remains high.
Since 1973, America has had a volunteer military. Fewer than 160,000 of 1.3 million active duty and 1.1 million reserve personnel are in Iraq. America does not need the draft for a lack of soldiers.
While military service is inherently dangerous, a volunteer force handles it best. Volunteers have felt the call of duty and regard their country and fellow-citizens so highly that they willingly risk their lives for them. Drafted soldiers are, by comparison, less effective. By definition they’d rather not be there. America does not need the draft for volunteers being less effective.
The only reason for a draft is to undermine the morale of military forces fighting the war. While domestic war support drops, military war support remains high. American support for involvement in Vietnam was undermined by soldiers who came home to oppose the war and draftees who refused to go. The opponents of involvement in Iraq are desperate to create a similar situation, hence the support for a draft among the very people who don’t support the war itself.
This is despicable. To discuss a draft before committing troops may be a debate of tactics, but once troops are in battle, it does nothing but distract and endanger. Some war opponents don’t seem to mind who gets hurt, however. Witness the support garnered by phony soldier Jesse MacBeth, who, according to the Seattle Times, claimed to have killed over 200 Iraqis, some while praying in mosque, only to be exposed for a fraud. His claims were amplified by war opponents and even translated into Arabic.
As long as opposition to war trumps soldiers’ safety, the draft will have support. But it is unnecessary and even dangerous to reinstitute an American military draft.
Minster is a Lawrence senior in economics.
Guest Column: As it continues, the Iraq ...
Sustained combat, lack of foreseeable end offer grim prospects for the future
New Joint Chiefs Chairman visits Leavenworth
Newly Appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen ...
Guest Column: Diagnosing Iraq
There isn't a more complicated issue in the world right now than ...
Editorial Board: Iraq’s success dependent own government
When all is said and done, the government set up in Iraq ...
Student veterans react to Afghanistan troop withdrawal
About 33,000 troops will return home by August 2012.
Guest: The Image of Kennedy, the shadow ...
Editorial: Debates fail to fix problems
With most politicians bogged down in debates to see who can get ...
Cosby: Point counterpoint: National Defense Authorization Act
Cosby argues that President Obama should have vetoed the recently signed National ...
Politically Correct: More troops to Afghanistan
Three columnists give their insights on sending more troops to Afghanistan.
The realities of the military
A lack of exposure to the military creates dissonance between the perceptions ...
Letter: Obama the best choice for the ...
Sen. Barack Obama demonstrates the leadership and optimism needed in the next ...
General address Bush, terrorism in speech
Gen. Richard B. Myers spoke about terrorism and his relationship with President ...
ROTC enlistment remains steady
Increase of troops in Iraq not a deterent for students joining ROTC ...
Guest Column: Blackwater abuses authority in Iraq
Private militia is not subjected to the same laws as American soldiers
Weighing the collateral damage
Iraqi war veterans have trouble justifying civilian casualties on urban battlefields in ...
Thompson: What war means for the rest ...
The Iraq War
The two candidates offer different views on the Iraq War.
Brown: ‘Staying the course’ not always an ...
Though no solution seems easy, Iraq situation needs resolution
Letter: Column full of rehashed rhetoric
Recent column by Jason Bennett on Libya mistaken in analysis.
KU vets see potential in Obama administration
Veterans at the University hope Obama’s and his cabinet picks can bring ...
Editorial: Afghanistan as important as ever
Pakistan, our nuclear-capable ally, is as precarious as ever, and a single ...
Documentary shows soldiers’ experiences
A documentary about Iraq veterans that was shown Wedenesday at the Kansas ...
Lowell: War on Terror won at American ...
Cutting dependence on foreign oil is first step to success.
Editorial: Boyda has shown genuine progress
Blog: Basic Training
Reporter Kelly Stroda is spending six days at Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. ...
The Department of Defense heads to KU ...
Blogs are helping better inform people about the military
U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore speaks at Delta ...
The congressman discusses politics, the economy and the election at Delta Chi ...
Anderson: As U.S. activates its military, others ...
Students to soldiers
Facing possible deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan after graduation, 81 University students ...
Bornstein: Battling with — and under — ...
Prohibiting openly gay men and women from participating in the military benefits ...
Johnson: Six years later, lessons of 9/11 ...
The time that’s passed hasn’t changed what happened in New York in ...
Counterpoint: Humanitarian crisis in Syria
The U.S. has a moral duty to intervene in Syria.
White: Draft would change war proponents’ minds
It’s easier to support armed conflict when not called up to fight.
KU group protests war with soldiers’ memorial
Flags on the Stauffer-Flint lawn Thursday were a memorial to fallen soldiers ...
Brinker: Despite the consequences, a terrorist is ...
Though bin Laden's death will fuel terrorism, Terrorist still must be held ...
Doctoral student shares experiences in Iraq
Major Andrew Harvey spent the duration of 2006 in Iraq working to ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Minster: Military activity should be voluntary
No debate, so apparently everyone agrees...as do I.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID