What can the Bush administration do when fighting so many futile battles on so many fronts?
Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President George W. Bush’s new war adviser said Friday.
“I think it makes sense to certainly consider it,” Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”
“And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation’s security by one means or another,” Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.
I’ve argued before that introducing a military draft may be the only way to convince enough Americans that their government’s war policies have consequences. A personal price will be paid and, theoretically at least, support for foreign engagements will decrease. Wishful thinking?