Draft dialectic underway.

A nationwide opinion poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Associated Press revealed that a solid majority of Americans oppose a return to military conscription. A majority of adults also would not encourage their own children to enlist in the volunteer military. Noted a June 25 AP story, "older Americans and Republicans were most likely to say [a return to the draft is] a good idea."

Recruitment continues to plummet, with all branches of the military entering the fifth consecutive month of enlistment shortfalls. "It's getting harder because of the influencers who are discouraging young people from simply acquiring information" about the Army, complains Major General Michael Rochelle, head of recruitment for the U.S. Army. "Influencers not wanting recruiters to call, not wanting recruiters to sit down and talk."

Or, more likely, "influencers" pointing out to potential recruits that whatever inducements a recruiter might offer in terms of bonuses and financial aid for college, the road to those rewards includes a lengthy detour through Iraq. This reality led Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of a Senate subcommittee on military personnel, to suggest that it is the war itself, not the military, that needs a PR makeover: "We should assume there are going to be 100,000 troops in Iraq two years from now, and continuing losses. It is time to repackage this war and let Americans know we are fighting for freedom." But the fact remains that American youth, quite understandably, are not itching to kill and die on behalf of Iraqis--and their parents, just as understandably, are disinclined to sacrifice their children on behalf of that cause.

"We all know where this is headed," commented columnist Matt Taibbi of the New York Press on June 22. "Sooner or later there is going to be a serious discussion in this country about a draft. I imagine that process will go something like this: The Republicans will fiercely resist any talk about it, while the 'pragmatic' Democrats, ever on the lookout for an opportunity to look tough, will drag them kicking and screaming into dat dere brier patch."

"That process is already underway," he continues. "Republicans continue to be quiet about a draft, but influential Democrats are beginning to talk about it. 'We are going to have to face that question,' said Joe Biden two weeks ago, when asked about the draft on Meet the Press." A week later, Senator John McCain stoutly insisted that restoring the draft would be counterproductive, since it "didn't work in its previous form." What is needed, he continued, is a new kind of mobilization involving "Ameri-Corps, Peace Corps, community service.... The biggest mistake I think we made after September 11 was not calling on Americans to serve.... [W]e should have said, 'OK, we're setting up all these organizations. We're expanding existing organizations and we're going to give you all a chance to fight as foot soldiers in the war on terror.' I think we can still do that."