It's hardly a new or unique insight, but it's all too obvious that we should never have left Saddam in charge of Iraq after Gulf War I. George Bush senior has been quoted as saying that at the time, the Arab members of the coalition forces objected to Saddam's removal from power so he was left in place. I wonder sometimes, how much would have been different if was had told those allies, "No, he's going down".
The road ahead is grim, and the growing rumblings in the blogosphere and the press about the possible need to re-institute the draft are worrisome. I try not to make too much of the rumblings, but then I picture my 21 year old cousin with a draft card of his hand and it's not so simple.
It's been 30 years since the draft was last a reality. A lot has changed since then. One thing that hasn't changed is that no matter how they try to write the rules, the richer, more well-connected, and smarter kids will find ways around any draft.
I am not, by the way, convinced that a Kerry victory means we will not have a draft instituted. It is not clear whether even with the best intentions we will be able to draw down significant troops out of Iraq in the near future. No matter who wins in November, it's possible we will have to change how we build our military. But I am sure that a Kerry administration would not be so reckless with the lives of our soldiers as this administration has been.
