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[BlueDjinn]

OT: WLD--well, given the complete clusterf*ck that it's turned into, and the *massive* recruitment shortfalls over the past year, I now predict either one of two things will happen: Either we pull out completely, or we end up with a *full* draft (as opposed to the backdoor draft which has already been happening for over a year now).

IF we end up with a "true" draft, I guarantee you *that* will be the point that the bulk of the American public goes apesh!t. I'd be willing to bet good money that the majority of those people with the totally pointless "support the troops" ribbon stickers on their SUVs wouldn't dream of enlisting themselves (or, for that matter, wanting their kids to sign up). If you're opposed to the war, great. If someone's for it, that's their right--as long as they're willing to put their money where their mouths are, and most people aren't willing to do that.

Once you start telling them that it's THEIR kids' blood that's gonna get spilled, you'll see them whistling a VERY different tune.

Strange as it may sound, I'm actually not opposed to a full draft, for this very reason--it forces Joe Citizen to actually pay attention to what's going on, to do more research to see whether an invasion is *really* necessary, and so forth. Lord knows, if there had been an active draft when I was in my early 20s, I would have kept a LOT more informed about world events and would have been MUCH more politically active.

HOWEVER, the ONLY way that a draft would be acceptable would be if those who vote to invade are the first ones on the list, not the last ones. Children of members of congress and the administration would be the FIRST ones drafted; children of media wonks who cheer on the march to war would be next (I don't know if Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity have any kids, so I guess they'd have to go themselves). Children of members of state legislatures would be next, and so on.