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I just looked at the title of this piece and knew that it was going to be one of those BS "The Draft is Coming" articles that the DU crowd loves so much. I wouldn't expect anything more (or less) from the NY Slimes.

You would be wrong. They are not calling for a draft.

Please let me take the contrarian position here:

For a long time I have advocated some form of Universal National Service -- similar to the Israeli mode, except perhaps a bit broader is scope and options.

If we postulate that Sam Huntington is right -- and that we are in a sustained "Clash" -- then we will be investing blood and lucre in the Middle East for a very long time.

Further, I submit that the hackneyed saying: "Better over there, than here" has merit. And, I subscribe to that position.

At any rate, our resources are spread dangerously thin, considering that we are tragically paying the price for global American Imperial hegemony -- by necessary default.

When we factor in those costs, our manpower resources simply are not there.

Over the long term, I submit, we will have no option other than UNS. How we get to that point is the only real question, In my view.

This third rail makes Social Security look like amateur hour. So, carrying the scenario one additional step further:

I suggest that we will have UNS at some point, probably sooner rather than later. What will make it a reality is our collective reaction to an horrific national event; one keyed in all probability to the developing Islamic Confrontation. At that juncture, and only then, will the Nation have the backbone and compunction to address this issue head-on. Hopefully, in a judicious and cooperative way.

Until that time, we will continue to glue the tattered military manpower pool together as best we can, robbing Peter to pay Paul. What would accelerate the discussion is the potential for the Far East to become unraveled. Which brings us to another aspect of the debate: Carrier Force levels. *S*

I wish my fellow Freepers a most meaningful Memorial Day.