In Sunday's Oregonian, there was an article (National Guard Stretched to the Limit) on the woes of the National Guard and general military deployment problems. For me, this report typifies the state of American journalism. While the reporters covered most of the important aspects of the topic, they neglected to cover the most salient issue -- a possible D-R-A-F-T.
Reporters David Wood & Harry Esteve did a fairly good job presenting information that showed that military numbers in Iraq will most likely fall off dramatically this summer as many units will return from their deployments and, due to shortfalls in recruitment targets, there won't be enough new troops to replace them. This will create a dangerous situation for those troops still stationed in Iraq.
The military brass is aware of this potentiality and they are worried, very worried. And, if they're worried, you and I should be worried too!
This is, of course, an inherent problem with an all volunteer armed forces. Military leaders have to hope that enough people volunteer to serve. If not enough people volunteer AND our nation is in the middle of a so-called war, there's only one other mechanism to insure we have enough soldiers to wage the battle -- A Military Draft!
Wood & Esteve take us to the brink of considering the possible inevitability of instituting the draft, but, for whatever reason, they failed miserably in taking the needed step. I mean, the step was crying out on its own. It was the obvious next question.
Unfortunately, it seems that the obvious question was the ONE question the Oregonian didn't ask.
Reporters David Wood & Harry Esteve did a fairly good job presenting information that showed that military numbers in Iraq will most likely fall off dramatically this summer as many units will return from their deployments and, due to shortfalls in recruitment targets, there won't be enough new troops to replace them. This will create a dangerous situation for those troops still stationed in Iraq.
The military brass is aware of this potentiality and they are worried, very worried. And, if they're worried, you and I should be worried too!
This is, of course, an inherent problem with an all volunteer armed forces. Military leaders have to hope that enough people volunteer to serve. If not enough people volunteer AND our nation is in the middle of a so-called war, there's only one other mechanism to insure we have enough soldiers to wage the battle -- A Military Draft!
Wood & Esteve take us to the brink of considering the possible inevitability of instituting the draft, but, for whatever reason, they failed miserably in taking the needed step. I mean, the step was crying out on its own. It was the obvious next question.
Unfortunately, it seems that the obvious question was the ONE question the Oregonian didn't ask.
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