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ian and military."13 Columnist V. H. Krulak

have typically based their case on national

has denounced "the mercenary gun of a

survival. Consider the argument of George-

standing army" and endorses Universal

town professor Philip Gold in 1985: "Con-

Military Training.14 Another columnist, Jim

scription is only necessary if it is to be the

Cleaver, sees a draft as a means to reform

American purpose to offer this planet alter-

juvenile delinquents.15  Washington Post

natives to either Armageddon or a commu-

columnist Mark Shields has long criticized

nist New Dark Age. Nothing else, nothing

less, can justify its return."22 Gold's belief

the AVF and called for reinstitution of con-

scription during the war against Yugo-

that America faced just such choices pre-

slavia.16 Robert Maginnis, an analyst with

sented the best case for a draft--that

America's and the globe's survival depend-

the Christian activist group Family Research

ed on it.

Council, advocates a "national debate" over a

return to conscription.17

Conscription was not needed in 1985

and it certainly isn't needed now. The

A few lawmakers have also expressed

United States is at peace. No major war

interest in restoring the draft. A decade ago,

threatens. Washington stands astride the

current presidential candidate Sen. John

globe as a colossus--its enemies are pathet-

McCain (R-Ariz.) criticized the national ser-

One cannot con-

ic and its allies are secure. As Gen. Colin

vice proposals that led to today's Ameri-

ceive of the cir-

Powell said earlier this decade, "I'm running

Corps for not being compulsory and intro-

out of demons. I'm running out of villains.

duced legislation leading to a mandatory

cumstances in

I'm down to Castro and Kim Il Sung."23

program. Sen. Charles Robb (D-Va.) dis-

which a draft

agreed only in McCain's assessment of the

Together with its allies, America accounts

would be needed

political viability of such a program.18 Last

for roughly 80 percent of the globe's mili-

tary outlays. The United States alone

year, after hearing of the military's recruiting

in the future.

spends as much on defense as the next 10

woes, Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) wondered,

"Do we go to a draft?"19 Rep. Stephen Buyer

powers combined. Allied states like France

are abandoning conscription.24 The usual

(R-Ind.), chairman of the House National

Security Committee's Subcommittee on

case for a draft is absent. Gold, who is now

Military Personnel, suggested recently that

president of Aretea, a Seattle-based think

"there are benefits to a draft."20 Rep. John

tank, today calls conscription "the ab-

solutely positively worst idea," one that

Murtha (D-Pa.) has indicated his support for

"would generate nothing but massive dis-

conscription. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Tex.)

ruption,  expense,  inefficiency  and

pointed to growing personnel shortages in

inequity."25

observing that "there will be a good possi-

bility that if this trend continues, we're

Furthermore, one cannot conceive of the

going to very seriously look at the draft, at

circumstances in which a draft would be

reviving the draft again."21 Similarly, Rep.

needed in the future. Although the Clinton

administration plunged the country into

Norman Sisisky (D-Va.) warns that con-

war with Yugoslavia and predictions of

scription might become necessary if other

future conflicts abound, none would

steps to attract sufficient volunteers are not

involve a nation-threatening clash of mass

taken.

armies--such as NATO versus the Warsaw

Pact during the Cold War. No other nation

Dubious Timing

even approaches U.S. military strength.

Observes John Chipman, director of

London's  International  Institute  for

The only explanation for the spectacle of

Strategic Studies, "The U.S., by itself, can

policymakers' discussing a return to a draft

take on pretty much any military threat you

is that Washington is an irrational and

can imagine."26

incestuous place. Advocates of conscription

3