A draft in here?

The Bush administration's enthusiasm for wars is vastly outstripping that of the people who are willing to fight them. The President insists that we're staying in Iraq as long as he's in the Oval Office, but even the Marines have started a backdoor draft.

Jeralyn of TalkLeft wonders if general conscription isn't around the corner.

One group of Iraq war veterans says that the involuntary call-up of Marines is a last step before the draft:

"This move should serve as a wake-up call to America," said Jon Soltz, an Army captain who served in Iraq and heads the group VoteVets.org, which raises funds for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for Congress. "Today's announcement that thousands of Marines in the Individual Ready Reserve will be called back to go to Iraq is proof that our military is overextended, and there is no plan for victory in Iraq." [ABC/The Blotter]

Given the bleak evidence and the grandiose ambitions of this administration, it's time to start talking openly about the prospect of the draft. The administration insists that there are no plans to reinstitute a draft, but there is no particular reason to trust them on this point, and every indication that a draft will be necessary if we stay the ruinous course the administration has charted in Iraq.

The question should be put frankly to the American people in time for the mid-term elections: Is the mission in Iraq important enough to sacrifice your kid?

[Talk Left]