War Czar Says Draft Should be Considered

By Cernig Is this the first we've heard from Gen. Lute since he was given his position as can-carrier-in-chief? It seems so to me. So it's quite a debut. Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush's new war adviser said Friday. "I think it makes sense to certainly consider it," Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." "And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another," Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June. President Nixon abolished the draft in 1973. Restoring it, Lute said, would be a "major policy shift" and Bush has made it clear that he doesn't think it's necessary. "The president's position is that the all volunteer military meets the needs of the country and there is no discussion of a draft. General Lute made that point as well," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. Got to love that White House spin. But will some journo worth his or her wages ask the obvious question: "Does General lute disagree with the Commander In Chief that a draft shouldn't be considered?" His comments certainly indicate he does. Watch the 26%ers, who support the occupation of Iraq from afar by buying car stickers, jump to agree with Bush and suggest Lute was a bad choice...while quietly checking out entry requirements for Canada. As for us lefties? We'll just smugly point out that a draft wouldn't need even passing consideration if Bush hadn't wasted all that time and all those resources, as well as exhausting the Army, by invading Iraq instead of concentrating on Afghanistan.