I find some of the recent calls for a draft to be rather worrisome because they don't appear to have much connection to the real needs of the military. There doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence that they are actually facing an overall shortage of troops - they aren't losing huge amounts of soldiers and they appear to be meeting their recruitment and re-enlistment quotas.

If actual troop numbers are not the issue, then all that we are left with is the social-economic argument for a draft: the people who are serving are apparently not from an acceptable range of social strata therefore we have to even things out. This strikes me as absurd for a number of reasons. There is no strategic justification for this kind of enforced affirmative action in the military. It is true that the military probably has more appeal to people who need help paying for their college education, but certainly no enlistees from poor backgrounds were forced into the military, they are volunteers blessed with free will. So do they suggest this remedy simply as a way to deter the president and congress from sending troops to war? If so, this idea doesn't help the country or the military at all and will alienate a whole lot of folks.

Plus, do you think any professional, volunteer soldier will want a surly, badly trained and unmotivated draftie as his backup?

Brining back the draft is not a good idea - for a variety of reasons. However, it must be mentioned that although the retention and recruiting goals are being made (and thus allowing for a better selection process), that doesn't necessarily mean that we have enough folks serving - just that they are getting what has been authorized by Congress.

BTW- what a bunch of twits in the comment section over at the link!