A touchy subject worth . . . touching?

In an effort to stay a bit more current on events and to actually read more about what is going on in the world, I've taken up pursuing Newsweek. The following article caught my attention for several reasons, but the main ones are :

1) My brother is a former Marine

2) During my travels to & from New Zealand EVERY single new person I met and talked to upon learning I was an American asked "what do you think of your idiot President sending more soldiers to Iraq?" I hated the arrogance in which that question was presented to me. I got defensive for my country and for the boys out there who were in the line of fire - probably thinking at that very moment how nice it would be to be traveling in New Zealand instead of where they are. I always tried to set my defense aside and gently say "War is a horrible thing, it means people are going to die, but I appreciate the fact that our boys are putting their lives on the line in my place amidst the horrible circumstances. I support our troops." I refused to talk about the political side of it to a person who wasn't an American.

That said, this article was an interesting read. I don't have a son so I can't relate it directly to my own flesh and I would just sob if my brother was still active and called to duty in Iraq. But there is something in this article to consider. As "horrible and tragic" a thing as war is.

Why We Need a Draft: A Marine's Lament
He was in the firefights of Fallujah. He saw gaps in America's arsenal that he believes can only be filled when America's elite puts its sons on the battlefield. A plea for selective service.