A “Call to Arms” Would Not Be Peaceful
Paul Kane writes in “A Peaceful Call to Arms” that initiating a national selective service draft in the United States would deter Iranian nuclear weapons programs. This is a ridiculously presumptuous theory. To force young men and women into military service would not only fail to dissuade Iranian leaders from launching a nuclear program, but it would also promote rebellion across the US. Kane fails to realize that most people do not advocate a war in Iraq, and therefore want nothing to do with it. In a Gallup poll conducted in March 2006, just one month before the publication of Kane’s essay, fifty-seven percent of participants responded that they believed the US made a mistake by going to war in Iraq. Assuming the poll was conducted accurately, this means more than half of America would disagree and most likely revolt at the news of a service draft.
Kane also provides very little support for his argument. He gives as evidence a poll (the source is not cited) affirming that “a wide majority of people in many countries view [Bush] and the United States as the major threat to global peace.” He goes on to say “Why let them down on this count? Go with the flow.” Kane says Bush should endorse this world view of himself and our country, the view that we are a threat to global peace, so that Bush does not ruin his already terrible reputation.
Kane seems like he knows a great deal about military procedure and war strategy, however he seems out of touch with the modern person. If Kane really wants to advise the president on the types of strategies he should be executing, he should get back in sync with his society.