I think a better way to promote understanding of the war would rely on expanded media access in two areas. First, allow the media unfettered access what our wars are really like - both learning about them and showing them to the public. I know there has been political pressure, both statutory and implicit, against showing things like battlefield images or caskets coming home. Second, strictly enforce transparent decision-making in our government. If we would have done that six years ago, we probably wouldn't be in Iraq, a fact that is becoming more and more apparent as evidence that the war was planned behind closed doors comes to light.

Both those present sort of a catch-22, though, since they consist of giving the media access to information that, more often than not, will diminish the popularity of the politicians who must take these steps.

Several years ago, I supported a draft. Now I'm firmly against one, at least in the common conception of the word "draft". Your last sentence might be the key, but I have a feeling that would get lost if such a program were ever enacted.

Right now, one of the key pressures on the military (and on the military-industrial complex in general) is a simple lack of bodies. Sure, that leads to things like Blackwater, but it also supplies a key restriction on the neoconservative hegemons that want to do things like bomb Iran and station soldiers every 100 feet along the Mexican border.

If the draft you propose were enacted, while the volunteer organizations you propose would benefit, more people will undoubtedly go into military service as well. That opens the floodgates to increased military spending and increased deployment options. Personally, I'm scared shitless what our government might do if it were guaranteed consistently high military enrollment.

I agree with your points about understanding war in order to stop war. I just don't see a draft being a realistic way to do that.

Um, looking back I guess you're mainly suggesting mandatory community service / humanitarian work rather than combat training. That's an interesting idea - I believe Germany does something like that. But personally I don't see a US administration coming in for the foreseeable future (or, uh, ever, given the history of the country - no offence) that I would trust to use conscription only for non-combat, world-improving purposes.

The idea of millions of 25-year-olds being subjected to the sort of brainwashing that goes on in military training is pretty scary, to be honest. Would we be creating more Gandhis, or more Lynndie Englands?

I dunno, don't most military families wind up supporting the war effort, more funding bills in Congress, etc, because they figure the more funding and the more soldiers get sent over, the safer their own sons will be? I'm sure I remember hearing something like that. Plus, the last time there was a draft, everyone with any real influence managed to keep their own kids at home - the whole "Fortunate Son" thing, right?

I guess the draft-dodging thing really helped to raise public awareness and stir up the anti-war movement during Vietnam, but that's not what stopped the war, is it? My Vietnam War history is pretty sketchy but I always thought that the US were driven out rather than a swing in public opinion forcing a voluntary pull-out... Could be I'm oversimplifying though.

Pretty much - I think that if voters are going to make decisions about things like war, they need a personal stake in the issue.

It's cynical, but I think too many people cast votes based on what they want to see on the news. Martial music on Fox is almost as exciting as Monday Night Football.

A friend of mine was killed in Fallujah not too long ago and it brought home the enormity of the tragedy our misguided policies have wrought.

A draft - of 25 year olds, not 18 year olds - would make everyone stop and think.

Ideally, there would be the option of teaching or doing something like Peace Corps. If it was only military service, hopefully people would burn their draft cards and think twice about electing someone like Giuliani or McCain who wants to attack Iran.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. That a draft would promote understanding? I think the thing people - all people - need to understand about war is that it's not the answer to anything.