Draft would focus public's attention

Regarding Michael Goodwin's Dec. 4 column, “Rangel's reasons are wrong — but draft's a good idea”: There's much to be said for compulsory national service of some kind for the able-bodied young. But advocates like Rep. Charles Rangel and Goodwin, who urge the restoration of the military draft, tend to do so for reasons that fall short of the most compelling one. The one compelling reason for reinstituting the military draft is that it would concentrate national attention on the glib posturings of our war-mongering leaders with a steelier eye than is now brought to bear on them. If every family in the country were compelled to provide cannon fodder for frivolous adventuring, our elected leaders might think longer before lighting the cannon's fuse. Dan MacNeice, Cologne - Atlantic City Press, December 13, 2006