Everywhere you look these days, whether on Grounds or on MTV, there are commercials, organizations and movements to encourage young voters to participate in the upcoming election. Politicians and concerned Americans are making sure that the youth vote is felt in this election. Thankfully, there's an issue that, if publicized, would significantly raise youth voting participation -- the draft. Although Republicans promise that a military draft is not an option, young Americans should be weary of another four years of a militarily offensive administration.
America went in to Iraq and demonstrated the power of our military technology. Yet, in this new era of battles without soldiers, very few members of the Bush administration foresaw the number of men needed to occupy the now terror-stricken country. Protecting our own country has become an expensive and difficult task, but the Republican administration insists that occupying another nation and protecting their boundaries is of utmost importance to our own security.
Military officials already believe our supply of military resources is insufficient to carry out current ventures abroad and domestically. Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter wrote that military experts think the Army is overstretched and National Guard recruitment is down. With potential conflicts in North Korea and Iran gaining fervor each day, these military reports should scare young voters, especially men.
Although there are no guarantees that a Democratic administration will remove all risk of a military draft, I would rather take my chances on a president who wholeheartedly engages in diplomacy and seeks international support. President Bush appeals to those voters who view domestic safety, not international peace, as the most important security goal. If Bush is chosen to serve another four years, there is no more reelection accountability. Today the draft is political suicide, but without the threat of being reelected in the future, more conquests and unilateral attacks may become viable options. There is a possibility that Bush's cautious rhetoric about the war in Iraq may surrender to extreme measures to protect our borders and preemptively attack countries associated with terrorists and illegal usage of nuclear weapons.
It is difficult to substantiate the claim that electing presidential candidate John Kerry would necessarily reduce the chances of a military draft, however. This clearly depends on international circumstances and the state of our domestic security. Yet based on our generation's experiences with presidents, it is clear that President Clinton preferred diplomacy and international organizations and that Bush is not afraid to enter into conflicts unilaterally. If you have no other reason to vote, consider the probability of America needing more military personnel under each presidential administration.
Further, the unilateral nature of the Iraq strike represents a serious warning sign for young Americans. Presidents who abide by U.N. statutes and procedure and wait for support from allies do not need a large military abroad -- these allies are considered "friends" because they, too, will supply military resources. Although there is help from other nations in Iraq, the United States continues to be the dominant force. With military occupations like these and reports of soldiers dying nearly every day, the concern for the lives of young Americans fighting abroad increases. Our military resources are not expanding. Instead, they are becoming more spread out and thin -- yet we continue to spread our "freedom" objectives to countries that are supposedly havens for terrorists.
A lot of Americans will continue to justify the war in Iraq as protecting our freedoms and borders. But are these same citizens willing to go abroad themselves and risk their lives in Iraq? Film director Michael Moore made clear to Americans this contradiction when approaching politicians and asking if they would send their children to war. Sure, any action that strengthens our domestic security is great -- but what happens when you are called upon to carry out these actions yourself?
Young Americans, along with parents, are upset when they see reports of their peers dying in Iraq or Afghanistan. Instead of thinking about the politics of entering Iraq, think about voting as a means to ensure that your friends' lives and your time in college will not be threatened by occupying a hostile country.
I admire every person who has fought and died for our country in Iraq. They have an incredible amount of courage and are helping to fight terrorism. Yet if this could be prevented through diplomacy and international cooperation, why not lessen the chance of anyone losing their life in foreign battle? The Republican administration does not heed to international organizations or wait for help from allies and will therefore continue to rely on our military resources. I am confident, however, that Kerry and a Democratic administration will ensure a more vigorous approach to seek support abroad in order to protect us from foreign enemies.
Therefore, parents and young Americans should not need this societal push to vote in November -- a wartime presidency is enough to encourage any American to decide whether war is justified and worth risking the lives of young men and women.
Michael Behr's column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at mbehr@cavalierdaily.com.
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