Though the bill to reinstitute the military draft failed in theHouse of Representatives earlier this month with a vote of 402-2,the draft and questions of military leadership still remainimportant issues, according to some Ball State Universitystudents.
Sophomore Chelsea Nelson said she hopes there won't be a draft,but she doesn't think U.S. involvement in the war is a badthing.
"Our country is in safer hands with Bush," Nelson said. "Bushhas stood his ground. Since September 11, we haven't been attacked.I think if Kerry were elected, something might happen. "
The draft would probably be more likely to happen underPresident Bush than under Kerry, freshman Jake Turner said.
"Kerry is more anti-war as of now," Turner said. "I think Bushhad good intentions with the war in the beginning, but it spiraledout of control."
According to the bill, H.R. 163 - The Universal National ServiceAct of 2003 - the government would not make exceptions for militaryservice on the basis of gender or college enrollment.
"When I heard about the possibility of a draft, I was angryabout it," freshman David Burke said. "I didn't believe in the warin the first place. "
Lt. Colonel Dave Resler, assistant professor of militaryscience, said talk of a military draft from both sides amounts topolitical hoopla.
"There is no reason for a draft," Resler said. "There are 100things we could do that would be more practical than a draft. Adraft forces people into the military who don't want to be there -it's like having an employee who doesn't want to work for you."
The military is meeting its quota for recruitment, and, if thegovernment did reinstitute the draft, there would be no place toput the soldiers, Resler said.
Two more American soldiers died in Iraq Thursday, bringing theAmerican death toll in Iraq to 1,112, according the the U.S.military.
American losses and casualties in Iraq have been unfortunate,but in the big scheme of warfare and battles, they've beenrelatively low, Resler said.
"The homicide rate in Chicago was higher than the number ofsoldiers we lost in Iraq last year," Resler said. "Compared toVietnam, we're fighting this war a lot differently."
Nelson said regardless of who wins the presidential election,she thinks the war will dwindle away.
In all likelihood, the U.S. military will be out of Iraq withinthe next year or two, Resler said.
"The Iraqis want us gone, and I don't blame them," Resler said,"but they want a secure government, too. They're willing to dealwith the occupation until their government gets off its feet."
Iraqis truly have the opportunity to make their own decisionsnow, Resler said.
"It's a symbol for people in the Middle East to look at," Reslersaid. "There's freedom in one of the most dictator-driven areas ofthe world."
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