Will there be a draft? How is it going to work? What can we do about it? Why Worry About the Draft?
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22 June 2025 / Edward Hasbrouck / Resisters.info - The draft is a threat to everyone concerned about peace — not just young men. The more soldiers the generals have, the more soldiers and civilians they can kill — and without a draft, the U.S. military is eventually going to run short of “volunteer” soldiers for its endless wars around the world!
Some people think that only young men can resist the draft. But that’s not true at all. The people most likely to face the draft first doctors, nurses, and other health care workers — men and women up to age 45 in 57 different occupations.
Some people think they would be safe from the draft because they are college students or plan to seek conscientious objector (CO) status. But student deferments have been abolished, most people who oppose wars don’t qualify for CO status, and many valid CO claims will be denied.
Politicians know the draft would produce widespread dissent and resistance. The higher the domestic costs of the draft look, the more likely politicians are to seek an end to the wars. Fear of the draft will encourage them to bring the troops home before the recruiting crisis gets any worse.
Since the resumption of draft registration in 1980, the U.S. has invaded Panama, Grenada, Afghanistan, and Iraq; used drones and missiles to attack Yemen; bombed Iran; and attacked other countries through U.S.-armed proxies. But with a draft supplying even more soldiers, each of those wars could have been even bloodier.
