=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Being on the upper end of the 30s I haven't been too concerned [1] about being drafted when it becomes clear that the Cheney Administration won't be able to continue shedding volunteer (American; Iraqis are a different story) blood in the desert.

Then (via DailyKos) I read [2] that the DoD has quietly asked Congress to raise the maximum age for military recruits in all branches of the service to 42.

When the DoD eventually expands it's definition of "urgent wartime support initiatives" to include the draft, those of use younger than 42 may end up on an all expenses paid vacation to sunny Iraq.

Ya know, when the military has problems recruiting volunteers, has to bump up bonuses big time [2] (including big reup bonuses [3]) and then asks to raise the age of recruitment, you kinda get the sense that the American people are, uh, dubious, of Bush's claim that this war is in our interest.

But that's me, A Liberal Who Hates America (tm) (a bit of redundancy on the part of the wing-nuts but who am I to quibble?). I'm sure those conservatives fully disconnected from consensual reality see things differently.

Who knows, they might even volunteer in sufficient numbers to delay the imposition of the draft and keep the rest of us who didn't buy this war to begin with out of the desert for a couple of extra days.

I suppose that I could take some comfort that I'd be classified as 4F but while that might initially buy a few months, I figure that "urgent wartime support initiatives" will loosen those criteria as well.


[1] Obviously, with two young 'uns I'm concerned that they'll be drafted into Bush's Folly within the next decade.

[2] Uncle Sam wants you - even if you're 42 years old, Rick Maze, ArmyTimes.com, July 19, 2005.

[3] Soldiers re-enlist beyond U.S. goal, Dave Moniz, USA Today, July 17, 2005.