Troubles come in bunches, as you know (read about the 1930s), but that doesn't excuse political avoidance of true catastrophes in the making. Right now, we need a lot less worry about the flu and a lot more about the danger of nuclear proliferation and the immediate issues of Iran and Pakistan.
It is hard to believe that some in circles of influence want to disarm our nuclear force--the deterrent that compensates for a relative shortage of military manpower in the world--at a time when nuclear arms may be spreading. It is hard to believe that the Obama Administration is pressuring Israel to make a potentially ruinous deal with the Palestinians as a wishful way to appease Iran. And it is hard to think that we are so impotent to curb the Taliban in Pakistan.
Tony Blankley is bringing up the comfortable truth that America needs a stronger military now and cannot strategically afford the effective build-down envisaged by so many in the new Administration. I don't agree with the seeming implication at the end of his article that a draft may be needed. Not only is that wrong in principle, it would ignite a huge political backlash in society now. Regardless, his call for more manpower is exactly right.
Political will is the problem. One good sign--from the Rasmussen Poll--is that national security is growing again in the priorities of ordinary Americans. The 70 percent figure representing those who see the issue as very important is higher than at any time in the past year and a half.
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