the grimmest of visions

Gerard Van der Leun argues that the justifiable disgust over CBS mainstreaming of bogus military draft fears is hiding the long view: Yes, Virginia, There WILL Be a Draft.

The beauty of the “There's Gonna Be A Draft” lie is the fact that, like all great lies, it contains the truth: There will be a draft in the United States and it will happen within the next four years. But it won't happen because there are “stealth Republicans” disguised as Democrats pushing a selective service bill through the congress. It will happen for one serious and terrible reason — a devastating terrorist attack on United States soil.

Is there anyone, right, center, left, who seriously doubts that a second attack is not just likely but a certainty? Not a soul who is not either institutionalized or wandering the naked streets at dawn with a bullhorn and a bucket of Lithium.

The second attack will be worse than 911 even if, through some miracle, the dead are less. The second attack, which will happen in some city, suburb, or mall, will involve the death in large numbers of American children.

In recent weeks we have seen the dress rehearsals: first Beslan, and today another thirty-five young souls snuffed in a Baghdad car bombing. The jihadis have seized upon a tactic more horrifying than videotaped decapitation of pleading hostages.

Van der Leun then predicts our response:

The killing of our children in this attack, combined with the deaths of adults, will, at last move the country onto a real war footing. The era of the “little” Terrorist War will end on the day of the second attack and the “big” Terrorist War will begin.

This means that at last “sacrifice” will mean something larger than shopping to support the economy. It will mean real “sacrifice” and an expansion of the war's goals and strategy.

It will mean that we will be required, among many other things, to put several million citizens under arms.

You can guess what comes next. But is he right? About this nation's fierce Jacksonian side, undoubtedly: but an army of millions might not be a necessity.

We are indeed but one more 9/11 away from total war, and the use of the most deadly weapons at our disposal. I pray that it will never come to that—but the choice lies with those who dream of bringing Beslan to Austin or Atlanta or Kansas City.