There is no debate that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing U.S. taxpayers big bucks. The National Priorities Project has put the estimated cost of the war in Iraq alone at nearly $500 billion. The New York Times puts the figure at $1.2 trillion. Part of the discrepancy lies in how you classify spending: are costs to rebuild Iraq, for example, part of the cost of the war?
Putting the actual dollars aside for a moment, there is no question that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are affecting our levels of troops in the military. Enlistment rates are down. Attrition rates from our military academies are up. Enrollment at those same academies are down. Reserves that have been made active (some for more than one term) are up. And the number of military personnel who have died in the Iraq war alone is staggering: 3,857. There are an additional 28,424 wounded troops. These kinds of numbers do not bode well for a continued strong military presence without some sort of change.
So, what kind of change are we talking? We’ve already activated reserves numerous times (my colleague’s husband, an attorney, served two tours). We’ve increased bonuses. We’ve created more financial incentives. We’ve boosted our PR and media dollars on new ad campaigns. What next?
You’ve heard the whispers: a draft.
I know, I know. This is a tax blog. What does it have to do with the draft?
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