Reinstate the draft

The consensus is that eventually it will take American boots on the ground to stop the Islamic State.

If that is truly the case, we should reinstate the draft immediately. Everyone 18 to 35 eligible — your kids, mine, the president’s and Congress’ too. No deferrals. No exclusions except for physical or mental disability, felonies and a national non-military service option for conscientious objectors.

No more of this all-volunteer military stuff. No more multiple rotations four, five, six and eight times to the war zone.

If this is a war, we must treat it like a war, including a war tax to pay for it.

— Paul R. Schattman, Arlington