Feel a draft yet?

Dallas Morning News: What a shame it would be if a future generation of Americans looked back and concluded that our leaders had been presented with a valuable opportunity to call for shared sacrifice after the Sept. 11 attacks -- and blew it.
Unfortunately, that's how it looks. In the days after the attacks, as Ground Zero smoldered, President Bush faced a nation ready to hear something reminiscent of John F. Kennedy's admonition to "ask what you can do for your country." Instead, the administration did everything it could to advance the belief that America could fight and win the war on terrorism -- with minimal disruption to the lives of most Americans. Congress didn't do much better. Last year, it sidestepped a debate -- proposed by Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings of South Carolina and Rep. Charles Rangel of New York -- on whether it was time to reinstitute the draft for 18- to 26-year-olds.
Now, the issue is back in the news, thanks to Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who suggested this week that we consider some sort of "mandatory service" for all U.S. citizens. While not calling for a draft, Hagel said the war on terrorism could last another two decades, and he asked Americans to begin exploring ways to rebuild a military that has been stretched thin after being deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Like Hagel, we aren't prepared to support a draft at this point. As we have said, the military is better off for being voluntary.
But someday soon, Americans may have to confront the tough decision of whether to reinstitute the draft. Now is the time to start debating the idea. And elected officials should lead the way.