Revolving Troop Door May Close

The problem: No one wants to fight in this war anymore, so we can either pack our bags and go home soon, or there will be a draft.

Our "all-volunteer" forces, if you can really call it that because of the continuing back-door draft currently being exercised, aren't volunteering anymore. But the war continues, and this trend in declining enlistment levels in spite of huge incentives, becomes more significant. As troop morale declines, a greater percentage of those currently serving will not re-up when given the chance. Recruiting levels are also way down especially for the Army which is greatest in need.

Sadly, as we continue to consume increasing amounts of energy worldwide, the need to remain in Iraq is clear. If we cannot change, and most of us don't want to it appears, war and occupation are certain by-products.

Other stronger "Allies" such as France could start cashing their "Risk cards" in the next few years with the knowledge that we're over-extended and morally suspect. Making world politics drift further into the murky waters of Imperialism. In fact, they are already experimenting with the Ivory Coast, which also holds vast amounts of untapped oil reserves.

Seems to me this sort of thing was tried before and it didn't really work that well.