Jimmy Carter's leadership (pardons).

[Zeke]

On this day -- thirty-nine years ago -- President Carter pardoned nearly all Vietnam War draft evaders. Every day since, that has looked like a better decision as the entire expedition was a fiasco. Eventually, even the President (an Admiral Rickover trained former nuclear submarine officer!) realized it was counterproductive to prosecute people for having been correct in the first place regarding folly.

Noted. So why, two generations later, did we turn around and do the same tactical thing in the Middle East? Sure, there's no draft as the military had been ridiculously bloated to fight a two front strategic war that is never going to happen but we still failed to heed The Princess Bride's admonishment to avoid land wars in Asia. And, no, 9/11 is NOT justification for a damned thing beyond bringing to justice specifically perpetrators tied to that incident. All of this other mess, WE caused.

If the draft was, today, necessary or reinstated? I'd drive every male child I know to Canada.