I'm disappoined over the election results, too, but not surprised, and not terribly alarmed.

The election *was* close, and not everyone who voted for the President was necessarily endorsing his war policy. Huge numbers of those who came out to vote the straight Republican ticket did so *solely* because of their absolute opposition to abortion and to homosexuality. Many of these folks may be willing to go along with every administration policy no-matter-what, but not all of them.

In other words, just because Bush won 52% of the vote, or whatever, does not mean that 52% of the country supports the war in Iraq -- certainly not so strongly that they will accept a draft to supply cannon fodder for continuing that misguided effort.

There is *much* more public sentiment against this war than at a comparable stage of the Vietnam conflict, and plenty of doubt about conscription even among supporters of the war -- certainly among career military personnel. If a draft were indeed to be imposed anytime soon, there would be *immediate* draft resitance on a scale at least equal to that of 1968-72, if not moreso. As you may recall, the draft was abolished on January 1, 1973, as a direct reponse to the country's growing and adamant opposition.

The draft laws in effect in the 60s -- which presumably would remain essentially unchanged if conscription were to be reinstated -- provided provisions for requesting Conscientious Objector status. It might be prudent for you and your son to prepare for the possibility of making such an application -- figuring out who among his teachers/counselors/ministers etc. to ask for reference letters, etc.