Bell letter: War on ISIS
After the Paris terrorist attacks by Muslim citizens of Europe on their own countrymen, American fear is palpable. As a result, several presidential candidates have called for more “boots on the ground” to fight ISIS. They assert that a ground war on ISIS is necessary to preserve our very way of life.
As a Vietnam vet, I recognized that the validity of the Vietnam war was morally questionable, and that allowed many to comfortably avoid service to our country (e.g. draft dodgers and deferment system manipulators). The war on ISIS is not questionable.
Our situation today is thus akin to World War II, when the heroes of the Greatest Generation volunteered, en masse, for service against a great evil.
So, I salute in advance the young people of Idaho who, at the urging of their patriotically minded parents, will undoubtedly mob the recruitment centers to eagerly volunteer their services in the face of this dire threat. The children and grandchildren of our patriotic politicians will surely lead the way. If more young bodies are needed, then the draft should be reinstated.
Russell Bell, Meridian
This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Bell letter: War on ISIS."