Now, I realize that even if we go to war with Iraq that there probably won't be a draft. Yet every time I hear an old white man saying, "Here's why we have to attack Iraq," I can't help but hear it as, "Here's why you should be killed while fighting in Iraq." It wouldn't be completely fair to accuse these people of blindly demanding that others make the ultimate sacrafice while they sit around in there cozy homes, far away from danger. After all, many of them have kids, or grandkids, or (in some cases) great grandkids who could be potential draftees.

But in spite of their love for their relatives, I wonder how many of them would be willing to personally take a bullet for the fight in Iraq. For national security and the welfare of the nation maybe, but for Iraq?

I'm not necessarily trying to take these hawks to task for wanting a fight; others have with a great deal of fervor. And I do find it interesting that the willingness to declare war increases, as the likelihood that one is going to be forced to fight in it decreases. But I just want to justify my own, admititedly selfish objections. I'm of an age where if there were to be a draft, I would be quite eligible. I'm not married, I'm reasonably young, I'm not in college, and I don't have any serious heath problems. I'll go if I'm called. But I have a strong sense of self preservation; I'm not going to volunteer.

In spite of the fact that I'm in no real danger of being forced to fight in Iraq, the thought that I might is gripping. I don't want to go. And the primary reason that I am not out waving the flag of invasion is that I wouldn't want the men and women of our armed forces to do what I myself am not willing to do, regardless of how much they want to.

If it were true that Iraq, if left to itself, would go on a campaign of destruction costing many American lives, then my objections are blown to hell. The problem is that there is no clear objective. Ousting Sadam Hussien isn't going to stop international terrorism any more than ousting Manuel Noreaga stopped the huge influx of drugs into the United States. If we're talking about training camps, finacial backing, and country of origin, then Saudi Arabia should be considered more responsible for attacks against American than even Afghanistan, and far more responsible than North Korea. Why isn't our president pounding his fist and denouncing them? Unless there's some sort of brilliant misdirection going on, why is our government apparently not doing anything about them? The jury is still out: What would be worse, invading Iraq or not invading Iraq? There are people who claim to know, but none are all that convincing. Maybe there is something horrible brewing in that so called "rogue state". Maybe we have a chance to strike before it blows up in our faces.

But I'm not willing to risk the only life I'll ever have on a maybe. Maybe.

-B. C. Silvia