Rumors of a renewal of the U.S. military draft -- which ended in the aftermath of the Vietnam War in 1973 -- float across political Web sites like the remnants of burnt draft cards caught in a breeze. For Democrats and Republicans, war veterans and conscientious objectors, the specter of the draft dredges up old feelings of resentment, as well as notions of heroism and patriotism. For the 18- to 25-year-old men currently registered with the Selective Service System -- and the young women who are also likely to be included in a new draft -- it's a potentially unwelcome call.

The United States currently has approximately 130,000 troops deployed in Iraq, with an additional 20,000 fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan and about 200,000 stationed in 144 countries around the globe. Many military leaders and politicians believe success in the war on terror will require additional troops and assert that the military is already stretched too thin. As of June 15, 2004, at least 5,013 U.S. soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors and Coast Guardsmen were wounded in action and 834 American troops were killed.

Whether their goal is to support the war against terrorism and supplement an over-deployed military, or to potentially bolster anti-war sentiment by forcing all Americans to feel the pinch of the responsibility of war, some lawmakers and pundits encourage the reintroduction of the draft. Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) have sponsored bills supporting the draft, although Newsweek reported that both bills -- S. 89 and H.R. 163 -- "remain stuck in committee." Representative Duncan Hunter (R-Cal), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told Newsweek that the draft would only be reinstated if there was a "massive surge requirement" to continue current military operations.

"Most military officers understandably prefer an army of volunteers and career soldiers over an army of grudging conscripts," Dave Lindorff wrote in Salon. "Rumsfeld, too, has long been a staunch advocate of an all-volunteer force."

But in The New York Times, William Broyles, Jr., wrote, "Not since the 19th century has America fought a war that lasted longer than a week with an all-volunteer army; we cannot do it now."

While opinion leaders in the media are split on the subject, the results of a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll conducted in October, 2003, clearly articulated the viewpoint of average Americans. Eighty percent of those polled said they were against the reinstatement of the draft. Only 17 percent indicated they supported the return of the draft, down from 27 percent prior to the Iraq war. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Gannett News Service reported: "The poll also found that young people were least likely to support a draft."

Think you know where you stand on this issue? During the course of this activity, we will ask you four more times: Should the United States government reinstate the military draft? Based on your responses, we will argue the opposite points of view. Only your final vote will count toward the results of this poll.