BLACKFIVE and Greyhawk and LT Smash were all deeply unimpressed by Stanford Prof. David Kennedy’s likening of today’s military to “Hessians.”

It’s a double-bind for the military. When there’s a draft, it’s evil. When there’s not a draft, they’re mercenaries. It’s almost like the game is rigged so that the military is always wrong . . . .

Kennedy’s idea of mandatory national service seems pointless, even on his terms. It’s been done in Europe, and certainly hasn’t produced the results he seeks.

I do agree that the “distance” of the military from American society is really a distance from left-leaning American society. Perhaps we should bring back mandatory ROTC at universities. . . .

UPDATE: A Navy Chief analyzes the rhetoric of press discussion on military structure.