Time to bundle up?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is expressing steadfast opposition to reviving the military draft despite the stress placed on America's all-volunteer force by large-scale operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I just can't imagine it," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last week when asked under what circumstances it might be necessary to resume the draft.

Hmmm...

It may be instructive to examine some of Secretary Rumsfeld's previous failures of imagination.

On whether politics influences DoD policy...

At a Pentagon news conference in January, a reporter even wondered whether a "political agenda" might lurk behind a medal lumping Operation Iraqi Freedom with the battle against al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists worldwide.

"Not that I can even imagine, no," Rumsfeld said. "This department is not involved with politics."

...or our conduct of the war in Iraq...

"I can't imagine there's been a conflict in history where there has been less collateral damage, less unintended consequences."

...or torture at Abu Ghraib...

Rumsfeld said that he "could not imagine" that any officer would approve of the abuse.

...or al Qaeda activity in Iraq...

"There are al-Qaeda in a number of locations in Iraq...it's very hard to imagine that the government is not aware of what's taking place in the country.”

...or perhaps stretching the truth just a wee bit...

QUESTION:Mr. Secretary, if I could just follow up. Will there be any circumstances, as you prosecute this campaign, in which anyone in the Department of Defense will be authorized to lie to the news media in order to increase the chances of success of a military operation or gain some other advantage over your adversaries?

The answer to your question is no. I cannot imagine a situation. I don't recall that I've ever lied to the press. I don't intend to...

Yep, I think I may feel a draft.

You young folks may want to grab a jacket...