The Draft

President Walton took his position at the podium. He arranged his briefings, took a sip of water, looked directly at the press corps cameras and started his address, "Good evening, my fellow Americans. Thank you for joining me at such a late hour. As you have heard earlier, we have confirmed the North Korean’s deployment of a biochemical weapon of mass destruction. The United States, NATO, along with the United Nations are jointly condemning this act of aggression and full-blown cowardice. It is with great regret and frustration for me to see that despite our best efforts and measures to prevent such an incident from ever transpiring, General Kim Cho Jong engaged in deceiving the world and pursuing with an equal audacity to use a weapon of this magnitude. I promise you that as your president, I will make certain that the North Korean military forces are punished accordingly and the Korean People trapped within Kim’s tyrannical regime are freed from his control. The first of our retaliatory strikes have commenced yesterday. Our long range B-2 and B-52 bombers combined with F-22, F-18, F-16, and Joint Strike Fighters, accompanied with Tomahawk and Delstar cruise missiles launched from the surface task force groups Reliance and Fidelis, bombarded numerous military assets of North Korea. These bombings will be continuous, and increasingly relentless and in doing so, will greatly decimate the efforts of advancing North Korean forces. These attacks will not stop unless General Kim recalls his troops and issues his unconditional surrender to the U.S./ Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command. I am pleased to hear Congress giving me a unanimous show of support and solidarity in the wake of this tragedy. They have invoked many resolutions granting me the power and the means in order to deal with this atrocity to the fullest extent, bringing me to my first item of business. Like many conflicts before us, we cannot win this war with bombing alone. We are required to hold ground and occupy territory in conjunction with the support from tactical and strategic bombing. This war will indeed be different from the ones we have fought before because this weapon of mass destruction has dramatically affected our forces in South Korea along with Allied forces in the Northwestern Pacific Rim. The effects are unique in a nature where it has forced me to take the necessary course of action. My fellow Americans, what I am about to require of you may be the most controversial, as well as, the most unparalleled sacrifice to be ordered by any President that ever held this office." He took a deep breath, "Moments ago, I signed into law a War Powers Declaration authorized by Congress known as the ‘Red Badge Act.’ Effective immediately, under Red Badge, I am ordering the Selective Service System to organize a military draft, not for men ages 18 through 25, but for boys starting at 15 and ending no later than 17."

The pressroom broke from their silence, most with frenzy, others in intrigue. Photographers hurriedly flashed their cameras after Walton announced this new course of action. After a couple minutes of murmuring, the President continued, "Now I know that this is an order many are reluctant to follow, but for the clear and present danger presented before us, it is a matter of necessity. Please try to understand. Our national interests and security are at stake. This decision was not taken lightly and will not be dealt with as such. American servicemen and women have been wronged and it is our sworn obligation to take care of our own." As he heaved a deep sigh he concluded, "I trust that we as Americans will see through this conflict together, uniting with one another in the face of adversity. I ensure you that this is the safest and most appropriate action for the good of the nation. This administration is obligated to upholding the responsibility of reestablishing the tranquillity to this nation and the world in our continued pursuit to purge the world of those who would intentionally terrorize others. In conclusion, I ask that all Americans, regardless of race, gender, and creed to unite with one another and pray for the families of the soldiers both U.S. and South Korean alike, who were felled by this horrible weapon. Pray for the parents who are about to make a painful sacrifice, and for the sons and brothers who may be required to make the ultimate sacrifice. May your hearts, prayers, and thoughts be with them always. Good night and God bless America."