Here in the United States, the Bush administration’s secretary for veterans affairs was forced to backtrack last week after he appeared to endorse reinstating the military draft. On Thursday, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson told a news conference society would benefit from bringing back mandatory conscription. Nicholson was responding to a question from a reporter who said the Army attracts a disproportionate number of minorities and poor trying to come out of poverty. The White House immediately dismissed Nicholson’s comments. Nicholson then issued a statement saying he does not support returning to a draft.