The military forces first use their technology. Nuclear weapons are part of the technology. And, yes, we only have so many people in uniform. There aren't enough to go around.
There are many summer soldiers and sunshine patriots here on FR. They are perfectly willing to take the blessings of living in a free and reasonably secure country, but when crunch time comes, they are inflexibly opposed to paying their dues.
Ref Post 23. Regarding the draft, I am not sure they will reinstate. Judging from all of the crying from many "freepers" over the prospect of serving in the military, I can imagine the resistance from the general population.
I'm not sure the FedGov would care too much if they felt they needed the cannon fodder.
The military forces first use their technology. Nuclear weapons are part of the technology. And, yes, we only have so many people in uniform. There aren't enough to go around
Agreed they'd use technology to minimize loss. They should use technology to minimize loss, that's the way to win wars after all. However, to throw the nuke card out on the table this early in the game...not a good sign for our side. If we went simply for "get it over with quick", we'd have nuked Korea and Vietnam without a second bat of the eyelash.
With what appears to be a manpower shortage of 11B's to be had, and with the ambitious goals of the WOT (to say the least), I cannot help but see this early trump card play as anything but a sign of quiet weakness under the guise of chest thumping bravado.