I agree with this post with an addition. Israel requires the draft for both men and women because in the last 67 Years they have fought four wars for their very survival in which their territorial integrity was in question (im not putting a value on any of their occupations which is another matter entirely, simply that their national boundaries have been compromised or been risked compromised a number of times)
The very survival of their nation demands that each and every citizen be militarily trained so that in a national emergency their small professional army can be turned into a large professional army with the snap of a finger.
70 years ago the world was a very different place with many large nations, many large armies which shared relative parity and most of which were militarily and politically opposed to each other. In that light a draft makes sense. Things have changed however and the nature of warfare has changed. In my mind, only the Korean border and the straight of Taiwan represent regions where 'old school' conventional warfare still has the possibility of happening.
The USA is far better off positioned with a regular army of volunteers who regardless of their economic background, ultimately have chosen to be there. That most represents the value they are there to defend most: freedom of choice. If you take that away than the very principle which the US armed forces stand for is shattered.
