Federal Employees should now be drafted!

A little noticed recommendation of the Baker Iraq Study Group would have a dramatic effect on the civilian work force. Here it is, Recommendation No. 74:

In the short term, if not enough civilians volunteer to fill key positions in Iraq, civilian agencies must fill those positions with directed assignments. Steps should be taken to mitigate familial or financial hardships posed by directed assignments, including tax exclusions similar to those authorized for U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq.

So if we don't have enough troops to send to Iraq, we can always force bureaucrats to go and force the Iraqis to fill out forms in triplicate to satisfy the Federal requirements for doing anything!

On the other hand, it might be better than the absolutely clueless political hacks we sent over to staff the Coalition Authority.