"The Pentagon is quietly recruiting new members to fill local draft boards, as the machinery for drafting a new generation of young Americans is being quietly put into place," Nader said. "Young Americans need to know that a train is coming, and it could run over their generation."

Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese said the warning is based on the U.S. Selective Service System's recent call for draft board volunteers, an extended U.S. military and calls by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and Congress to expand the military, the Boston Herald reported Friday.

However, the government firmly denies a draft is anywhere in the near future. "We're not going to re-implement a draft. There's no need for it at all," said Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell.

Pentagon officials said there are 1.4 million active duty troops and a similar number of National Guard and Reserves.

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