THE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT hasn't had a lot to celebrate of late. The quagmire in Iraq drags on. The soldiers and civilians keep dying – 1,740 US troops and at least 22,000 noncombatants as of press time. The Bush administration shows no signs of even considering a withdrawal timeline, so there's no end in sight.

But one obvious vulnerability is starting to show up: The Army can no longer meet its recruiting goals. Young people (and their parents) realize that a stint in the military now means it's likely they'll be posted to Iraq, one of the most dangerous and unpleasant assignments since the days of Vietnam – and unlike Vietnam, there's no orderly or predictable rotation out. So recruits could wind up fighting an unwinable war against a largely invisible enemy in a hostile environment for years.

At a certain point, that's going to take an unavoidable toll. Congress will either have to recognize that the war can't continue – or will have to discuss reinstating the draft, which will almost certainly spark a level of sustained antiwar sentiment that hasn't been seen in the country since the 1960s. So activists are rightly moving to target military recruitment as a way not only to save the lives of potential recruits but to push for an end to the war.

That's why a largely symbolic San Francisco ballot initiative has such potential significance. The College Not Combat coalition is gathering signatures for a policy statement that would oppose federal rules requiring schools to allow recruiters on campus. The measure won't by itself stop recruiting efforts, but it may help focus more attention on the issue – and on the brutal costs of the Iraq war. The group is mobilizing for a final signature drive Saturday, July 9 at the 16th and Mission BART station. It's a great place for antiwar activists to put some energy.