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Candidates Who Call For Beefing Up Our Armed Forces to Deter Terrorism Show a Profound Misunderstanding of the Mideast.
Is the US Army too small?
The Democrats vying to succeed George W. Bush think so. Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama all promise, if elected, to expand our land forces. Clinton has declared it "past time to increase the end-strength of the Army and Marines." Edwards calls for a "substantial increase." Obama offers hard numbers: His program specifies the addition of 92,000 soldiers.
Leading Republicans concur. John McCain has long advocated a bigger Army. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are now chiming in. Giuliani wants to expand the Army with an additional 10 combat brigades. Romney says that "at least 100,000" more troops are needed.
This bipartisan consensus — which even includes Bush, who recently unveiled his own five-year plan to enlarge the Army and Marine Corps — illustrates the inability or refusal of the political class to grasp the true nature of our post-9/11 foreign policy crisis. Any politician who thinks that the chief lesson to be drawn from the last five years is that we need more Americans toting rifles and carrying rucksacks has learned nothing.
In fact, this enthusiasm for putting more Americans in uniform (and for increasing overall military spending) reflects the persistence of a second consensus to which leading Democrats and Republicans alike stubbornly subscribe.
This second consensus consists of two elements. According to the first element, the only way to win the so-called global war on terrorism, thereby precluding another 9/11, is to "fix" whatever ails the Islamic world. According to the second element, the United States possesses the wherewithal to effect just such a transformation. In essence, by employing American power, beginning with military power, to ameliorate the ills afflicting Islam, we will ensure our own safety.
This is sheer twaddle, as events in Iraq have manifestly shown. Yet even today, among mainstream Republicans and Democrats, expectations persist that the United States can somehow reform and therefore pacify the Muslim world.
In fact, the great lesson of Iraq (further affirmed in Afghanistan) is that the umma — the Arabic name for the entire Muslim community — is all but impervious to change imposed from the outside. If anything, our ham-handed efforts to inculcate freedom and democracy, even if well-intentioned, have played into the hands of violent Islamic radicals. The Bush administration's strategy has exacerbated the problem it was designed to solve, while squandering American lives, treasure, moral standing and political influence to little avail.
Given the mess in which we currently find ourselves, increasing the number of men and women under arms makes about as much sense as drinking bourbon to treat depression. In the short term, the antidote might make you feel better, but at a cost of masking the underlying problem and allowing it to fester.
The underlying problem is that the basic orientation of U.S. policy since 9/11 has been flat wrong. Bush's conception of waging an open-ended global "war" to eliminate terrorism has failed, disastrously and irredeemably. Simply trying harder — no matter how many more soldiers we recruit and no matter how many more Muslim countries we invade and "liberate" — will not reverse that failure. More meddling will evoke more hatred.
THE CHALLENGE confronting those aspiring to the presidency, therefore, is to devise an alternative to Bush's failed strategy. To pass muster, any such strategy will have to recognize the limits of American power, military and otherwise. It must acknowledge that because the United States cannot change Islam, we have no alternative but to coexist with it.
Yet coexistence should not imply appeasement or passivity. Any plausible strategy will prescribe concrete and sustainable policies designed to contain the virulent strain of radicalism currently flourishing in parts of the Islamic world. The alternative to transformation is not surrender but quarantine.
Over time, of course, Islam will become something other than what it is today. But as with our own post-Christian West, that evolution will be determined primarily by forces within. Our interest lies in nudging that evolution along a path that alleviates rather than perpetuates conflict between Islam and the West. In that regard, the requirement is not for a bigger Army but for fresh ideas, informed by modesty and a sense of realism.
The candidate who can articulate such ideas might well merit respect and popular support. Those who in the absence of serious strategic analysis reflexively posture about the need for more troops deserve only contempt.
Andrew Bacevich is a professor of history and international relations at Boston University.
Copyright 2007 The Los Angeles Times
12 Comments so far
Show AllHillary, Obama and Edwards wanting to increase the military just proves they are worthless politikos. We need to bring the troops home and at the same time we need more troops to add to our already unbelievably wasteful and bloated military. Uh, ok.
Do they think they will get a check from the gov't - or mercy votes for being retarded?
Bacevich has it exactly right. Containment worked on Communism and the USSR; it would work even better on jihadism.
Too small for what? For protecting a continent wide nation protected by oceans other either side bordered by two quite friendly nations, no. For protecting corporate greed wherever it raises its ugly head anywhere in the world, yes.
Peaceman and uncommon Dreams: Mucho Gracias for the support and REMINDERS of that which is always in alliance with our higher selves. We all have "Robert Frost" moments where we'd "like to get away from earth a while." (Birches, one of his best poems.)
Inri: I'd ask you to examine the hate you seem to feel for me, as it really is YOUR OWN projection. I wonder what it is that I share in this forum that rouses you to such negative passion. Frankly, I am not interested in hearing it... I think my question is directed as THERAPY that you seem in need of. Good luck in your journey.
Yes, it takes a particular form of insanity to somehow believe that as your home is going up in flames, the best remedy is to quickly pour more petrol onto it, -somehow judging that this will cure the problem...
Siouxrose says: "It makes me feel like an alien to the human race to have to witness such calamitous stupidity!" Well sister, you are on the side of the gods there. Think how they must look upon this race and see many fires of hate burning across the globe.
Incredulity is just one justified response to what the dark ones are doing to our world just at the moment.
As to moving somewhere else, well yes, -quite understandable to pine for a place where inmates are not setting fire to the asylum, but then, -which land is completely free of lunacy at the moment?
(Falsely) attributed to Edmund Burke: "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win the world, is for enough good men do nothing."
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We human beings are experiencing an important world juncture at this time, (as you are aware of Sioux), and for myself, I am committed to NEVER giving up the battle to ensure sanity wins the day. I think that's why many of us are here, incarnate right now, -we who knew what we were getting into, this life around. We 'came to make a difference' did we not? We came to help enlighten, -both ourselves, -and then others?
Will we leave the job half-done before giving of our best? ~ I hope not.
All of us here, -the progressive thinkers of various stripes, *have a part to play* in the reconstruction of the world, but giving up or seeking to flee is to detract from the efforts our co-workers are putting in, -and thence allowing the dark forces to win the day.
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America has a great potential future, no matter which lunatics may (at present) be at the helm. She has the potential to become a very real force for good.
Your task is to wrench the vile AK47 from the Statue of Liberty's hand and put back the Light that was once held aloft...
If it helps, recall that no matter how dire the present leadership is (and yes, they are about as blackened with mire as they could be!) - nonetheless, they are each tiny little human beings who are subject to the winds of change.
United, and *steadfast with intent*, let's blow in their direction and see them fall!
How do we do that?
Well, the first thought that crosses my mind: We all saw what one, (just *one*) little American citizen recently did. She was badly hurt when her kid got killed in a needless war, so she campaigned, and complained, and consistently made some noise. Her name was Cindy Sheehan.
~~ Now picture what just five Cindy Sheehans could do.
Or fifty of her magnificent ilk, --or a hundred?
Here in the UK we have a man, just a very ordinary guy (in one sense!), who was impassioned about the Iraq debacle, so he set up on the pavement outside Parliament (-another tilting ship of fools!) and every day voiced loudly his opposition to Tony Blair's insanity of war. His placards grew, he drew lots of attention from the media, he inspired very many others, -his name is Brian Haw.
He stated, "I want to go back to my own kids and look them in the face again knowing that I've done all I can to try and save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying because of my government's unjust, immoral, fear - and money - driven policies. These children and people of other countries are every bit as valuable and worthy of love as my precious wife and children."
Our poltroon UK (mis)government was afraid and affronted by this man's 6year long campaign, so in desperation, they finally had their hounds come out and clear his placards away (in the dead of night, for being feral creatures of the dark, that is their habit!) ;) but then, someone else (an artist) took up Brian's call, and recreated all the antiwar banners, and now they are displayed in a central London gallery! [And Brian Haw is back there as before anyway!) :)
[click here for a page about Brian: http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/ ]
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Above are just two examples of two 'small' people, -Cindy and Brian, who have, as little individuals, had a huge impact upon the minds and hearts of many human beings, (internationally) and proved to be a genuine thorn in the side of our reprobate leaders. If we did but generate a few more like them, the changes we seek would occur that much faster.
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Without wishing to appear to 'weird' and too metaphysical, I am honestly convinced that we, (the intelligent progressives, -world wide) have the powerful -if not omnipotent, forces of LIGHT on our side. If that is true, then can the dark-hearted fools at present in power, really win out?
Even now, on a daily basis, we see how they are beginning to skid and slip on their own slime trails. And just like nocturnal slugs and snails, will eventually dry up in the new day's sun, - only empty husks will remain, ~ as we soar on to bigger and better things.
I implore all of you who may at times feel like giving up, to think again, and just give a few more pushes of our (collective) shoulder to the wheel, then we will have won, and the slimy, lowly creeping things will be gone forever, and our brave new era will come into being, just as we always pictured it would.
Ghandi never gave up, -nor Martin Luther King, nor Christ, nor Buddha, nor Mark Twain, nor Henry Thoreau, or Thomas Paine, nor all the thousands of others who have left their luminous touch upon this earth and upon the minds and hearts of humans everywhere.
And, for what it's worth, neither shall I, --- not ever! And if they bumped me off in the next minute, I'd just come round again in my next life and simply pick up where I left off...
At the risk of boring you, I shall again risk quoting Calvin Coolidge's insight: "Determination and persistence alone are omnipotent!"
xx
Siouxrose, don't get a heart attack, my sister. ( I should talk ) Lead by example, and encourage young people not to join the military, encourage them to read, read, and read more of "alternative information, and above all else, to learn how to think and question everything. You have the background, Siouxrose. Teach them that we are our brothers ( and sisters ) keepers and they our keepers. We are all one in the Universe. Eventually, even the slime in Washington,D.C. will wise up. They've got some heavy, heavy Karma. Inner Peace be with you. AUM.......
Am I the only one who sees this "increase army" bull shit as the same mentality of the guy at the steering wheel who is already miles off course, the fuel is running low, there's no gas station in sight, and he insists he needs to keep going as thus. PLEASE! This is the reckoning, people... force/war/violence is not going to work. We've sunk the nation's treasure into this hell hole (of our own making) and argue for more of same? Is this NOT the very definition of insanity? And what's with this PRESUMPTION that Western values are superior, that it's our JOB to tell Islam how to behave? IF a few loose canons did come over here on 911 (and lots of us are not that sure it was really perpetrated by those who our "oh, so honest, would never lie to us, propagandized media" say it was) that has never justified BOMBING a nation back to the stone age, murdering at least 600,000, rendering 2 million homeless and/or refugees, looting museums, ETC. To argue for MORE of this kind of barbarism? It makes me feel like an alien to the human race to have to witness such calamitous stupidity! As I have said redundantly this is not about wisdom, it's not about God's will, it's not about democracy, it's not about winning hearts (it is about oil and empire and reducing American citizens' rights under a ruse of terrorism, and its violent companions)... it is fierce, unadulterated homage to MARS. Look what the military has left behind in former wars? The radiation sickness in Japan, the agent orange in Vietnam, the DUI/Gulf War syndrome in Iraq, the dead zones, the land mines, the villages of limbless chilren, the widows, the soldiers now without genitals! or eyes! We are supposed to add numbers to this deadly and heinous brew? Oh. The karma that will follow this murder of reason! Higher powers forgive mankind its redundant ignorance, but the folly of passing such hell onto others without remorse, that takes LIFETIMES to clear up. With nature wobbling on the cusp of collapse, we do not have lifetimes. We'll be lucky if our children and grandchildren get to finish out their earthly terms. And they argue for more troops, more weapons, more money for the obscene military that has already become a cancer unto this world? I pray for JUSTICE to break the hearts of the resolute, better their hearts break with the power of light entering, then that they levy yet more calamity on the innocent. I think this article has convinced me that I can use my little home as a base camp, but that it may be time to leave the US(SR). Unbelievable!
Once home, how many troops are required to Secure and Seal OUR US BORDERS? That's All WE NEED!
Bacevich raises a very serious issue here, one which progressive groups, even the major anti-war groups, aren't talking about much. The issue is the overwhelming consensus in favor of expanding the US army. I disagree with him on the reasoning behind this. I think Democrats and Republicans are aware that US power has fallen off under the Bush administration (although not only because of the actions of Bush). The Middle East is just one element in the picture. The only idea anyone seems to have to revive that power is to expand the military (and where exactly would the troops come from?). The alternative is to accept a permanent reduction in US power. Although there is the real prospect that such an acceptance will bring about a reduction in the economic power of the US (inevitable in any case), this acceptance would reduce the prospects of war/terrorism. This is what the anti-war movement should be talking about, not just getting out of Iraq.
Master Sun Tzu: The Art of War is winning without fighting.
The Military Industrial Media Political complex is now in power and the whole political machine is fielding candidates with various hues of the same color as they all give the key and buzz world to demonstrate that they are full establishment candidates. Instead of asking for more troops and more power, I propose that we build next to one in five mosques in the Arab Muslim world a public library staffed by US and local people with classes in literacy and in technical skills. I suggest that we help with the EU build technical colleges in every capital in the Arab and Muslim world. I know that the public library in my town in MN cost 10 million dollars in 1995 and even if the price is double that, just imagine how much 2 billion dollars a week that we are spending can do to insure the spread of knowledge and good will.
I also think that a major shift in our foreign policy is the only way we can maintain our leadership in the world and this by aligning ourselves with justice before oil and intersts. We either do it willingly or we will be forced to do it as the insurgency in Iraq has fought the only superpower to a stalemate.
Excellent article. Unfortunately, however, Prof. Bacevich refrains from recommending specific policies to bring about the change he calls for (though, to be fair, he has done so elsewhere). In order to reduce the friction between the USA and the Islamic world, the first thing that must be done is for the USA to declare neutrality in the Israel-Arab conflict, and to practice such neutrality in reality. This does not mean a policy of hostility towards Israel; it simply means that the USA will have normal relations with Israel and with the Arab states and the Palestinians - no more and no less. And the second thing that must be done is for the USA to withdraw all its military forces from the Islamic world.
These two simple courses of action will take the wind out of al-Qaeda's sails and eliminate 99% of the incentive Muslim terrorists have to attack US targets.
http://www.kibush.co.il
Mark Marshall
Toronto