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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 22, 2012 - 5:37:21 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
This forthcoming Memorial Day is a good time to examine our war-fighting policies and their consequences. A key Obama policy is to fight our current wars with an extremely small number of combat personnel who continuously rotate in and out of combat. Overall, approximately 250,000 Americans have actually been in combat in Afghanistan or Iraq, an extremely small number of people to be involved in wars that have lasted almost a decade, especially compared to our total population of over 300 million people.
The consequences of this policy are no surprise: Those who are cyclically exposed to combat manifest a range of negative symptoms, such as increased stress, PTSD, difficulties readjusting to non-combat life, divorces, and suicides. The obvious explanation of these symptoms is the periodic but consistent exposure to possible injury and death. However, combat in all wars requires such exposure: What is different about the current wars? Perhaps a more unique explanation can be found by examining how America’s internet-savvy, sociologically-attuned warriors understand the cultural implications of the combat recycling policy. This is what they probably know and believe:
They know that they are a distinct minority in America and that the civilian non-warriors are a huge majority. They know that their own collectivist values of duty, obedience and sacrifice are completely at odds with the self-absorbed individualism of the majority.
They believe that their combat activities protect civilians back home. However, they know that many of those civilians are vehemently opposed to the wars they fight, that these civilians do not believe that the warriors are fighting for them, and that these civilians do not value the sacrifices the warriors are making.
They know that there is no military draft, and that neither political party has the courage to bring back a draft. Therefore they know that the combat core of the Army and Marines will not significantly increase.
They know that our global allies are more and more reluctant to put their own warriors in harm’s way.
They know that they are front line diplomats and nation builders as well as front line soldiers, and that these additional roles increase the danger and stress of combat.
They know that the process of nation building in the Islamic world is complex and vehemently opposed by minorities of violent dictatorial males contemptuous of Western values. Therefore they know that the nation building process, including periodic combat, could take decades.
They know that fewer and fewer military veterans exist in the United States, and reduced numbers of veterans translates into fewer military veteran politicians and fewer veteran services and benefits for them when they get out of the service.
They conclude that they are doing a job that no one else wants to do, with no end in sight. Yes, they could resign or retire at the end of their terms of enlistment, but they are patriotic, and they know that they are good at their job. But they are as human as the rest of us, and it is difficult for anyone to continue to do a hard job that is unappreciated. It is absolutely no surprise that some of them break down.
So, Barack Obama, man up to this reality: the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq now belong to you; they are no longer the “Bush Wars”. You made the decision to keep troops in Iraq, and you made the decision to not only stay but to expand our military presence in Afghanistan. Do not be a reluctant Commander in Chief, half-heartedly fighting two wars that you continue to blame on your predecessor. Do all of the things necessary to conclude the wars successfully, including a military draft, or, pull the troops out and endure the global consequences. To continue as we are is absolutely shameful; it is the many immorally taking advantage of the few.
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