Incidentally, I’m back from SERE.
The problem with giving civilians control of the military is that in times like these, when the civilians in charge are literally insane, people like me end up dying for even worse than normal reasons. I say that they are insane because they meet the classic definition: they are trying the same thing over again, and expecting a different result. It is not surprising to most people that there is talk in the air of war with Iran. The problem is the surprising acquiescence that most people are displaying toward it.
Please, civilians in control: if you absolutely have to start another pointless war of aggression, at least get us out of our current one first. Yes, the military is supposed to be theoretically capable of fighting in two and a half major theatres of war simultaneously–but that assumes full national mobilization, and we’ve seen nothing like that recently. We are stretched out more than we like to be already. We’re having to extend the duration of overseas tours, for units that are currently overseas. Do you have any idea what that does to morale? Have you ever worked seven days a week, 12 hour days, for a year, knowing that it ends in a year, and then been told that oh by the way, this crap is being extended another three months? How would you respond to that? Can you really approve of stretching us even further than we already are, for no good reason?
We are a professional military, and we will obey the lawful orders of our commander in chief. We will prepare and plan and execute to the absolute best of our ability, because that is what soldiers do. However, we resent having to lay our lives on the line for no apparent reason other than habit. And if you could see your way to not starting another war, we’d really appreciate it.
Welcome to the Crotch.
Oooh-rah.
Take care of your buddies, keep your head down, do your job, and come home with ten fingers and ten toes.
I’ve heard some people claim that orders to attack Iran would be illegal, since they would be breaking international treaties. I don’t know how accurate that is.
I’ll try to take your advice, but I some how doubt that I am “in control” in this context.
I would like to see this as an open letter to the editor in newspapers all over the country. It is professional suicide for you to go more public than a blog? Your letter shows that you are NOT insane. I will sleep well tonight knowing that you still have not been brainwashed.
I suspect that this has a little more to do with the current crop being literally insane than being civilians. Of course, the military has mechanisms designed to keep the literally insane out of positions of importance; I guess there is that.
I always thought that a good system for committing troops would mandate that the commander in chief step down from his current position, and personally go to the front lines. If the legislative body really wants to pick a fight, they can always impeach the commander in chief, remove him from office, and put someone in place who will.
I doubt that Bush would have started any of this if it would mean that he had to personally go fight.
Especially not since Bush avoided Vietnam, one reason Kerry would’ve been a much better choice for president; I doubt he’d be considering war on a third front right now.
The thing is, that’s only a reasonable position if it is never truly necessary for a nation to go to war. Even if we haven’t had one in 60 years, we might again encounter a truly just fight which we need to get into. In such a circumstance, forcing the president into battle would accomplish very little good.
Yeah, OK, point taken. In that case, allow a congressional supermajority (2/3, 3/4, take your pick) override, to be passed prior to ordering troops into battle. That would take care of World War 3.