Posted by
gringoadepto on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 11:29:10 PM
Today would have been a good day to watch some C-Span (http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN.aspx). The house debated nuances of the war powers act and the 2001 resolution authorizing the President to pursue perpetrators of 9-11. At issue is a resolution to limit Afghanistan involvement on the basis of constitutionality and cost.
Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (former US Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan) advocated defeat of the resolution on the basis that it demoralizes the troops and makes the US weak. I greatly respect the dedication and sacrifices of every person committed in the defense of noble causes - military such as Mr. Hunter as well as private individuals in government contractors and NGOs. However, the prime directive for the nation cannot be maintenance of world peace and order in the empire. Nor can it be giving individuals - warrior or private citizen - comfort in their commitment to a noble cause larger than themselves.
There is an outcome based perspective prevalent in contemporary attitudes, that believes that the end justifies the means and that the military is a useful path to many noble objectives. Yet, outcome based perspectives are at the root of much of what is wrong with federal commitments at this time.
What must be recognized is the fact that national safety and livelihood in the long run demands a commitment to constitutional limitations on federal entanglements of every sort - be it foreign, domestic, economic, or social. Only the limited exercise of constitutional commitment to war mitigates the tendency of powerful individuals and the national psyche to succumb to the desire to cure many ills by wrapping issues in the flag, warrior courage, and national security. History is rife with examples of how outcome driven tunnel vision ruins nations.
The strength of America is in its ability cooperate as necessary on the big issues while maintaining corporate strength and resilience through individual preparedness and community cohesiveness. The example of a prepared and prosperous national corpus both inspires allies and warns adversaries. If well attended to, this multitude of vigilant individuals able to coalesce for corporate defense addresses most national security needs. A small standing army of intelligence and military professionals to serve as first responders to clear and present danger is the only prudent addition to that well prepared nation of guardians.
An extensive foreign policy establishment and global military presence only weakens our long term economic and political viability as a nation.
The great danger in what has been created in these recent war making resolutions is that constitutional power has been ceded from Congress to the Executive and can be used almost limitlessly as long as the marketing message for military involvement is well articulated and managed. Most Americans would give a great deal in support of our brave military in the field. But that empathy with our citizen defenders could be our downfall if we don't exercise good judgment about when and where to commit them. An entire nation can follow its armies into the withering fire out of collective philios and idealism. More often than not in such scenarios, the many become the tools of the few with globalist dreams.
Sparta was the epitome of ancient militarism. One cannot but be amazed and perhaps shed a tear at the historic events and heroic actions of The Battle of Thermopylae . However, Sparta was transitory because Spartan militarism could only be sustained by enslavement of a subclass of its society. Until technology or genetics in some way offers omnipotence to some portion of mankind, sustained expeditionary militarism will always prove unaffordable in economic and social costs.
Extend this discussion with your friends and your representatives in Congress.
BTW, search for Rep. Patrick Kennedy's rant against the media for it's skimpy coverage of this important debate in Congress. Most of the news crews are out covering Hollywood awards events or checking on the latest groping scandal by an elected official.