Can America Fight Wars that Matter Anymore?

2017-03-02T09:52:36-05:00

“I don’t want to go! It’s not for me!”

This past holiday season brought the annual war over religious service attendance. Our inter- and multi-faith loved ones squabbled over the need to go, together, to this annual social tradition. It was a typical scene—our family’s certainly not the only one in which congregational conflict has become common. Sociologists tell us that generational norms are shifting with the rise of the Millennials, and participation in religious community events has fallen, sharply. Martin Luther King Jr. once noted that Sunday’s church hour was America’s “most segregated”—today, for many struggling to cope with this social trend, Sunday has become the family’s most separate hour.

It’s not just church—several of America’s social institutions are fraying—unions at work, PTAs at school, bowling leagues for fun: all have suffered nation-wide declines. The recent national election put a political exclamation point on this social trend. Consider the tow truck driver in North Carolina that arrived, then drove away and refused to provide aid because the stranded motorist had a bumper sticker featuring the other political party. Or the local police in California that publicly announced they’d rather not provide protection to an NFL-event over the political actions of one player on the field. When first responders won’t respond, that’s a sign—America’s social fabric is in tatters.

Armies don’t fight wars; societies do. Society is the arsenal of America’s democracy. The people provide the resources for the fight. The people provide the decision for the fight. The people provide the guidance for the fight. And so, at a moment when we’re so divided, it’s worth asking: Can America fight wars that matter anymore? A war for national survival? A war for a truly vital interest? A war against a peer competitor, like, say, a belligerent China or a bellicose Russia? A war that gets bloody—beyond what America’s experienced in generations?

Fighting such a war requires a nation to be all in, or nearly all in. That’s not the same as saying every citizen must be in perfect agreement (there is massive value in a loyal opposition). More specifically, there must be some national consensus. The subordination of self to the national interest. During the Second World War, actors and athletes willingly pulled on the uniform. Jimmy Stewart saw so much air combat he suffered what we’d call PTSD today; Ted Williams fought to get in the service, fought in the war, came home, and then fought again to go to fight in Korea. Would today’s celebrities take a leave of absence from the screen or the field to do the same?

Which raises another important question: Could our society get there? What could bring us together? It may well be that we’re so divided, so little unites us today, socially, that even such a traumatic event (another Pearl Harbor or 9/11) might not be sufficient to bridge these canyons of separation. If correct, that is truly dangerous for the survival of our democracy.

There is a glue, a sinew, a stitch—to each society. Some are stronger; others are not. It has many facets and faces, but one common trait: it binds society together. It provides an essential common bond, and America’s is a little different from the rest of the world. “To be an American is an ideal,” Carl Friedrich wrote, “while to be a Frenchman is a fact.” This is our national strong point and what got us through the hard times before—E pluribus unum; out of many, one.

We need it again. We need some basic level of social generosity. We need a faith in the good will of other Americans different in some small way from ourselves. We need to bring back the sing-song sentiment in “And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.” Because, I fear, if we don’t—we’ll lose a lot more than a war over how to spend an hour on Sunday.

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Major ML Cavanaugh is a US Army Strategist, a Non Resident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point, and looks forward to connecting on RallyPoint, Twitter @MLCavanaugh, or you can find more of his writing at MLCavanaugh.com.

This essay is an unofficial expression of opinion; the views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Point, the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or any agency of the US government.

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Mar 2 at 2017 9:57 AM

2017-03-02T09:57:51-05:00

not until we fight the wars in this country that matter first...

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Mar 2 at 2017 9:59 AM

2017-03-02T09:59:43-05:00

Great article. I think for me, we must start by working together. Sure we do not need to agree on everything. In fact, I think the best solution often comes out of the different point of views. But what we need to do is to stop finding a way to separate us and find ways to unite us.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2017 10:03 AM

2017-03-02T10:03:47-05:00

IMHO: In essence, not anymore......unless some country literally tries to invade the US or does an attack on the scale of 9/11 or worse. Too much today, any and all actions by the military are dictated by those that are so concerned about what the news outlets and social media think and perceive that it's almost impossible for the military to do anything that people will/can agree on. In order to fight a war that matters, the PEOPLE of the US need to be united on one single front to engage and destroy the enemies we face. Until that happens (which hasn't really happened since WW2), no war will ever matter to everyone except those that have to fight it. Look at 9/11. For a brief moment, the entire country was united to face the enemy and crush them. Which was great. We all put aside our differences for that moment because we were hit. We were hit hard. So no one had issues (minus one or two politicians) to deploy to war. But sadly, the vast majority of people seem to forget that people die in war. And the minute the first reports of US casualties coming in from the war(s), people started getting in an uproar and screaming to bring our people home. Until such time as the PEOPLE work for that united front, to stay the course, to be understanding that sacrifices are made, to see the mission done.....no war will ever matter anymore.

Response by Nick Petros made Mar 2 at 2017 10:08 AM

2017-03-02T10:08:15-05:00

Incredible read. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2017 10:39 AM

2017-03-02T10:39:36-05:00

If this is about national unity I think one just needs to look at history for the lesson. There have always been a sizable portion of Americans that were against the prevailing norms of the citizenry starting with our founding when America was divided between the loyalists to England and the King verses the new Americans that wanted their own freedom and a new system of government by the People. That division continued when the States went to war in our own Cilvil War. We have seen this division continue to when New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania was attacked and politics soon divided a Nation that was united for a short period of time. And now today, with kinetic operations and targeted HVT drone operations in Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Pakistan the People have been in the longest war period since the Revolutionary War Period and the citizenry is fatigued of war, conflict, and division.
I think the Opposition of the past is no longer. It used to be called the Loyal Opposition. I think that is what we are experiencing. We are no longer loyal to the principles of America but we are seeing a shift toward loyalty to political ideologies.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2017 10:43 AM

2017-03-02T10:43:18-05:00

Great article MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, thank you for sharing. My opinion on war goes back to High School boy behavior. Your always going to have those popular kids with all their followers behind them. When differences get in the way it's always the followers who seem to fight for the popular kid.
After it's all said and done the popular kids shake hands and become friends again and the followers go home with a few shiners and scraped up knees and elbow.
Only difference is when the popular kids shake hands after war, some of those kids don't get to come home. And the ones that do start wondering what it was we were fighting for in the first place?!...
everything starts off with a "cause", but in the end, when theirs no real gain and more loss?..

We can talk unity all day long, but in my opinion, unity is a mans fairy tale utopia. Nothing but words in a book.

Thank you for the article Sir., and your service.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Mar 2 at 2017 11:20 AM

2017-03-02T11:20:15-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Thanks for writing this post and being the creator of one of the rare topics worth treating seriously here anymore. Below please find my thoughts.

When was the last time the USA fought a war that mattered?
-GWOT/Iraq Afghanistan? Nope, vengeance poorly executed and/or low level continuous struggle to moderate effect unlikely to yield insights on cost-benefit analyses. Just or defensible reasons? Of course, but impactful movement against those reasons? I have strong doubts.
-Cold War? Maybe, but only in so much as we and USSR managed to avoid ending civilization, were the deployments and cost in blood and treasure essential to survival? Hard to parse.
-WWII? Maybe but probably not (big oceans and strong Navies meant that was more a balance of power move than survival).
-WWI? Definitely not, an ego move with our entangling alliances.
-Spanish American war? Pure imperial ego.
-Civil War? Yeah, I'll call that one necessary. It's that our fracture the union once, and who knows how many times after. Our national penance for our national original sin.
-The unending Indian wars? Another original sin.
-Mexican-American? Probably not, domestic threat or expansionist power grab?
-1812? Possibly, freedom of navigation to fledgling maritime dependent nation?
-Revolution? Definitely, almost a tautology, no USA as such without the AmRev (unless Canada's outcome is enviable, and maybe it is).

Are we likely to face similar conditions and requirements in the future? If we are can we follow a similar model to the one we did when we fought the last war?

Or a more subversive question: is the nation-state still the right answer to the question of how best to organize to protect individual liberties, maximize human civilization survival and promote human flourishing?

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Mar 2 at 2017 11:28 AM

2017-03-02T11:28:54-05:00

Thanks for posting this essay. I would answer your question (Can America Fight Wars that Matter Anymore?) with a resounding Yes. America has never fought a war with 100% backing of its people. Patriot's who are willing to serve, and fight, and to die for their country have always come from a relatively small minority of American Society and I do not believe that that group is smaller today than it was in the past.

Your article pointed out that our society and our social institutions are changing and that is absolutely true. I would suggest that America is in the midst of a silent war for the "Hearts, Minds, and Voice" of its people. However, this war is less a battle between the Left vs the Right or Communist/Socialist vs Capitalist, it is a battle between the stranglehold of political correctness and the ability of the American People to speak freely (even in its Churches) and to maintain an open dialog between those who have differing opinions. It's as potentially life changing as the culture wars of the 1960's. America's social mores changed dramatically when the hippies of the 1960's became the school teachers and college professors of the 1970's. They consolidated their control over our schools, media, and entertainment to a level that has more in common with the McCarthy era than the "Peace and Love" they had once professed.

What is happening now is an unorganized group of Americans from both the Right and the Left, Hillary Clinton called them the "Deplorable class" has gained a voice of its own, they have a like-minded President, and have become immune to the verbal attacks that used to make them cringe and run away in fear (i.e. being called Nazi, or racist, or misogynist, often by people who did not even know the meaning of the words they were using). They ignore or even make fun of the "narrative of control" used by the mainstream media. Their use of computers, smart phones. and social media ensures instant access to validate or invalidate the days Narrative/News stories. Just look at this mornings "narrative" that our AG Sessions had "nefariously" met with the "evil" Russians before the Presidential election. The morning shows were not even over before there were thousands of tweets and internet postings showing the hypocrisy of the story (Such as HRC had met with the Russian Ambassador 3 times in the same time period, but that was OK).

What gives me hope for the future is that the "Deplorable Class" is spread throughout America (even in California). Their one connection is a desire for facts and reality to win out over false narratives and political correctness and their numbers are way larger than the hippies of the 1960's. In the not to distant future they will quietly gain control of the Schools, the Universities, the Churches, and even the old media. Imagine an America whose basic Social Mores are linked to Truth...next will come Justice and the American way.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2017 12:17 PM

2017-03-02T12:17:34-05:00

Thanks to President Obama, the only War we have is with Logistics and spare parts since we don't have either.

Response by LTC Marc King made Mar 2 at 2017 12:19 PM

2017-03-02T12:19:13-05:00

See the article on RP on Sweden reintroducing the draft! All in is what it will take... no more snowflakes... national service for all... men and women!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2017 1:17 PM

2017-03-02T13:17:19-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Excellent article sir. It depends on your values and beliefs. Vietnam mattered. I enlisted because helping South Vietnam was a just cause. In 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed. When North Vietnam invaded the South, our government discontinued support and we abandoned the ARVN and South Vietnamese people. When I returned home, I did not recognize our country. Part of it is a failed education system. We have too many folks that want our government to provide things to them, while having hate for America and what it stands for.

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnfkenn109213.html

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-peace-accords-signed

John F. Kennedy Quotes

"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy quotes from BrainyQuote.com

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Mar 2 at 2017 1:20 PM

2017-03-02T13:20:17-05:00

We will soon see, now that Mattis is in charge. I have full confidence our military is the finest in the world, all they needed was leadership that wasn't colored by politics and the PC agenda.

Response by SMSgt Roger Horton made Mar 2 at 2017 6:44 PM

2017-03-02T18:44:36-05:00

Yes we can, but will we?

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 2 at 2017 8:00 PM

2017-03-02T20:00:23-05:00

I fear even with the enemy at the gates we as a Nation will have trouble coming together for a common cause,there are just too many divisions,we are still trying to get over the traditional change of Government,although I think there is the foul smell of politicians behind that.

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 3 at 2017 12:07 AM

2017-03-03T00:07:45-05:00

Only if when congress sends the troops in they get the Fuck out and let them do the Job...

Response by SSG Michael Eastes made Mar 3 at 2017 2:06 AM

2017-03-03T02:06:07-05:00

I think that the concept of a "Loyal Opposition" has largely been lost. The divisions between factions in our country are wider and more bitterly held than at any other time in my memory, and I have clear memories going back to the Eisenhower administration. I believe that, in order to mount a truly national effort, along the lines of WWII, there would have to be a clear and unambiguous existential threat to the nation. Either that, or a spiritual revival unlike any that we have ever experienced, that would bring us together within a commonly held faith and goals.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 10:14 AM

2017-03-03T10:14:11-05:00

Yes, Pearl Harbor and 9/11/2001 showed we can unite as a nation. Unfortunately the American (USA) society support can be shallow and have a short time table. We must hope and rely that our Federal government can make the best decisions to end a war in a quick and efficient manner. Our government shown possibilities it's possible like in WWII dropping the atomic bombs end a war that was quickly losing popular support. We have also failed to keep popular support in Vietnam because the actions taken couldn't keep support.
I do feel if our nation was truly endanger by actions taken by Russia or China as the aggressor. We will have the popular support as long as the US has the moral high ground. I don't think Russia or China will take such hostile actions thanks to mutual assured destruction (MAD) and global economic dependency.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Mar 4 at 2017 6:29 PM

2017-03-04T18:29:07-05:00

Religious services are volunteer. No war needed. Squabbling is an outward manifestation of inner warfare about matters pertaining to religious conviction or lack thereof.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 17 at 2017 8:28 PM

2017-03-17T20:28:41-04:00

Absolutely not, I am on Ft Huachuca every day and There are plenty of fine young people who are proud to serve. The Army is organized and trained to move in behind massive air superiority. That isn't the troops doing, it is flawed thinking at the top. Again and again we bungle into wars that are not the war we trained for.

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Apr 26 at 2017 11:11 AM

2017-04-26T11:11:47-04:00

Are we, in a sense, doing ourselves in with an overdone sense of "political correctness". The question has to asked, "why do we fight wars?" In short we go to war because it is in the national interest to do so, and by war I mean the total resources of the nation are put in play to bring about the destruction of an enemy threatening that national interest. What is the national interest? The continuation of our society, all that is best about America.

What we have today are forces lined against us that would see an end to our society. Forces willing to use either armed aggression, or economic pressure, to bring about that end. Most are external, and obvious. Some are internal, and take the form of what I call, exaggerated political correctness.

As free as our society is, it is difficult, nay impossible, to be all things everyone.

Where we need to be united is that we are Americans.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2017 1:20 PM

2017-05-04T13:20:37-04:00

I believe American can unite as one. Unfortunately I think it will only happen as the result of violence. It's the same principle as boot camp. When you take 60 guys from all over the place with nothing in common, you have to give them something in common. That common bond was "hatred" of the Drill Instructors. It was what first brought us together. I've expanded on that before when it comes to our Nation as a whole. America needs someone to hate. After 9/11 I felt like the country was on the same sheet of music for the first time in my life. We were all mad and our anger was directed at the same target. Everyone immediately knew what was important and what wasn't. 3000 of OUR people had just been murdered. No one was talking about some of the petty issues that divide us today. The President basically had to order us to resume playing sports and I remember feeling guilty as I watched thinking that in light of what just happened, this is meaningless. People were ok waiting in longer lines at the airports, we doted on all our first responders, etc. America was great. But time went by and people forgot. The lines became a nuisance, police became "bad guys", and we all started focusing on "me" instead of us.

Do you want to know when I knew what we were doing in Iraq wasn't going to work? When the Iraqi soldiers told us they didn't care about the people where we were because they were from a different part of Iraq. I knew they were doomed. There was no national pride. On 9/11 I was in Oxford, MS and I felt personally attacked by those terrorists. I think we all did. America has a "you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us" attitude. Or at least it did then. And I hope it still does.

WWII was very different than Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan. No one (not even the soldiers) really knew why we were fighting the latter three wars. Yeah, to kill insurgents. But when are we done? The guys in WWII knew the objective. Get to Berlin/Tokyo=end the war. We didn't have that in Iraq. The American public got weary of it. But give us another enemy that is actually threatening the liberty of our civilians and I think we'd see a different reaction. Now I know that terrorists do pose a threat to Americans and I think a military response is appropriate to those groups who wish to do us harm, but we can't have a 10 year war against every single group out there.

The bottom line is this, America's freedom hasn't been threatened since WWII. I firmly believe if it were we'd rise up united as one. I think we'd have to. If we don't, America will fall. If we think it can't happen we need only to open a history book and search for Romans/Ottomans/Babylonians/etc.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 23 at 2017 1:24 PM

2017-08-23T13:24:08-04:00

You tell me really are we really winning any wars when they are calling for more troops to the Middle East? The police can't even control the normal college student anymore so what's more troops on the ground going do for us but give us more death rates and numbers we see on TV everyday and another POTUS with body bags under his belt.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Nov 19 at 2017 2:20 PM

2017-11-19T14:20:42-05:00

We are unfortunately caught up in endless win less wars. More troops recently sent to Afghanistan? For what will it make a difference to place our troops in harms way over there going on 17 years? When its over if ever will we change the way they think of America? Do you think they are going to love us after we have basically destroyed their country? I sincerely think not. I will tell you ladies and gentlemen they already have the little kids in the Madrasa's training to be jihadist to hate America. So we stuck in that God's forsaken place forever as I see it. Our Politicians don't have a clue and there is no end game. What troubles me mostly the very same troops over there fighting will have fight our own government to get benefits they deserve upon returning home that's sickening to me. But that's our bureaucracy which has treated Veterans the very same way going on seven decades and counting.

Peace!

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Nov 19 at 2017 3:58 PM

2017-11-19T15:58:27-05:00

Respectfully Sir, in our Uber it is all about me society, no I don't see this happening. I had an issue when the president gave tax cuts for people to buy SUV's while we were at war in an area that oil comes from, and that we were dyeing for it. Didn't make sense to me, till searched further and found that the POTUS at that time frame and his father were friends with the Sheiks in charge of Saudi Arabia. Then it became perfectly clear. We were expendable. Did it stop the sales of SUV's, not even remotely, still hasn't.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Nov 19 at 2017 4:45 PM

2017-11-19T16:45:21-05:00

How many Divisions can we throw at a war immediately and can we maintain them while we train up more.