Sunday, April 15, 2018

Andrew J. Bacevich — What Happens When a Few Volunteer and the Rest Just Watch — The American Military System Dissected

How to explain this paradox of a superb military that never gets the job done? Let me suggest that the problem lies with the present-day US military system, the principles to which the nation adheres in raising, organizing, supporting, and employing its armed forces. By its very existence, a military system expresses an implicit contract among the state, the people, and the military itself.
Here, as I see it, are the principles — seven in all — that define the prevailing military system of the United States....
TomDispatch 
What Happens When a Few Volunteer and the Rest Just Watch — The American Military System Dissected
Andrew J. Bacevich, Col. (ret.) US Army, and Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at the Boston University, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies

4 comments:

Noah Way said...

Entirely misses the connection between the all-volunteer military and the intentional continuance of a vast population living in or near poverty, for whom military 'service' presents the only constructive alternative. As well as how the claims of 'job training' in the military result in a disproportionate number of homeless and unemployed ex-servicemen.

Tom Hickey said...

Cannon fodder.

Matt Franko said...

"vast population living in or near poverty, for whom military 'service' presents the only constructive alternative"

Correct so you dont end up getting the alleged "best and brightest..." its like diversity initiatives... ie you are not selecting based on qualifications but rather economic situation... not ideal...

Noah Way said...

The 'best and the brightest' are measured by net worth, of course.