I enjoyed the article for its easy reading and general overview of American military posture since World War I. I appreciated the tidbits like President Obama’s “Don’t do stupid stuff” doctrine at 38 and the author’s view the United States ultimately and pragmatically withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]. Although the thrust of Bacevich’s article is helpful, his proposals are not as agreeable as its overview of American military policy since “9/11” are brief and comprehensive. Bacevich knows what he knows well and ventures into unknown territory, so he can’t be faulted for some of the more novel advice.
As far as the people of the United States not being adequately involved in U.S. wars since the selective service draft was abolished in the 1970’s, Bacevich bases his presumption of a disconnect on George W. Bush’s admonition to “enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed.” I can only bristle at the suggestion #43 would have us abdicate our duty to be conscious of U.S. wars and “surges” when he proposed we continue with our daily routines and not to change our shopping habits immediately after 9/11. Although not exactly an Easterner, #43 has lived there long enough to make me biased against him and his policies on waging an East Coast incursion into the Middle East, after all, New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia were hit. Why were they hit? A Wall Street deal gone bad? What regional behavior will Americans continue to tolerate which lead the entire nation into aggression at home or abroad?
Some might say “We the People” have little choice against the military industrial complex. John Adams once wrote, “The executive power is properly the government; the laws are a dead letter until an administration begins to carry them into execution[,]” John Adams (2001) by David McCullough at 378. “We the People” must exercise our rights too or the part of the U.S. Constitution we ignore, no matter what the color of our national security code at any given time: green, yellow, orange or red, are a “dead letter” to us.
Having lived in California most of my life, I have fanciful ideas of my own, like moving the U.S. Capitol to the Denver, Colorado area, or at least the military component of the Federal government.
Thank you for your continued service Andrew J. Bacevich.
JOHN RUBENS is no Mother Teresa. 