US Military Consequences Of Anticipated Democrat Iraq Policy
Iraq policy will now be made by the Democrat Party through the Congressional “power of the purse.” What does that hold for military morale and future US Military operations? The following item was published on August 21, 2005 by the “Security and Peace Initiative.”
8. Americans’ willingness to use military force - Iraq as a failed state is likely to herald an era of deep reservations among the U.S. public regarding the use of force - - a kind of post-Vietnam, post-Mogadishu hangover. While this Administration has made the prospect of greater circumspection in the use of force very attractive, a level of public skepticism that makes it impossible to intervene to prevent genocide or stop live conflicts from further spreading could result in more Rwandas and Bosnias.
9. Military morale - Military morale has already been damaged by a conflict that put our troops at risk without adequate preparation or equipment, that has disrupted families and livelihoods through long extensions in tours of duty. The unexpected difficulties confronted on the battlefield have provoked a crisis of confidence in Pentagon leadership. Despite their frustration, those who have served want to be sure that their sacrifices result in an Iraq that’s better off. If, after all this, Iraq devolves into a failed state the blow to the military will be brutal.
Just who is the “Security and Peace Initiative?”
The Security and Peace Initiative (SPI) - a joint initiative of the Center for American Progress and The Century Foundation - works to advance a responsible U.S. foreign policy based on a strong defense, collective security, capable international institutions, and effective promotion of democracy and the rule of law. With offices in New York and Washington, SPI places emphasis on identifying and promoting emerging voices in progressive foreign policy. SPI is led by Director Morton H. Halperin, and co-chaired by Gary Hart and Madeleine Albright.
The one thing I would add is that the election results from last week have already been brutal to US Military morale. This is 1973 all over again and it will take a generation to erase the collective memory of the uniformed military.
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