Time for a Re-think

The Obama administration is re-thinking some strategies concerning preparedness for war, and it is not an improvement.

WASHINGTON — The protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are forcing the Obama administration to rethink what for more than two decades has been a central premise of American strategy: that the nation need only prepare to fight two major wars at a time.

For more than six years now, the United States has in fact been fighting two wars, with more than 170,000 troops now deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The military has openly acknowledged that the wars have left troops and equipment severely strained, and has said that it would be difficult to carry out any kind of significant operation elsewhere.

To some extent, fears have faded that the United States may actually have to fight, say, Russia and North Korea, or China and Iran, at the same time. But if Iraq and Afghanistan were never formidable foes in conventional terms, they have already tied up the American military for a period longer than World War II.

I think people largely voted for Obama because they perceived that McCain was a "warrior" and Obama was not.  So far it does not seem to be playing out that way.  Do we really need to be prepared to fight more than two wars at a time?  Can't we decide instead that we don't want to be fighting ANY wars, and act accordingly?

As Ron Paul recently wrote:

Shutting down military bases and ceasing to deal with other nations with threats and violence is not isolationism. It is the opposite. Opening ourselves up to friendship, honest trade and diplomacy is the foreign policy of peace and prosperity. It is the only foreign policy that will not bankrupt us in short order, as our current actions most definitely will. I share the disappointment of the American people in the foreign policy rhetoric coming from the administration. The sad thing is, our foreign policy WILL change eventually, as Rome’s did, when all budgetary and monetary tricks to fund it are exhausted.

It is time for real change, President Obama.  Bring the troops back home.  Do not abuse your constitutional authority by sending troops and bombs to the far corners of the world.  Start dialog with other nations rather than threatening them.  I think you will find that most people will respond to the message of peace.

It is time for real change, Congress.  Retake your constitutional authority.  Do not allow the president to use our military as he wishes without a declaration of war.  Cut the funding of the US military down to that appropriate for a defensive force, rather than an offensive one.

As long as we have a standing and "prepared" army, presidents will be inclined to use them.  When that option is removed from the table, they will seek more peaceful solutions.  Concluding with words written by Thomas Jefferson a long time ago:

There are instruments so dangerous to the rights of the nation and which place them so totally at the mercy of their governors that those governors, whether legislative or executive, should be restrained from keeping such instruments on foot but in well-defined cases. Such an instrument is a standing army.