PERPETUAL WARFARE
September 21, 2014
The Project for a New American Century’s
September 2000 report, America’s
Defenses: Strategies, Forces, and Resources for a New Century, was
prophetic. The premise of the report:
“As the 20th century
draws to a close, the United States stands as the world’s most preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America
faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievement of past decades? Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new
century favorable to American principles and interests?
“[What we require
is] a military that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign
policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national leadership
that accepts the United States’ global responsibilities….”
For
the 21st century, it was the manifest destiny of the US to dominate
the world, for the world’s good, and ultimately, to defend against foreign
threats including terrorism. It worried
that “…the process
of transformation, even if
it brings revolutionary change,
is
likely to be a long one,
absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event
– like a new Pearl Harbor…” A
year later, there was 9/11.
Then
there was the Patriot Act, the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, a whole series
of places and enemies the US struck, a never-ending series of needs for the US
to exert, as the Project called for, “leadership.” Now the US president and secretary leads a
coalition, now led by US with the former colonial masters of the region,
Britain and France, expressing the long-term will to “destroy” the Islamic
State the Levant,” openly declaring “war” against a state it will not
recognize, without embarrassment at doing the very thing the Constitution says
Congress is to do. Expressly a war
without end, in its waning years, the administration led by President Obama
embraces the role of leading perpetual global warfare.
It
is as though this president cannot bear to leave office known to have lost US military
“preeminence.” For a president who
originally campaigned for an end to US warfare, it is a testament to the power
of the political culture in which we live.
It is remarkable to me how marginal I find myself questioning that the
US has to take the lead in “stopping” or “eliminating” ISIL.
The
tragedy is that the moral expedience of US realpolitik has to be transparent even
to most of those who for interests of their own are “willing” to be seen as US
allies. In Iraq, we are supporting Shia
forces that bomb and shell Sunnis in ISIL-held territory, while in Syria, we
support Sunni forces who are dedicated to overthrowing Shia Alawites in
Syria. Despite all the righteous
rhetoric in US political, media and everyday conversation about US being the
world’s primary guarantor of peace and human rights, moral expedience and
hypocrisy is a globally apparent reality.
In this reality, we even turn out to be a major source of military
equipment to the very groups we attack, as to ISIL.
Perpetual
warfare is a very good way to create enemies perpetually. I don’t expect it in my lifetime, but I hope
someday the political culture in my country gets a president who allows her- or
himself the humility to be a generous participant in peacebuilding and
peacemaking efforts, a voice of conscience like that today of a Pope Francis,
rather than a leader of global military exploits. For the moment, we are the world’s leading unrepentant
force for death and destruction of the 21st century. Ultimately, it is our own loss. As always, there are US voices against
perpetual warfare. May they endure. Love and peace, hal
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