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The Tragedy of the American Military - The Atlantic

POLITICS

The Tragedy of the American

Military
The American public and its political leadership will do anything for the military except take it
seriously. The result is a chickenhawk nation in which careless spending and strategic folly
combine to lure America into endless wars it cant win.

Adam Voorhes

JAMES FALLOWS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 ISSUE

NMID-SEPTEMBER,whilePresidentObamawasfendingoffcomplaintsthatheshouldhavedonemore,

doneless,ordonesomethingdifferentabouttheoverlappingcrisesinIraqandSyria,hetraveledto
CentralCommandheadquarters,atMacDillAirForceBaseinFlorida.Thereheaddressedsomeofthe

menandwomenwhowouldimplementwhatevertheU.S.militarystrategyturnedouttobe.
ThepartofthespeechintendedtogetcoveragewasObamasrationaleforreengagingtheUnitedStatesin
Iraq,morethanadecadeafteritfirstinvadedandfollowingthelongandpainfulefforttoextricateitself.
Thiswasbigenoughnewsthatmanycablechannelscoveredthespeechlive.Iwatcheditonanoverhead
TVwhileIsatwaitingforaflightatChicagosOHareairport.WhenObamagottothesectionofhisspeech
announcingwhetherheplannedtocommitU.S.troopsinIraq(atthetime,hedidnt),Inoticedthatmany
peopleintheterminalshiftedtheirattentionbrieflytotheTV.Assoonasthatwasover,theywentbackto
theirsmartphonesandtheirlaptopsandtheirCinnabonsasthepresidentdronedon.
UsuallyIwouldhavestoppedwatchingtoo,sincesomanyaspectsofpublicfiguresappearancesbefore
thetroopshavebecomesoformulaicandroutine.ButIdecidedtoseethewholeshow.Obamagavehis
still-not-quite-natural-soundingcalloutstothedifferentmilitaryservicesrepresentedinthecrowd.(I
knowwevegotsomeAirForceinthehouse!andsoon,receivingcheersrenderedasHooyah!and
Oorah!intheofficialWhiteHousetranscript.)Hetoldmembersofthemilitarythatthenationwas
gratefulfortheirnonstopdeploymentsandfortheuniquelossesandburdensplacedonthemthroughthe
pastdozenyearsofopen-endedwar.HenotedthattheywereoftenthefaceofAmericaninfluenceinthe
world,beingdispatchedtoLiberiain2014tocopewiththethen-dawningEbolaepidemicastheyhad
beensenttoIndonesia10yearsearliertorescuevictimsofthecatastrophictsunamithere.Hesaidthatthe
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9/11generationofheroesrepresentedtheverybestinitscountry,andthatitsmembersconstituteda
militarythatwasnotonlysuperiortoallcurrentadversariesbutnolessthanthefinestfightingforcein
thehistoryoftheworld.
IfanyofmyfellowtravelersatOHarewerestilllisteningtothespeech,noneofthemshowedanyreaction
toit.Andwhywouldthey?ThishasbecomethewayweassumetheAmericanmilitarywillbediscussedby
politiciansandinthepress:Overblown,limitlesspraise,absentthecaveatsorpublicskepticismwewould
applytootherAmericaninstitutions,especiallyonesthatrunontaxpayermoney.Asombermomentto
reflectonsacrifice.Theneveryoneexceptthefewpeopleinuniformgettingonwiththeirworkaday
concerns.
ThepublicattitudeevidentintheairportwasreflectedbythepublicsrepresentativesinWashington.That
sameafternoon,September17,theHouseofRepresentativesvotedafterbriefdebatetoauthorizearms
andsuppliesforrebelforcesinSyria,inhopesthatmoreofthemwouldfightagainsttheIslamicState,or
ISIS,thanforit.TheSenatedidthesamethenextdayandthenbothhousesadjournedearly,afteran
unusuallyshortandhistoricallyunproductivetermofCongress,tospendthenextsixandahalfweeks
fund-raisingandcampaigningfull-time.ImnotawareofanymidtermracefortheHouseorSenatein
whichmattersofwarandpeaceasopposedtoimmigration,Obamacare,votingrights,taxrates,the
Ebolascarewerefirst-tiercampaignissuesoneitherside,exceptforthemetaphoricalwaronwomen
andwaroncoal.

Military Spending is Broken

Why does civilian technology grow ever cheaper and more reliable while military technology does the
opposite? An animated explainer narrated by James Fallows.

HISREVERENTBUTDISENGAGEDATTITUDEtowardthemilitarywelovethetroops,butwedrathernot

thinkaboutthemhasbecomesofamiliarthatweassumeitistheAmericannorm.Butitisnot.
WhenDwightD.Eisenhower,asafive-stargeneralandthesupremecommander,ledwhatmay

haveinfactbeenthefinestfightingforceinthehistoryoftheworld,hedidnotdescribeitinthatpuffed-up
way.OntheeveoftheD-Dayinvasion,hewarnedhistroops,Yourtaskwillnotbeaneasyone,because
yourenemyiswell-trained,well-equipped,andbattle-hardened.Aspresident,Eisenhowersmost
famousstatementaboutthemilitarywashiswarninginhisfarewelladdressofwhatcouldhappenifits
politicalinfluencegrewunchecked.
AttheendofWorldWarII,nearly10percentoftheentireU.S.populationwasonactivemilitaryduty
whichmeantmostable-bodiedmenofacertainage(plusthesmallnumberofwomenallowedtoserve).
ThroughthedecadeafterWorldWarII,whensomanyAmericanfamilieshadatleastonememberin
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uniform,politicalandjournalisticreferenceswereadmiringbutnotawestruck.MostAmericanswere
familiarenoughwiththemilitarytorespectitwhilebeingsharplyawareofitsshortcomings,astheywere
withtheschoolsystem,theirreligion,andotherimportantandfallibleinstitutions.
NowtheAmericanmilitaryisexoticterritorytomostoftheAmericanpublic.Asacomparison:Ahandful
ofAmericansliveonfarms,buttherearemanymoreofthemthanserveinallbranchesofthemilitary.
(Wellover4millionpeopleliveonthecountrys2.1millionfarms.TheU.S.militaryhasabout1.4million
peopleonactivedutyandanother850,000inthereserves.)Theother310millionplusAmericans
honortheirstalwartfarmers,butgenerallydontknowthem.Sotoowiththemilitary.Manymoreyoung
Americanswillstudyabroadthisyearthanwillenlistinthemilitarynearly300,000studentsoverseas,
versuswellunder200,000newrecruits.Asacountry,Americahasbeenatwarnonstopforthepast13
years.Asapublic,ithasnot.Atotalofabout2.5millionAmericans,roughlythree-quartersof1percent,
servedinIraqorAfghanistanatanypointinthepost-9/11years,manyofthemmorethanonce.
ThedifferencebetweentheearlierAmericathatknewitsmilitaryandthemodernAmericathatgazes
admiringlyatitsheroesshowsupsharplyinchangesinpopularandmediaculture.WhileWorldWarIIwas
underway,itsbest-knownchroniclersweretheScrippsHowardreporterErniePyle,whodescribedthe
dailybraveriesandtravailsofthetroops(untilhewaskillednearthewarsendbyJapanesemachine-gun
fireontheislandofIejima),andtheStarsandStripescartoonistBillMauldin,whomockedtheobtuseness
ofgeneralsandtheirdistancefromthefoxholerealitiesfacedbyhiswisecrackingGIcharacters,Willieand
Joe.
FromMisterRobertstoSouthPacifictoCatch-22,fromTheCaineMutinytoTheNakedandtheDeadto
FromHeretoEternity,Americanpopularandhighculturetreatedourlastmass-mobilizationwarasan
effortdeservingdeeprespectandpride,butnotabovecriticismandlampooning.Thecollective
achievementofthemilitarywasheroic,butitsmembersandleaderswerestillrealpeople,withallthe
foiblesofreallife.Adecadeafterthatwarended,themostpopularmilitary-themedTVprogramwasThe
PhilSilversShow,aboutaconmaninuniformnamedSgt.Bilko.AsBilko,PhilSilverswasthatstock
Americansitcomfigure,thelovableblowhardarolefamiliarfromthetimeofJackieGleasoninThe
HoneymoonerstoHomerSimpsoninTheSimpsonstoday.GomerPyle,USMC;HogansHeroes;McHales
Navy;andeventheanachronisticfrontiershowFTroopweresitcomswhosesettingswereU.S.military
unitsandwhosevillainsandschemers,andstooges,andoccasionalidealistswerepeopleinuniform.
Americanculturewassufficientlyateasewiththemilitarytomakefunofit,astancenowhardtoimagine
outsidethemilitaryitself.

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Full-victorynothing else: General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order to paratroopers in

England the night before they board planes to join the first assault in the D-Day invasion of
Europe. (U.S. Army Signal Corps/AP)

RobertAltmans1970movieM*A*S*HwasclearlyabouttheVietnamWar,thenwellintoitsbloodiest
andmostbitterlydivisiveperiod.(AsIpointoutwheneverdiscussingthistopic,Iwaseligibleforthedraft
atthetime,wasoneofthoseprotestingthewar,andatage20legallybutintentionallyfailedmydraft
medicalexam.Itoldthisstoryina1975WashingtonMonthlyarticle,WhatDidYouDointheClassWar,
Daddy?)ButM*A*S*HsostensibleplacementintheKoreanWaroftheearly1950ssomewhatdistanced
itsdarklymockingattitudeaboutmilitarycompetenceandauthorityfromfiercedisagreementsabout
Vietnam.(TheonebigVietnammovietoprecedeitwasJohnWaynesdoughilyprowarTheGreenBerets,in
1968.WhatwethinkofastheclassicrunofVietnamfilmsdidnotbeginuntiltheendofthe1970s,with
TheDeerHunterandApocalypseNow.)TheTVspin-offofAltmansfilm,whichranfrom1972through
1983,wasasimplerandmorestraightforwardsitcomontheSgt.Bilkomodel,againsuggestingaculture
closeenoughtoitsmilitarytoputupwith,andenjoy,jokesaboutit.
LetsskiptotodaysIraq-Afghanistanera,inwhicheveryonesupportsthetroopsbutfewknowvery
muchaboutthem.Thepop-culturereferencestothepeoplefightingourongoingwarsemphasizetheir
sufferingandstoicism,orthelong-termpersonaldamagetheymayendure.TheHurtLockeristheclearest
example,butalsoLoneSurvivor;Restrepo;theshort-lived2005FXseriessetinIraq,OverThere;and
ShowtimescurrentseriesHomeland.Someemphasizehigh-stakesaction,fromthefictionalized24tothe
meant-to-be-trueZeroDarkThirty.Oftentheyportraymilitaryandintelligenceofficialsasbraveand
daring.Butwhilecumulativelythesedramashighlightthedamagethatopen-endedwarfarehasdoneon
thebattlefieldandelsewhere,towarriorsandciviliansalike,intheshorttermbutalsothroughlong-term
blowbacktheylackthecomfortableclosenesswiththemilitarythatwouldallowthemtoquestionits
competenceastheywouldanyotherinstitutions.
Thebattlefieldisofcourseaseparaterealm,astheliteratureofwarfarefromHomerstimeonwardhas
emphasized.ButthedistancebetweentodaysstatesideAmericaanditsalways-at-warexpeditionary
troopsisextraordinary.Lastyear,thewriterRebeccaFrankelpublishedWarDogs,astudyofthedog-andhandlerteamsthathadplayedalargepartintheU.S.effortsinIraqandAfghanistan.Partofthereason
shechosethetopic,shetoldme,wasthatdogswereoneofthefewcommonpointsofreferencebetween
themilitaryandthelargerpublic.Whenwecannotmakethathumanconnectionoverwar,whenwe
cannotempathizeorimaginethefar-offworldofacombatzonethesemilitaryworkingdogsareabridge
overthedivide,Frankelwroteintheintroductiontoherbook.
Itsawonderfulbook,anddogsareabetterconnectionthannothing.Butdogs!Whenthecountryfought
itspreviouswars,itscommonpointsofreferencewerehumanratherthancanine:fathersandsonsin
harmsway,mothersanddaughtersworkingindefenseplantsandinuniformaswell.Fortwodecades
afterWorldWarII,thestandingforceremainedsolarge,andtheDepression-erabirthcohortswereso
small,thatmostAmericanshadadirectmilitaryconnection.AmongolderBabyBoomers,thoseborn
before1955,atleastthree-quartershavehadanimmediatefamilymembersibling,parent,spouse,child
whoservedinuniform.OfAmericansbornsince1980,theMillennials,aboutoneinthreeisclosely
relatedtoanyonewithmilitaryexperience.

View:

Military enlistments, 2000-2010 (per capita) Deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

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Military enlistments, 2000-2010 (per 1,000 residents)

0

15

30

45

60

75

90

105

120

Interactive graphic: The first map above (in green) shows per-capita military enlistments from 2000 to
2010, grouped by 3-digit zip code. The second (in red) shows the home towns of deceased soldiers
from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Enlistment rates vary widelyin 2010, only 0.04 percent of the
Upper East Side of Manhattan (zip code prefix 101) enlisted, while the U.S. Virgin Islands (prefix 008)
had an enlistment rate of 0.98 percent. When it comes to lives lost, U.S. territories (particularly Guam)
shoulder an outsized burden. (Map design and development: Frankie Dintino. Sources: Department of
Defense, US Census Bureau)

ThemostbitingsatiricalnoveltocomefromtheIraq-Afghanistanera,BillyLynnsLongHalftimeWalk,by
BenFountain,isatakedownofouremptymodernthankyouforyourservicerituals.Itisthestoryofan
ArmysquadthatisbadlyshotupinIraq;isbroughtbacktobehonoredathalftimeduringanationally
televisedDallasCowboysThanksgivingDaygame;whilethere,isslappedonthebackandtoastedby
owners-boxmogulsandflirtedwithbycheerleaders,passedaroundlikeeveryonesfavoritebong,as
platoonmemberBillyLynnthinksofit;andisthenshippedrightbacktothefront.
Thepeopleatthestadiumfeelgoodaboutwhattheyvedonetoshowtheirsupportforthetroops.Fromthe
troopspointofview,thespectaclelooksdifferent.TheressomethingharshinhisfellowAmericans,
avid,ecstatic,aburningthatcomesofthedeepestneed,thenarratorsaysofBillyLynnsthoughts.
Thatshissenseofit,theyallneedsomethingfromhim,thispackofhalf-richlawyers,dentists,soccer
moms,andcorporateVPs,theyreallgnashingforapieceofabarelygrowngruntmaking$14,800a
year.FountainsnovelwontheNationalBookCriticsCircleAwardforfictionin2012,butitdidnotdent
mainstreamawarenessenoughtomakeanyoneself-consciousaboutcontinuingthesalutetotheheroes
gesturesthatdomoreforthecivilianpublicsself-esteemthanforthetroops.AsIlistenedtoObamathat
dayintheairport,andrememberedBenFountainsbook,andobservedthehumofpreoccupiedAmerica
aroundme,IthoughtthatthepartsofthepresidentialspeechfewAmericanswerelisteningtowerethe
oneshistoriansmightsomedayseizeupontoexplainthetemperofourtimes.

Always supportive of the troops: Crowds in Macon welcome back 200 members of the Georgia
National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returning from Afghanistan, September 2014.
(David Goldman/AP)
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I. Chickenhawk Nation
IfIwerewritingsuchahistorynow,IwouldcallitChickenhawkNation,basedonthederisivetermfor
thoseeagertogotowar,aslongassomeoneelseisgoing.Itwouldbethestoryofacountrywillingtodo
anythingforitsmilitaryexcepttakeitseriously.Asaresult,whathappenstoallinstitutionsthatescape
seriousexternalscrutinyandengagementhashappenedtoourmilitary.Outsiderstreatitbothtoo
reverentlyandtoocavalierly,asifregardingitsmembersasheroesmakesupforcommittingthemto
unending,unwinnablemissionsanddenyingthemanythinglikethepoliticalmindsharewegivetoother
majorpublicundertakings,frommedicalcaretopubliceducationtoenvironmentalrules.Thetoneand
levelofpublicdebateonthoseissuesishardlyencouraging.Butfordemocracies,messydebatesareless
damaginginthelongrunthanlettingimportantfunctionsrunonautopilot,asourmilitaryessentiallydoes
now.Achickenhawknationismorelikelytokeepgoingtowar,andtokeeplosing,thanonethatwrestles
withlong-termquestionsofeffectiveness.
Americansadmirethemilitaryastheydonootherinstitution.Throughthepasttwodecades,respectfor
thecourts,theschools,thepress,Congress,organizedreligion,BigBusiness,andvirtuallyeveryother
institutioninmodernlifehasplummeted.Theoneexceptionisthemilitary.Confidenceinthemilitary
shotupafter9/11andhasstayedveryhigh.InaGalluppolllastsummer,three-quartersofthepublic
expressedagreatdealorquitealotofconfidenceinthemilitary.Aboutone-thirdhadcomparable
confidenceinthemedicalsystem,andonly7percentinCongress.
Toomuchcomplacencyregardingourmilitary,andtooweakatragicimaginationabouttheconsequences
ifthenextengagementgoeswrong,havebeenpartofAmericanswillingnesstowadeintoconflictafter
conflict,blithelyassumingwewouldwin.DidwehavethesensethatAmericacaredhowweweredoing?
Wedidnot,SethMoultontoldmeabouthisexperienceasamarineduringtheIraqWar.Moultonbecame
aMarineCorpsofficeraftergraduatingfromHarvardin2001,believing(ashetoldme)thatwhenmany
classmateswereheadingtoWallStreetitwasusefultosetanexampleofpublicservice.Heopposedthe
decisiontoinvadeIraqbutendedupservingfourtoursthereoutofasenseofdutytohiscomrades.
Americawasverydisconnected.Wewereproudtoserve,butweknewitwasalittlegroupofpeopledoing
thecountryswork.
Moultontoldme,asdidmanyotherswithIraq-eramilitaryexperience,thatifmoremembersofCongress
orthebusinessandmediaelitehadhadchildreninuniform,theUnitedStateswouldprobablynothave
gonetowarinIraqatall.Becausehefeltstronglyenoughaboutthatfailureofeliteaccountability,Moulton
decidedwhileinIraqtogetinvolvedinpoliticsafterheleftthemilitary.Iactuallyrememberthe
moment,Moultontoldme.ItwasafteradifficultdayinNajafin2004.Ayoungmarineinmyplatoon
said,Sir,youshouldrunforCongresssomeday.Sothisshitdoesnthappenagain.InJanuary,Moulton
takesofficeasafreshmanDemocraticrepresentativefromMassachusettssSixthDistrict,northofBoston.
WhatMoultondescribedwasdesireforakindofaccountability.Itisstrikinghowrareaccountabilityhas
beenforourmodernwars.HillaryClintonpaidapriceforhervotetoauthorizetheIraqWar,sincethatis
whatgavethebarelyknownBarackObamaanopeningtorunagainstherin2008.GeorgeW.Bush,who,
likemostex-presidents,hasgrownmorepopularthelongerhesbeenoutofoffice,wouldperhapsbe
playingamorevisibleroleinpublicandpoliticallifeifnotfortheoverhangofIraq.Butthosetwoarethe
exceptions.Mostotherpublicfigures,fromDickCheneyandColinPowellondown,haveputIraqbehind
them.InpartthisisbecauseoftheObamaadministrationsdecisionfromthestarttolookforward,not
backaboutwhythingshadgonesobadlywrongwithAmericaswarsinIraqandAfghanistan.Butsuch
willedamnesiawouldhavebeenharderifmoreAmericanshadfeltaffectedbythewarsoutcome.Forour
generals,ourpoliticians,andmostofourcitizenry,thereisalmostnoaccountabilityorpersonal
consequenceformilitaryfailure.Thisisadangerousdevelopmentandonewhosedangersmultiplythe
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longeritpersists.
OURSISTHEbest-equippedfightingforceinhistory,anditisincomparablythemostexpensive.Byall
measures,todaysprofessionalizedmilitaryisalsobettertrained,motivated,anddisciplinedthanduring
thedraft-armyyears.Nodecentpersonwhoisexposedtotodaystroopscanbeanythingbutrespectfulof
themandgratefulforwhattheydo.
Yetrepeatedlythisforcehasbeendefeatedbylessmodern,worse-equipped,barelyfundedfoes.Orithas
wonskirmishesandbattlesonlytoloseorgetboggeddowninalargerwar.Althoughnoonecanagreeon
anexactfigure,ourdozenyearsofwarinIraq,Afghanistan,andneighboringcountrieshavecostatleast
$1.5trillion;LindaJ.Bilmes,oftheHarvardKennedySchool,recentlyestimatedthatthetotalcostcould
bethreetofourtimesthatmuch.RecallthatwhileCongresswasconsideringwhethertoauthorizetheIraq
War,theheadoftheWhiteHouseeconomiccouncil,LawrenceB.Lindsey,wasforcedtoresignfortelling
TheWallStreetJournalthattheall-incostsmightbeashighas$100billionto$200billion,orlessthanthe
U.S.hasspentonIraqandAfghanistaninmanyindividualyears.
Yetfromastrategicperspective,tosaynothingofthehumancost,mostofthesedollarsmightaswellhave
beenburned.Atthispoint,itisincontrovertiblyevidentthattheU.S.militaryfailedtoachieveanyofits
strategicgoalsinIraq,aformermilitaryintelligenceofficernamedJimGourleywroterecentlyfor
ThomasE.Rickssblog,BestDefense.Evaluatedaccordingtothegoalssetforthbyourmilitary
leadership,thewarendedinutterdefeatforourforces.In13yearsofcontinuouscombatunderthe
AuthorizationfortheUseofMilitaryForce,thelongeststretchofwarfareinAmericanhistory,U.S.forces
haveachievedoneclearstrategicsuccess:theraidthatkilledOsamabinLaden.Theirmanyothertactical
victories,fromoverthrowingSaddamHusseintoallyingwithSunnitriballeaderstomountingasurgein
Iraq,demonstratedgreatbraveryandskill.Buttheybroughtnolastingstabilityto,noradvanceofU.S.
interestsin,thatpartoftheworld.WhenISIStroopsoverranmuchofIraqlastyear,theforcesthatlaid
downtheirweaponsandfledbeforethemweremembersofthesameIraqinationalarmythatU.S.advisers
hadsoexpensivelyyetineffectivelytrainedformorethanfiveyears.

Did we have the sense that America cared how

we were doing? We did not, Seth Moulton told
me about his experience as a marine during the
Iraq War.
Wearevulnerable,theauthorWilliamGreiderwroteduringthedebatelastsummeronhowtofight
ISIS,becauseourpresumptionofunconquerablesuperiorityleadsusdeeperanddeeperintounwinnable
militaryconflicts.Andtheseparationofthemilitaryfromthepublicdisruptstheprocessoflearningfrom
thesedefeats.Thelastwarthatendedupincircumstancesremotelyresemblingwhatprewarplanning
wouldhaveconsideredavictorywasthebriefGulfWarof1991.
AftertheVietnamWar,thepressandthepublicwenttoofarinblamingthemilitaryforwhatwasatop-tobottomfailureofstrategyandexecution.Butthemilitaryitselfrecognizeditsownfailings,andawhole
generationofreformerslookedtounderstandandchangetheculture.In1978,amilitary-intelligence
veterannamedRichardA.Gabrielpublished,withPaulL.Savage,CrisisinCommand:Mismanagementin
theArmy,whichtracedmanyofthefailuresinVietnamtothemilitaryshavingadoptedabureaucratized
managementstyle.Threeyearslater,abroadsidecalledSelf-Destruction:TheDisintegrationandDecayof
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theUnitedStatesArmyDuringtheVietnamEra,byamilitaryofficerwritingunderthepenname
Cincinnatus(laterrevealedtobealieutenantcolonelservinginthereservesasamilitarychaplain,CecilB.
Currey),linkedproblemsinVietnamtotheethicalandintellectualshortcomingsofthecareermilitary.
Thebookwashotlydebatedbutnotdismissed.AnarticleaboutthebookfortheAirForcesAirUniversity
Reviewsaidthattheauthorscaseisairtightandthatthemilitaryscareerstructurecorruptsthosewho
serveit;itisthesystemthatforcesoutthebestandrewardsonlythesycophants.
Today,youhearjudgmentslikethatfrequentlyfromwithinthemilitaryandoccasionallyfrompoliticians
butonlyinprivate.Itsnotthewaywetalkinpublicaboutourheroesanymore,withtheresultthat
accountabilityforthecareermilitaryhasbeenmuchsketchierthanduringourpreviouswars.WilliamS.
Lindisamilitaryhistorianwhointhe1990shelpeddeveloptheconceptofFourthGenerationWar,or
strugglesagainsttheinsurgents,terrorists,orothernonstategroupsthatrefusetoformranksandfight
likeconventionalarmies.Hewroterecently:

ThemostcuriousthingaboutourfourdefeatsinFourthGenerationWarLebanon,Somalia,
Iraq,andAfghanistanistheuttersilenceintheAmericanofficercorps.DefeatinVietnambred
agenerationofmilitaryreformersToday,thelandscapeisbarren.Notamilitaryvoiceisheard
callingforthoughtful,substantivechange.Justmoremoney,please.

DuringandafterevensuccessfulAmericanwars,andcertainlyafterthestandoffinKoreaandthedefeatin
Vietnam,theprofessionalmilitarysleadershipandjudgmentwereconsideredfairgameforcriticism.
GrantsavedtheUnion;McClellanseemedalmosttosabotageitandhewasonlyoneoftheUnion
generalsLincolnhadtomoveoutoftheway.SomethingsimilarwastrueinwarsthroughVietnam.Some
leadersweregood;otherswerebad.Now,forpurposesofpublicdiscussion,theyreallheroes.Inourpast
decadeswars,asThomasRickswroteinthismagazinein2012,hundredsofArmygeneralswere
deployedtothefield,andtheavailableevidenceindicatesthatnotonewasrelievedbythemilitarybrass
forcombatineffectiveness.This,hesaid,wasnotonlyaradicalbreakfromAmericantraditionbutalso
animportantfactorinthefailureofourrecentwars.
Partlythischangehascomebecausethepublic,atitssaferemove,doesntinsistonaccountability.Partly
itisbecauselegislatorsandevenpresidentsrecognizethesizablerisksandlimitedpayoffsoftakingonthe
careermilitary.Whenrecentpresidentshaverelievedofficersofcommand,theyhaveusuallydonesoover
allegationsofsexualorfinancialmisconduct,orotherissuesofpersonaldiscipline.Theseincludethe
casesofthetwofamousfour-stargeneralswhoresignedratherthanwaitingforPresidentObamato
dismissthem:StanleyA.McChrystal,asthecommanderinAfghanistan,andDavidPetraeusinhispostCentcomroleastheheadoftheCIA.Theexceptionprovingtheruleoccurredadozenyearsago,whena
seniorcivilianofficialdirectlychallengedafour-stargeneralonhismilitarycompetence.Incongressional
testimonyjustbeforetheIraqWar,GeneralEricShinseki,thentheArmyschiefofstaff,saidthatmany
moretroopsmightbenecessarytosuccessfullyoccupyIraqthanplanswereallowingforonlytobe
ridiculedinpublicbyPaulWolfowitz,thenShinsekissuperiorasthedeputysecretaryofdefense,whosaid
viewslikeShinsekiswereoutlandishandwildlyoffthemark.Wolfowitzandhissuperior,Defense
SecretaryDonaldRumsfeld,ostentatiouslymarginalizedShinsekifromthatpointon.
Inthatcase,thegeneralwasrightandthepoliticianswerewrong.Butmoreoftenandmoreskillfullythan
thepublicusuallyappreciates,todaysmilitaryhasmanagedtodistanceitselffromthelengtheningstring
ofmodernmilitaryfailuresevenwhenwrong.SomeofthisPRshiftisanthropological.Mostreporters
whocoverpoliticsarefascinatedbytheprocessandenjoypractitionerswholoveittoo,whichisonereason
mostwere(liketherestofthecountry)moreforgivingofthehappywarriorBillClintonthantheyhave
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beenofthecoldandaloofBarackObama.Butpoliticalreportersarealwayshuntingforthegaffeor
scandalthatcouldbringatargetdown,andfeeltheyreactinginthepublicinterestindoingso.
Mostreporterswhocoverthemilitaryarealsofascinatedbyitsprocessesandcannothelplikingoratleast
respectingtheirsubjects:physicallyfit,trainedtosaysirandmaam,oftentestedinawaymost
civilianswillneverbe,partofadisciplinedandselfless-seemingculturethatnaturallydrawsrespect.And
whetherornotthiswasaconsciousplan,themilitarygetsasubstantialPRboostfromthemodernpractice
ofplacingofficersinmid-careerassignmentsatthinktanks,oncongressionalstaffs,andingraduate
programsacrossthecountry.Foruniversities,militarystudentsare(asadeanatapublic-policyschoolput
ittome)abetterversionofforeignstudents.Thatis,theyworkhard,payfulltuition,andunlikemany
internationalstudentsfacenolanguagebarrierordifficultyadjustingtotheAmericanstyleofgive-andtakeclassroomexchanges.Mostculturesesteemthescholar-warrior,andtheseprogramsexposeusually
skepticalAmericanelitestopeopleliketheyoungColinPowell,whoasalieutenantcolonelinhismid-30s
wasaWhiteHousefellowafterservinginVietnam,andDavidPetraeus,whogothisPh.D.atPrincetonas
amajor13yearsaftergraduatingfromWestPoint.
AndyethowevermuchAmericanssupportandrespecttheirtroops,theyarenotinvolvedwiththem,
andthatdisengagementinevitablyleadstodangerousdecisionsthepublicbarelynotices.Myconcernis
thisgrowingdisconnectbetweentheAmericanpeopleandourmilitary,retiredAdmiralMikeMullen,the
chairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaffunderGeorgeW.BushandBarackObama(andwhosemid-career
academicstintwasatHarvardBusinessSchool),toldmerecently.Themilitaryisprofessionaland
capable,hesaid,butIwouldsacrificesomeofthatexcellenceandreadinesstomakesurethatwestay
closetotheAmericanpeople.Fewerandfewerpeopleknowanyoneinthemilitary.Itsbecomejusttoo
easytogotowar.
Citizensnoticewhencrimeisgoingup,orschoolqualityisgoingdown,orthewaterisunsafetodrink,or
whenotherpublicfunctionsarenotworkingastheyshould.Notenoughcitizensaremadetonoticewhen
thingsgowrong,orright,withthemilitary.Thecountrythinkstoorarely,andtoohighly,ofthe1percent
underfireinourname.

A new F-35, part of the first delivery of an anticipated 144 planes, in a hanger at Luke Air Force Base, in
Glendale, Arizona, before an unveiling ceremony, March 2014 (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

II. Chickenhawk Economy

Americasdistancefromthemilitarymakesthecountrytoowillingto
FROM THE ARCHIVES

gotowar,andtoocallousaboutthedamagewarfareinflicts.This

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The Draft: Why the Country

Needs It
"If citizens are willing to countenance a
decision that means that someone's
child may die, they may contemplate
more deeply if there is the possibility
that the child will be theirs."
Read the full story by James Fallows in
the April 1980 Atlantic

distancealsomeansthatwespendtoomuchmoneyonthemilitary
andwespenditstupidly,therebyshortchangingmanyofthefunctions
thatmakethemostdifferencetothewelfareofthetroopsandtheir
successincombat.Webuyweaponsthathavelesstodowith
battlefieldrealitiesthanwithourunendingfaiththatadvanced
technologywillensurevictory,andwiththeeconomicinterestsand
politicalinfluenceofcontractors.Thisleavesuswithexpensiveand
delicatehigh-techwhiteelephants,whileunglamorousbutessential
tools,frominfantryriflestoarmoredpersonnelcarriers,toooftenfail

ourtroops(seeGunTrouble,byRobertH.Scales,inthisissue).
Weknowthattechnologyisourmilitarysmainadvantage.Yetthestoryofthepost-9/11longwarsisof
Americashigher-techadvantagesyieldingtransitoryvictoriesthatmeltawaybeforetheolder,messier
realitiesofimprovisedweapons,sectarianresentments,andmountinghostilitytooccupiersfromafar,
howeverwell-intentioned.ManyofthePentagonsmostaudacioushigh-techventureshavebeencostly
andspectacularfailures,including(aswewillsee)themajorair-powerprojectofrecentyears,theF-35.In
anAmericaconnectedtoitsmilitary,suchquestionsofstrategyandimplementationwouldbeatleastas
familiaras,say,theproblemswiththeCommonCoreeducationstandards.
Thosetechnologicalbreakthroughsthatdomaketheirwaytothebattlefieldmayprovetobestrategic
liabilitiesinthelongrun.DuringtheyearsinwhichtheUnitedStateshasenjoyedanear-monopolyon
weaponizeddrones,forexample,theyhavekilledindividualsorsmallgroupsatthepriceofantagonizing
wholesocieties.Whenthemonopolyends,whichisinevitable,theveryopennessoftheUnitedStateswill
makeituniquelyvulnerabletothecheap,swarmingweaponsotherswilldeploy.
Thecostofdefense,meanwhile,goesupandupandup,withlittlepoliticalresistanceandbarelyany
publicdiscussion.Bythefullestaccounting,whichisdifferentfromusualbudgetfigures,theUnitedStates
willspendmorethan$1trilliononnationalsecuritythisyear.Thatincludesabout$580billionforthe
Pentagonsbaselinebudgetplusoverseascontingencyfunds,$20billionintheDepartmentofEnergy
budgetfornuclearweapons,nearly$200billionformilitarypensionsandDepartmentofVeteransAffairs
costs,andotherexpenses.Butitdoesntcountmorethan$80billionayearofinterestonthemilitaryrelatedshareofthenationaldebt.Afteradjustmentsforinflation,theUnitedStateswillspendabout50
percentmoreonthemilitarythisyearthanitsaveragethroughtheColdWarandVietnamWar.Itwill
spendaboutasmuchasthenext10nationscombinedthreetofivetimesasmuchasChina,depending
onhowyoucount,andseventoninetimesasmuchasRussia.Theworldasawholespendsabout2percent
ofitstotalincomeonitsmilitaries;theUnitedStates,about4percent.
Yetsuchisthedysfunctionandcorruptionofthebudgetingprocessthatevenasspendinglevelsrise,the
Pentagonfacessimultaneouscrisesinfundingformaintenance,training,pensions,andveteranscare.
Werebuyingthewrongthings,andpayingtoomuchforthem,CharlesA.Stevenson,aonetimestaffer
ontheSenateArmedServicesCommitteeandaformerprofessorattheNationalWarCollege,toldme.
Werespendingsomuchonpeoplethatwedonthavethehardware,whichisbecomingmoreexpensive
anyway.WeareflatliningR&D.
Hereisjustonenewsworthyexamplethatillustratesthebroadanddepressinglyintractabletendenciesof
weaponsdevelopmentandspending:thefailedhopesforanewairplanecalledtheF-35Lightning.
Todaysweaponscanbedecadesingestation,andthehistoryoftheF-35tracesbacklongbeforemostof
todaystroopswereborn.Twoearly-1970s-eraplanes,theF-16FightingFalconjetandtheA-10
ThunderboltIIattackplane,departedfromthetrendofmilitarydesigninmuchthesamewaythe
compactJapanesecarsofthateradepartedfromthetail-finAmericanlook.Theseplaneswererelatively
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cheap,paredtotheiressentials,easytomaintain,anddesignedtodoaspecificthingverywell.FortheF16,thatwastobefast,highlymaneuverable,anddeadlyinair-to-aircombat.FortheA-10,itwastoserve
asakindofflyingtankthatcouldprovidewhatthemilitarycallscloseairsupporttotroopsincombatby
blastingenemyformations.TheA-10neededtobeheavilyarmored,soitcouldabsorbopposingfire;
designedtoflyasslowlyaspossibleoverthebattlefield,ratherthanasrapidly,sothatitcouldstayinrange
tododamageratherthanroaringthrough;andbuiltaroundoneverypowerfulgun.
Therearephysicaldevicesthatseemthepureexpressionofafunction.TheEameschair,aclassicNo.2
pencil,theoriginalFordMustangorVWBeetle,theMacBookAirtakeyourpick.TheA-10,generally
knownnotastheThunderboltbutastheWarthog,fillsthatroleinthemodernmilitary.Itisrugged;itis
inexpensive;itcanshredenemytanksandconvoysbyfiringupto70roundsasecondofarmor-piercing,
11-inch-longdepleted-uraniumshells.

The tragedy of the F-35 is that a project meant to

correct problems in designing and paying for
weapons has come to exemplify them.
Andthemaineffortofmilitaryleadersthroughthepastdecade,undertheRepublicanleadershipofthe
BushadministrationandtheDemocraticleadershipofObama,hasbeentogetridoftheA-10soastofree
upmoneyforamoreexpensive,lessreliable,technicallyfailingairplanethathaslittlegoingforitexcept
insiderdealing,andthefactthatthegeneralpublicdoesntcare.
TheweaponinwhosenametheA-10isbeingphasedoutisitsoppositeinalmosteveryway.Inautomotive
terms,itwouldbeaLamborghiniratherthanapickuptruck(oraflyingtank).Inair-travelterms,thefirstclasssleepercompartmentonSingaporeAirlinesratherthanadvance-purchaseEconomyPlus(oreven
businessclass)onUnited.Thesecomparisonsseemridiculous,buttheyarefair.Thatis,aLamborghiniis
demonstrablybetterthanapickuptruckincertainwaysspeed,handling,comfortbutonlyinvery
specialcircumstancesisitabetteroverallchoice.Sameforthefirst-classsleeper,whichwouldbeanyones
choiceifsomeoneelsewerefootingthebillbutissimplynotworththetrade-offformostpeoplemostof
thetime.

EachnewgenerationofweaponstendstobebetterinmuchthewayaLamborghiniis,andworthitin
thesamesenseasafirst-classairlineseat.TheA-10showsthepattern.Accordingtofiguresfromthe
aircraftanalystRichardL.Aboulafia,oftheTealGroup,theunitrecurringflyawaycostsin2014dollars
thefairestapples-to-applescomparisonstackuplikethis.EachWarthognowcostsabout$19million,
lessthananyothermannedcombataircraft.APredatordronecostsabouttwo-thirdsasmuch.Other
fighter,bomber,andmultipurposeplanescostmuchmore:about$72millionfortheV-22Osprey,about
$144millionfortheF-22fighter,about$810millionfortheB-2bomber,andabout$101million(orfive
A10s)fortheF-35.Theresasimilardifferenceinoperatingcosts.Theoperatingexpensesarelowforthe
A-10andmuchhigherfortheotherslargelybecausetheA-10sdesignissimpler,withfewerthingsthat
couldgowrong.Thesimplicityofdesignallowsittospendmoreofitstimeflyinginsteadofbeinginthe
shop.
InclearcontrasttotheA-10,theF-35isanill-starredundertakingthatwouldhavebeenonthefrontpages
asoftenasotherbotchedfederalprojects,fromtheObamacarerollouttotheFEMAresponseafter
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HurricaneKatrina,if,likethoseothers,iteitherseemedtoaffectabroadclassofpeopleorcouldeasilybe
shownonTVorifsomanypoliticiansdidnthaveastakeinprotectingit.Onemeasureofthegapin
coverage:TotaltaxpayerlossesinthefailedSolyndrasolar-energyprogrammightcome,attheirmostdire
estimate,tosome$800million.Totalcostoverruns,lossesthroughfraud,andotherdamagetothe
taxpayerfromtheF-35projectareperhaps100timesthatgreat,yettheSolyndrascandalisknownto
probably100timesasmanypeopleasthetravailsoftheF-35.Heresanotheryardstick:theall-incostsof
thisairplanearenowestimatedtobeasmuchas$1.5trillion,oralow-endestimateoftheentireIraqWar.
ThecondensedversionofthisplanestragedyisthataprojectmeanttocorrectsomeofthePentagons
deepestproblemsindesigningandpayingforweaponshasinfactworsenedandcometoexemplifythem.
Anaircraftthatwasintendedtobeinexpensive,adaptable,andreliablehasbecomethemostexpensivein
history,andamongthehardesttokeepoutoftheshop.Thefederalofficialwhomadetheprojectasymbol
ofanew,transparent,rigorouslydata-dependentapproachtoawardingcontractsendedupservingtimein
federalprisonforcorruptioninvolvingprojectswithBoeing.(Boeingschieffinancialofficeralsodidtime
inprison.)Fortherecord,thePentagonandtheleadcontractorsstoutlydefendtheplaneandsaythatits
teethingproblemswillbeoversoonandthatanyway,itistheplaneofthefuture,andtheA-10isanaging
relicofthepast.(WehavepostedreportshereontheA-10,proandcon,soyoucanseewhetheryouare
convinced.)
Intheory,theF-35wouldshowcommonpurposeamongthemilitaryservices,sincetheAirForce,the
Navy,andtheMarineCorpswouldallgettheirowncustom-tailoredversionsoftheplane.Infact,aplane
designedtodomanycontradictorythingstobestrongenoughtosurviveNavyaircraft-carrierlandings,
yetlightandmaneuverableenoughtoexcelasanAirForcedogfighter,andmeanwhileabletotakeoffand
landstraightupanddown,likeahelicopter,toreachmarinesintightcombatcircumstanceshas
unsurprisinglydonenoneofthemaswellaspromised.Intheory,theF-35wasmeanttoknitU.S.allies
together,sinceothercountrieswouldbuyitastheirmainstayairplaneandinturnwouldgetpartofthe
contractingbusiness.Infact,thedelays,costoverruns,andmechanicalproblemsoftheairplanehave
madeitacontentiouspoliticalissueincustomercountriesfromCanadaandHollandtoItalyandAustralia.

Interactive map: Parts from the F-35 are sourced from over 250 locations around the globe, spanning
11 countries and, in the U.S., more than 90 congressional districts. Hover over any red dot to see a list
of contractors. (Map design and development: Frankie Dintino. Source: Center for International
Policy.)

ThecountrywheretheairplanehasleastbeenapublicissueistheUnitedStates.Intheir2012debates,
MittRomneycriticizedBarackObamaforsupportinggreenenergyprojects,includingSolyndra.Neither
manmentionedtheF-35,andIamstilllookingforevidencethatPresidentObamahastalkedaboutitin
anyofhisspeeches.Inothercountries,theF-35canbecastasanotherannoyingAmericanintrusion.
Here,itisprotectedbysuppliercontractsthathavebeenspreadasbroadlyaspossible.
Politicalengineering,atermpopularizedbyayoungPentagonanalystnamedChuckSpinneyinthe
1970s,ispork-barrelpoliticsonthegrandestscale.Costoverrunssoundbadifsomeoneelseisgettingthe
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extramoney.Theycanbegoodiftheyarecreatingbusinessforyourcompanyorjobsinyourcongressional
district.Politicalengineeringistheartofspreadingamilitaryprojecttoasmanycongressionaldistrictsas
possible,andthusmaximizingthenumberofmembersofCongresswhofeelthatiftheycutofffunding,
theydbehurtingthemselves.
A$10millionpartscontractinonecongressionaldistrictbuildsonerepresentativessupport.Two$5
millioncontractsintwodistrictsaretwiceasgood,andbetterallaroundwouldbethreecontractsat$3
millionapiece.Everyparticipantinthemilitary-contractingprocessunderstandsthislogic:theprime
contractorswhoparceloutsupplydealsaroundthecountry,themilitarysprocurementofficerswhodivide
workamongcontractors,thepoliticianswhovoteupordownontheresults.Inthelate1980s,acoalition
ofso-calledcheaphawksinCongresstriedtocutfundingfortheB-2bomber.Theygotnowhereafterit
becameclearthatworkfortheprojectwasbeingcarriedoutin46statesandnofewerthan383
congressionaldistricts(of435total).Thedifferencebetweenthenandnowisthatin1989,Northrop,the
maincontractorfortheplane,hadtoreleasepreviouslyclassifieddatatodemonstratehowbroadlythe
dollarswerebeingspread.

Whateveritstechnicalchallenges,theF-35isatriumphofpoliticalengineering,andonaglobalscale.For
apiquantillustrationofthedifferencethatpoliticalengineeringcanmake,considerthecaseofBernie
SandersformerSocialistmayorofBurlington,currentIndependentsenatorfromVermont,possible
candidatefromtheleftinthenextpresidentialrace.Inprinciple,hethinkstheF-35isabadchoice.After
oneoftheplanescaughtfirelastsummeronarunwayinFlorida,Sanderstoldareporterthattheprogram
hadbeenincrediblywasteful.YetSanders,withtherestofVermontsmainlyleft-leaningpolitical
establishment,hasfoughthardtogetanF-35unitassignedtotheVermontAirNationalGuardin
Burlington,andtodissuadeneighborhoodgroupstherewhothinktheplaneswillbetoonoisyand
dangerous.Forbetterorworse,[theF-35]istheplaneofrecordrightnow,Sanderstoldalocalreporter
aftertherunwayfirelastyear,anditisnotgonnabediscarded.Thatsthereality.Itsgoingtobe
somewhere,sowhynothere?AsVermontgoes,sogoesthenation.
ThenextbigprojecttheAirForceisconsideringistheLongRangeStrikeBomber,asuccessortotheB-1
andB-2whosespecificationsincludeanabilitytodobombingrunsdeepintoChina.(Astepsowildly
recklessthattheU.S.didntconsideritevenwhenfightingChinesetroopsduringtheKoreanWar.)Bythe
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timetheplanesfullcostsandcapabilitiesbecomeapparent,ChuckSpinneywrotelastsummer,the
airplane,liketheF-35today,willbeunstoppable.Thatisbecauseevennowitssupportersarebuilding
theplanessocialsafetynetbyspreadingthesubcontractsaroundthecountry,orperhapsliketheF-35,
aroundtheworld.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a press conference in Baghdad
in August 2011. (Joseph Epstein)

III. Chickenhawk Politics

Politicianssaythatnationalsecurityistheirfirstandmostsacredduty,buttheydonotactasifthisisso.
ThemostrecentdefensebudgetpassedtheHouseArmedServicesCommitteebyavoteof61tozero,with
similarlyone-sideddebatebeforethevote.ThisisthesameHouseofRepresentativesthatcannotpassa
long-termHighwayTrustFundbillthatbothpartiessupport.Thelionizationofmilitaryofficialsby
politiciansisremarkableanddangerous,aretiredAirForcecolonelnamedTomRuby,whonowwriteson
organizationalculture,toldme.Heandotherssaidthatthisdeferencewasonereasonsolittleserious
oversightofthemilitarytookplace.
T.X.Hammes,aretiredMarineCorpscolonelwhohasadoctorateinmodernhistoryfromOxford,told
methatinsteadofapplyingcriticaljudgmenttomilitaryprograms,orevenregardingnationaldefenseas
anykindofsacredduty,politicianshavecometoviewitsimplyasateat.ManyonCapitolHillseethe
Pentagonwithadmirablesimplicity,hesaid:Itisawayofdirectingtaxmoneytoselecteddistricts.Its
partofwhattheywereelectedtodo.
Inthespringof2011,BarackObamaaskedGaryHart,theDemocraticPartysmostexperiencedandbestconnectedfigureondefensereform,toformasmallbipartisantaskforcethatwoulddraft
recommendationsonhowObamamighttrytorecastthePentagonanditspracticesifhewonasecond
term.Hartdidso(Iwaspartofthegroup,alongwithAndrewJ.BacevichofBostonUniversity,John
ArquillaoftheNavalPostgraduateSchool,andNormanR.Augustine,theformerCEOofLockheed
Martin),andsentareporttoObamathatfall.[Hereisthatmemo.]Heneverheardback.EveryWhite
Houseisswampedwithrecommendationsandrequests,anditrespondsonlytothoseitconsidersmost
urgentwhichdefensereformobviouslywasnot.
Soonthereafter,duringthe2012presidentialrace,neitherBarackObamanorMittRomneysaidmuch
abouthowtheywouldspendthebillionandahalfdollarsadaythatgotomilitaryprograms,exceptfor
whenRomneysaidthatifelected,hewouldspendatotalof$1trillionmore.Intheironlydirectexchange
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aboutmilitarypolicy,duringtheirfinalcampaigndebate,ObamasaidthatRomneysplanswouldgivethe
servicesmoremoneythantheywereaskingfor.RomneypointedoutthattheNavyhadfewershipsthanit
didbeforeWorldWarI.Obamashotback,Well,Governor,wealsohavefewerhorsesandbayonets,
becausethenatureofourmilitaryschanged.Wehavethesethingscalledaircraftcarriers,whereplanes
landonthem.Wehavetheseshipsthatgounderwater,nuclearsubmarines.ItwasObamasmost
sarcasticandaggressivemomentofanyofthedebates,andwasalsotheentiretyofthediscussionabout
wherethosetrillionswouldgo.

IMWEBBISadecoratedVietnamveteran,anauthor,aformerDemocraticsenator,andalikely

presidentialcandidate.SevenyearsagoinhisbookATimetoFight,hewrotethatthecareer
militarywasturningintoadontbreakmyricebowlculture,referringtoanAsianphraseroughly

comparabletomakingsureeveryonegetsapieceofthepie.Webbmeantthatambitiousofficersnotice
howmanyoftheirmentorsandpredecessorsmoveafterretirementintoboardpositions,consultancies,or
operationalroleswithdefensecontractors.(Pensionsnowexceedpreretirementpayforsomeverysenior
officers;forinstance,afour-stargeneraloradmiralwith40yearsofservicecanreceiveapensionofmore
than$237,000ayear,evenifhismaximumsalaryonactivedutywas$180,000.)
Webbsaysitwoulddefyhumannatureifknowledgeofthepost-serviceprospectsdidnotaffecttheway
somehigh-rankingofficersbehavewhileinuniform,includingprotectingthericebowlofmilitary
budgetsandcultivatingconnectionswiththeirpredecessorsandtheirpostretirementbusinesses.There
havealwaysbeensomeofficerswhowentontocontractingjobs,Webb,whogrewupinanAirForce
family,toldmerecently.Whatsnewisthescaleofthephenomenon,anditsimpactonthehighestranks
ofthemilitary.
Ofcourse,themodernmilitaryadvertisesitselfasaplacewhereyoungpeoplewhohavelackedthechance
ormoneyforhighereducationcandevelopvaluableskills,plusearnGIBillbenefitsforpost-service
studies.Thatsgoodallaround,andispartofthemilitarysperhapsunintendedbutcertainlyimportant
roleasanopportunitycreatorforundercredentialedAmericans.Webbistalkingaboutadifferent,
potentiallycorruptingprepareforyourfutureeffectonthemilitarysbest-trained,mostinfluential
careerists.

If more members of Congress or the business and

media elite had had children in uniform, the
United States would probably not have gone to
war in Iraq.
Itisnosecretthatinsubtleways,manyofthesetopleadersbeginpositioningthemselvesfortheir
second-careeremploymentduringtheirfinalmilitaryassignments,WebbwroteinATimetoFight.The
result,hesaid,isaseamlessinterplayofcorporateandmilitaryintereststhatthreatenstheintegrityof
defenseprocurement,ofcontroversialpersonnelissuessuchasthehugequasi-militarystructure[of
contractors,likeBlackwaterandHalliburton]thathasevolvedinIraqandAfghanistan,andinevitablyof
thebalancewithinournationalsecurityprocessitself.Iheardassessmentslikethisfrommanyofthemen
andwomenIspokewith.Theharshestonescamenotfrompeoplewhomistrustedthemilitarybutfrom
thosewho,likeWebb,haddevotedmuchoftheirlivestoit.
AmanwhoworkedfordecadesoverseeingPentagoncontractstoldmethispastsummer,Thesystemis
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basedonliesandself-interest,purelytowardtheendofkeepingmoneymoving.Whatkeptthesystem
running,hesaid,wasthattheservicesgettheirbudgets,thecontractorsgettheirdeals,thecongressmen
getjobsintheirdistricts,andnoonewhosnotpartofthedealbotherstofindoutwhatisgoingon.
OfcourseitwasthemostreveredAmericanwarriorofthe20thcentury,DwightD.Eisenhower,who
warnedmosturgentlythatbusinessandpoliticswouldcorruptthemilitary,andviceversa.Everyonehas
heardofthisspeech.Notenoughpeoplehaveactuallyreaditandbeenexposedtowhatwouldnowbe
considereditsdangerouslyantimilitaryviews.Whichmainstreampoliticiancouldsaytoday,as
Eisenhowersaidin1961,thatthemilitary-industrialcomplexhasatotalinfluenceeconomic,political,
evenspiritual[that]isfeltineverycity,everyStatehouse,everyofficeoftheFederalgovernment?
SethMoulton,afewdaysafterhisvictoryinlastfallscongressionalrace,saidthattheoverallqualityand
moraleofpeopleinthemilitaryhasdramaticallyimprovedsincethedaysofaconscriptforce.Butits
becomepopulated,especiallyatthehighestranks,bycareerists,peoplewhohavegottenwheretheyareby
checkingalltheboxesandnottakingrisks,hetoldme.SomeofthefinestofficersIknewwere
lieutenantswhoknewtheyweregettingout,sowerentafraidtomaketherightdecision.Iknowanawful
lotofseniorofficerswhoareveryafraidtomakeatoughchoicebecausetheyreworriedhowitwilllookon
theirfitnessreport.Thismaysoundlikeacomplaintaboutlifeinanybigorganization,butitssomething
more.TheresnorivalArmyorMarineCorpsyoucanswitchtoforanewstart.Theresalmostno
surmountinganerrororablackmarkonthefitnessorevaluationreportsthatarethebasisforpromotions.

VERYINSTITUTIONHASPROBLEMS,andateverystageofU.S.history,somecriticshaveconsideredthe

U.S.militaryoverfunded,underprepared,tooinsularandself-regarding,orflawedinsomeother
way.Thedifferencenow,Icontend,isthatthesemoderndistortionsallflowinonewayoranother

fromthechickenhawkbasisoftodaysdefensestrategy.
Atenormouscost,bothfinancialandhuman,thenationsupportstheworldsmostpowerfularmedforce.
Butbecausesosmallasliverofthepopulationhasadirectstakeintheconsequencesofmilitaryaction,the
normaldemocraticfeedbacksdonotwork.
Ihavemetseriouspeoplewhoclaimthatthemilitarysset-apartexistenceisbestforitsowninterests,and
forthenations.SincethetimeoftheRomanstherehavebeenpeople,mostlymenbutincreasingly
women,whohavevolunteeredtobethepraetorianguard,JohnA.Nagltoldme.NaglisaWestPoint
graduateandRhodesScholarwhowasacombatcommanderinIraqandhaswrittentwoinfluentialbooks
aboutthemodernmilitary.HelefttheArmyasalieutenantcolonelandnow,inhislate40s,istheheadof
theHaverfordprepschool,nearPhiladelphia.
Theyknowwhattheyaresigningupfor,Naglsaidoftodaystroops.Theyareproudtodoit,andin
exchangetheyexpectareasonableliving,andpensionsandhealthcareiftheyarehurtorfallsick.The
Americanpubliciscompletelywillingtoletthisprofessionalclassofvolunteersservewheretheyshould,
forwisepurpose.Thisgivesthepresidentmuchgreaterfreedomofactiontomakedecisionsinthe
nationalinterest,withtroopswhowillsalutesharplyanddowhatneedstobedone.
IlikeandrespectNagl,butIcompletelydisagree.Asweveseen,publicinattentiontothemilitary,bornof
havingnodirectinterestinwhathappenstoit,hasallowedbothstrategicandinstitutionalproblemsto
fester.
Apeopleuntouched(orseeminglyuntouched)bywararefarlesslikelytocareaboutit,Andrew
Bacevichwrotein2012.BacevichhimselffoughtinVietnam;hissonwaskilledinIraq.Persuadedthat
theyhavenoskininthegame,theywillpermitthestatetodowhateveritwishestodo.

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Our military and defense structures are

increasingly remote from the society they
protect, Gary Harts working group told the
president.
MikeMullenthinksthatonewaytoreengageAmericanswiththemilitaryistoshrinktheactive-dutyforce,
aprocessalreadyunderway.Thenexttimewegotowar,hesaid,theAmericanpeopleshouldhaveto
sayyes.Andthatwouldmeanthathalfamillionpeoplewhowerentplanningtodothiswouldhavetobe
involvedinsomeway.Theywouldhavetobeinconvenienced.ThatwouldbringAmericain.America
hasntbeeninthesepreviouswars.Andwearepayingdearlyforthat.
Withtheirdistancefromthemilitary,politiciansdonttalkseriouslyaboutwhethertheUnitedStatesis
directlythreatenedbychaosintheMiddleEastandelsewhere,orisinfactsaferthanever(asChristopher
PrebleandJohnMueller,oftheCatoInstitute,havearguedinanewbook,ADangerousWorld?).Thevast
majorityofAmericansoutsidethemilitarycanbetriplycynicalintheirattitudetowardit.Triply?One:
honoringthetroopsbutnotthinkingaboutthem.Two:caringaboutdefensespendingbutreally
viewingitasabipartisanstimulusprogram.Three:supportingastrongdefensebutassumingthatthe
UnitedStatesissomuchstrongerthananyrivalthatitspointlesstoworrywhetherstrategy,weaponry,
andleadershipareright.
Theculturalproblemsarisingfromanarms-lengthmilitarycouldbeevenworse.CharlesJ.DunlapJr.,a
retiredAirForcemajorgeneralwhonowteachesatDukelawschool,hasthoughtaboutcivic-military
relationsthroughmuchofhisprofessionallife.WhenhewasstudyingattheNationalDefenseUniversity
asayoungAirForceofficerintheearly1990s,justafterthefirstGulfWar,hewasaco-winneroftheprize
forbeststudentessaywithanimagined-futureworkcalledTheOriginsoftheAmericanMilitaryCoupof
2012.
Hisessayspremisewascautionary,andwasbasedonthetensionbetweenrisingadulationforthemilitary
anddecliningtrustinmostotheraspectsofgovernment.ThemoreexasperatedAmericansgrewabout
economicandsocialproblems,themorerelievedtheywerewhencompetentmeninuniform,ledby
GeneralThomasE.T.Brutus,finallysteppedintotakecontrol.Partofthereasonforthetakeover,Dunlap
explained,wasthatthemilitaryhadgrownsoseparatefrommainstreamcultureandcurrentsthatit
viewedtherestofsocietyasaforeignterritorytooccupyandadminister.
RecentlyIaskedDunlaphowtherealworldofpost-2012Americamatchedhisimaginedversion.
Ithinkwereonthecuspofseeingaresurgenceofaphenomenonthathasalwaysbeenembeddedinthe
Americanpsyche,hesaid.Thatisbenignantimilitarism,whichwouldbetheothersideofthereflexive
pro-militarismofrecentyears.Peopledontappreciatehowunprecedentedoursituationis,hetoldme.
Whatisthatsituation?Forthefirsttimeinthenationshistory,Americahasapermanentmilitary
establishmentlargeenoughtoshapeourdealingsintheworldandseriouslyinfluenceoureconomy.Yet
theAmericansinthatmilitary,duringwhatDunlapcallsthematuringyearsofthevolunteerforce,are
fewenoughinnumbernottoseemrepresentativeofthecountrytheydefend.
Itsbecomingincreasinglytribal,Dunlapsaysoftheat-warforceinourchickenhawknation,inthe
sensethatmoreandmorepeopleinthemilitaryarecomingfromsmallerandsmallergroups.Itsbecomea
familytradition,inawaythatsatoddswithhowwewanttothinkademocracyspreadstheburden.

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PeoplewithinthatmilitarytribecanfeelbothaboveandbelowthemessycivilianrealityofAmerica.
Below,intheburdensplaceduponthem,andtheinattentiontothelives,limbs,andopportunitiesthey
havelost.Above,inbeingabletowithstandhardshipsthatwouldbreaktheirhipsterorslacker
contemporaries.

Its become just too easy to go to war, says

Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Ithinkthereisastrongsenseinthemilitarythatitisindeedabettersocietythantheoneitserves,
Dunlapsaid.Andthereissomerationalityforthat.Anyonewhohasspenttimewithtroopsandtheir
familiesknowswhathemeans.Physicalfitness,standardsofpromptnessanddress,alltheaspectsofselfdisciplinethathavetraditionallymadethemilitaryaplacewheremisdirectedyouthcouldstraighten
out,plusthespiritofloveandloyaltyforcomradesthatisfoundincivilianlifemainlyonsportsteams.
Thebestresolutionofthistensionbetweenmilitaryandmainstreamvalueswouldofcoursecomeasthose
whounderstandthemilitarystribalidentityapplytheirstrengthsoutsidethetribe.Thegeneration
comingup,wevegotlieutenantsandmajorswhohadbeenthewarrior-kingsintheirlittleoutposts,
Dunlapsaidoftheyoungveteransoftherecentlongwars.Theywereliterallymakinglife-or-death
decisions.Youcanttakethatgenerationandsay,Youcanbeseenandnotheard.
InadditiontoSethMoulton,thisyearsCongresswillhavemorethan20veteransofIraqandAfghanistan,
includingnewRepublicanSenatorsTomCottonofArkansasandJoniErnstofIowa.The17whoare
alreadythere,includingDemocraticRepresentativesTulsiGabbardandTammyDuckworthand
RepublicanRepresentativesDuncanD.HunterandAdamKinzinger,haveplayedanactiverolein
veteranspoliciesandinthe2013debatesaboutinterveninginSyria.Gabbardwasstronglyagainstit;
someoftheRepublicanveteranswereforitbutallofthemmadeargumentsbasedonfirsthand
observationofwhathadworkedandfailed.Moultontoldmethatthemainlessonhellapplyfromhisfour
toursinIraqistheimportanceofservice,ofwhateverkind.HesaidthatHarvardsfamedchaplainduring
Moultonsyearsasanundergraduatephysicsstudent,thelatePeterJ.Gomes,hadconvincedhimthatits
notenoughtobelieveinservice.Youshouldfindaway,yourself,toserve.Barringunimaginable
changes,serviceinAmericawillnotmeanadraft.ButMoultonsayshewilllookforwaystopromotea
culturewheremorepeoplewanttoserve.
Forallthedifferencesintheiremphasesandconclusions,theseyoungveteransarealikeinalltakingthe
militaryseriously,ratherthanjustreveringit.ThevastmajorityofAmericanswillneversharetheir
experiences.Butwecanlearnfromthatseriousness,andviewmilitarypolicyasdeservingatleastthe
attentionwegivetotaxesorschools.
Whatmightthatmean,inspecific?Hereisastart.IntheprivatereportpreparedforPresidentObama
morethanthreeyearsago,GaryHartsworkinggrouplaidoutprescriptionsonarangeofoperational
practices,fromtheneedforsmaller,moreagilecombatunitstoashiftinthenationalcommandstructure
toadifferentapproachtowardpreventingnuclearproliferation.Threeoftherecommendationswere
aboutthewaythecountryasawholeshouldengagewithitsarmedforces.Theywere:

Appointacommissiontoassessthelongwars.Thiscommissionshouldundertakeadispassionate
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efforttolearnlessonsfromAfghanistanandIraqconcerningthenatureofirregular,
unconventionalconflict,commandstructures,intelligenceeffectiveness,indigenouscultural
factors,trainingoflocalforces,andeffectivecombatunitperformance.Suchacommissionwill
greatlyenhanceourabilitytoknowwhen,where,how,andwhethertolaunchfuture
interventions.

Clarifythedecision-makingprocessforuseofforce.Suchcriticaldecisions,currentlyadhoc,
shouldinsteadbemadeinasystematicwaybytheappropriateauthorityorauthoritiesbasedon
themostdependableandpersuasiveinformationavailableandanunderstandingofournational
interestsbasedon21st-centuryrealities.

Restorethecivil-militaryrelationship.ThePresident,inhiscapacityascommander-in-chief,must
explaintheroleofthesoldiertothecitizenandthecitizentothesoldier.Thetraditionalcivilmilitaryrelationshipisfrayedandill-defined.Ourmilitaryanddefensestructuresare
increasinglyremotefromthesocietytheyprotect,andeachmustbebroughtbackintoharmony
withtheother.

BarackObama,busyonotherfronts,hadnotimeforthis.Therestofusshouldmaketime,ifwehopeto
chooseourwarsmorewisely,andwinthem.

To read more about the arguments for and against the F-35, see this list of articles and official statements compiled by James Fallows.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SPONSOR C

JAMES FALLOWS is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and has written for the
magazine since the late 1970s. He has reported extensively from outside the United States
and once worked as President Carter's chief speechwriter. His latest book is China
Airborne.
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