The case against war.
Support and defend. I have always insisted that my employers observed this with regard to employee rights. The armed services ask, at the outset, that the employee relinquish those rights. This seems contradictory to me. That’s not a citizen’s army. It’s a hit squad. In any fight you need a defense as well. Agility, training and strength may also be a factor. The best a soldier can do is take no action that violates that contract. Such are truly patriots. A modest draft, with an exemption for other projects in the national interest, seems like a reasonable option. To be clear, the armed forces are for the national defense in the world that is or will be in a short time.
Moving on, what size military do we require? The question is best answered by an accurate assessment of our enemies. I would submit that they are fewer than we would expect, given the devastation we have caused. In any rational assessment, it is time to stand down from our current posture and begin to adapt away from confrontation. Just a tiny bit? For a prolonged time? The nuclear option seems remote enough to lower production to the lowest level possible. We need a Department of State that understands foreign relations and doesn’t see an enemy under every rock. This applies to the intelligence agencies as well. The patriot Act should switch names with the Whistleblower Act.
It is a remarkably clear path. Just ask who fears peace? Then look as the conglomerate enemy of peace reveals itself. And then ask why. The world is remarkably peaceful but for those suffering from greed.