Martin Meenagh blog

Continuous War

As the problems of resource depletion, instability, and social collapse begin to bite within the west, the Pentagon has published its 2008 modernization strategy. It calls for a fiscal and national commitment to war for the next four decades. The Irish Times--with Le Monde and the FT, one of the best newspapers in the world--has a clear analysis here.

I also note the safe return of Irish soldiers from peacekeeping in Chad. The Irish Army has been at the forefront of peacekeeping efforts for decades, and its soldiers are a credit to the Irish. Well done to you, should these words fall under your eye.

Have western states, decent places like the Federal Republic of Germany or places that can save themselves still, like America, got what it takes to see the obvious antidote and vaccine to the illness of continuous war?

Reinstitute the draft. Citizens now play video game wars with the social extremes of their society and immigrant-aspirant soldiers. That makes them less than immigrants. They have no stake. The people hired to kill go where they are told and cannot question it.

Draft their civilian masters and their children and see how long this continuous warmaking lasts.

The image at the top of this blog is of a real Irish Dail Deputy. As my Grandad said, all the handsome ones like us were forced to leave.

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