Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Afghanistan War-American's New Leader in Longest

Afghanistan War has become America's new longest war beating Vietnam on June 7th. Shared thread between political parties, media and the public is mostly indifference. Maybe because the Afghan War is seen as more justified than Iraq or the lack of draft/low impact on American daily life-

One might think that this emotional isolationism would bring demands for military retrenchment. But ironically, the public’s boredom and disillusionment with international affairs actually makes it easier for the Obama administration to sustain U.S. deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. As Richard Nixon realized when he ended the draft in 1973, and thus sucked the oxygen out of the anti-Vietnam movement, it’s easier to prosecute a war when that war doesn’t directly affect the vast majority of Americans.

2 comments:

Ted said...

This is why we need to re-implement the draft (like a true democracy, in which we have a stake in military decisions)

Peter H of Lebo said...

I agree, maybe not a military draft. Draftees tend to make poor soldiers. Maybe a civic duty corp or something. Option for shorter duration if draftee volunteers to build roads or soccer fields in Afghan etc. Jury duty for civic matters.