Democracy and military authority are incompatible

[wuushew]

The great tragedies of modern armed conflict are almost universally due to blind obedience to authority. Just as the Vietnam was morally bankrupt so is this conflict, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish American war and many others. In fact most or all the war the United States has fought in her history have been unnecessary. Certainly the invention of the draft has made such past transgressions much more politically and operationally possible then would have been otherwise.

The unvarnished truth is most or all of America's wars have all been unnecessary and aggressive. WWII was mearly a continuation of WWI, itself an expedient war made possible by military draft and broadcast of propaganda and the highest levels of government.

In this war the rationale and facts to go to war as concealed by the President would have never garnered anywhere 50% approval if making war was truly a democratic principle. Instead a false idea of "faith and trust" in the office the President has lead to the death of untold thousands of innocents. If we believe that all men are equal under Constitution then the President's opinion or decision making is no more valid than my own. Since I know the President to be an imbecile why not make all relevant national security documents public knowledge? The ominous excuse of national security continues to lead to more conflict and more restrictions on personal freedom and expression.

The problem is one of complexity. In the nuclear age the moral deliberation and time required by all personnel who were involved in launching a nuclear strike would have resulted in the United States becoming a nuclear ash-heap before a decision was reached. The effort to drop a bomb on an Afghan wedding requires the effort of a strike planner, catapult operator, pilot, mechanic and many others. Even though none of them would be happy with the results. Our modern imperial war making methods require absolute knowledge of scheduling, size of forces and the loyalty of cannon fodder without question.

The American Revolution started initially by armed groups of citizenry. These Minute Men were in many ways no different from the Vietnamese or Iraqi insurgents in that the effects of their actions and their choices were clearly observable and changeable from moment to moment. Every combatant had adequate knowledge to control his own fate and the warfare he was involved in. The problem with the just following orders excuse is where to draw the line. German soldiers were just following orders when they marched into Poland as are our troops in the continued illegal occupation of Iraq. Contrary to conservative thought morals, law and history itself are all relative. We prosecuted the Axis because we were the victors. We flaunt international law because we are the world's sole superpower. The very existence of this intellectual reality should cause pause and cast doubt on the cause to which we commit ourselves. Instead of unswerving loyalty being viewed as a virtue I would rather have a return to sharp debate and cynicism. Political checks have failed to stop war just as they have failed in 1964 and decades past. Decisions of war and peace must be more direct.