Guest post by John Kachelman, Jr
These words come from a soldier’s diary from the remains of Churchill’s Gallipoli campaign. “This English is very interesting. Either not very smart, or careless: in a foreign land, in a shallow stream, he set up a breakfast table. Jams, tea, sugar, biscuits, chocolate, butter, cheese, forks and knives. We of course attacked them. Some are dead. Others are dying. How terrible. Not long ago he was enjoying his morning tea, now he is dying. I don’t know this English and neither do they. I curse those who set us against each other. I pray that no unnecessary shots are fired again” (First Lieutenant Ismail Hakki, Ottoman Army, 16th Division, 36th Regiment, 15 August 1915, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli).
A new word was introduced into the American language-“Eternal War.” This term identifies the endless military conflicts that mark our nation—in Europe, the Caribbean, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, Somalia, Sudan, the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many more found in open files, to name a few. Recorded in secret files. The term does not define national pride in defeating evil, but describes a political arena in which our military is manipulated and troubled. Today’s military records more suicides than ever before; More “vigilant” rules discourage warriors and compromise our strength; more civilian applications from military thinktanks; And, more restrictions on actual military operations.
And, the political manipulation of “perpetual war” continues. It may be different theaters of war, but it goes on. Reckless abandon used by politicians for profit and power under the guise of “national security”.
Here’s an interesting development: The Senate is voting to repeal Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). It authorized the military presence in Iraq. Last Thursday, the Senate held a procedural vote to repeal the 2002 and 1991 AUMF on Iraq. It passed 68-27. The question that needs to be answered is why there are 27 votes to retain the AUMF. Why perpetuate perpetual war? The issue is not red or blue but purple—both sides of the congressional aisle have a history on this issue.
Historical facts of eternal wars
Armed conflicts destroy cultures, kill millions of people, and justify the “political expediency” of forcing conformity to a politically correct view of governance that can chart the civilization of mankind.
Bloodthirsty politicians and arms manufacturers enthusiastically promote “perpetual wars” as laboratories for testing their new technologies. Who benefits from these eternal wars? Not the population on the battlefield. Troops and workers were not sent to theaters. There is a big money making profit in war and lack of war means some groups are not getting enough money.
Incompetence in the presidency and failed popular opinion fuel perpetual wars. Is it a coincidence that when a political party in power begins to eliminate public opinion, it takes the public’s attention and attention to the administration’s deplorable national performance by raising fears of WWIII on the international plane?
Every “eternal war” begins with politicians, merchants of death, and financiers looking to see how they can profit from the conflict. Lords of War has a ruthless disregard for the humanity and rights of those who hunt.
It is unpatriotic to question the motives of POLS clamoring for the deployment of combat units. As a Turkish soldier wrote, “I curse those who set us against each other. I pray not to fire another unnecessary shot. ” I support our military and have had countless actions involving their participation, but I cannot support a political agenda that exploits these brave warriors for politically obscene gain because they are being manipulated to “fire another needless shot”.
National sovereignty and perpetual wars
Scan the annals of history and note how many times the invasion and occupation of another nation has been used to justify wars forever. This historical pattern leads me to these considerations:
Every nation is a sovereign entity and has a responsibility to provide its citizens with respect and governance that allows peace and prosperity to exist.
A nation cannot be the “police of the world”. Most nations do not want another nation’s rules forced upon them. The sovereignty of each nation determines the governance of that nation.
By substituting national sovereignty, a fundamental principle is sidelined—that a nation’s population determines how it is governed. Governance should be based on an educational rationale, where the population examines its options and decides what is best. Too many populations simply follow the dictates of politicians and never question the morality of whether it is right or wrong (and there is a prevailing, overreaching morality that applies all over the world).
It is not the place of a nation to “build nations” as arrogant politicians imagine, or to “enforce behavior” as politicians deem necessary for another culture and political structure.
Nations are not in “nation building” operational mode (whether overt or covert) for the AUMF! Army not Designed for social work services. Nations should focus on their own governance, the rights of their populations and maintain impartial justice for their citizens. Their focus is on their population!
Common sense and eternal wars
It is contrary to common sense for one nation to authorize military involvement in another nation unless its security is threatened with absolute proof. Why should a nation use military force based on fake threats or ill-conceived ideas? And yet, history shows that justifications for invasion and invasion of a sovereign state have historically been used. (Think back to the “Defensive War of 1939” Hitler justified the defensive war of 1939 by saying that Poland attacked Germany and Germans in Poland were persecuted by bloody terror. But nothing is revealed about Stalin’s role in this Faustian bargain). And yet, despite history, this diabolical business continues in the political arena. Here are some ideas for this step.
To think that a “one-world government” system will succeed in solving the evils plaguing the earth is a delusion of sheer folly. The utter failure of this humanistic governing philosophy is seen in the failed “League of Nations” and its inept successor, the “United Nations”. If nothing else, these two failed attempts highlight the evil division and oppression that ungodly governments seek to impose on others. A one-world government envisioned by some would enthrone a totalitarian committee to mandate issues, and eventually history shows from that committee to emerge as a supreme totalitarian dictator who cares nothing for the population under his rule.
It is the duty of a sovereign nation to govern within its borders and not to invade or invade and oppress another nation.
If a government cannot come to terms with conditions in other nations, they have a choice—they can choose to have nothing to do with them.
It is the duty of a sovereign nation to maintain a protective posture to protect its citizens from harm and to assure its population of the God-given rights that belong to every human being.
It is a citizen’s duty to stand up, boldly proclaim, and staunchly defend their land — a duty aptly summed up by Gadsden’s flag — “Tread not on me!”
Beneficial aid should be provided by nation-to-nation or a citizen-to-citizen mode of operation is even better. John Donne was spot-on “No man is an island unto himself; Every man is a part of the continent, the main part… The death of any man shrinks me, for I am involved in mankind. And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; This will tax you. ” Even better is the inspired exhortation to “do good to all men” (the bible, Galatians 6:10). We were not created to live in an isolated vacuum but to be crushed, oppressed or destroyed by political arrogance.
The wicked must be punished and not ignored. But when justice is served it must be carefully discerned and rationally justified and not justified with any inducement of “evidence” or manipulation of public opinion. Failure to do so will spiral into catastrophic destruction and destroy millions of lives!
A final plea
Do not ignore the fact that the population’s indifference to the authority of military force on foreign soil (AUMF) eventually evolves into a means of coercion within the nation.
It is ironically said even today that “domestic terrorists” face our fighter jets and missiles. An even more troubling question begs, just WHO What determines the definition and application of “domestic terrorists”? Hear how it works for J6ers who are imprisoned, abused and denied basic constitutional rights.
And…the population yawns as it slowly slides down the historical path leading to totalitarianism.
