The New American Militarism, Essay Example

Introduction

Virulent militarism has taken hold of the people and governance of the United States.   The militaristic perspective that has taken place is the dynamic objective of a system of military, economic and political dominance that has had no equal in global history.   The present situation with regards to the acceptance of war by the populace of the United States is an outcome of a change in the global political system.   There are references to the terminologies of world domination, terrorism, globalization and war which have become a reality for every American.

The application of these terminologies only have substance in the perspective of the armed force of the United States’ military apparatus. The United States has created a military budget that exceeds the military budgets of a number of combined nations.   The society has become progressively militarized in the twenty first century.   The review of Bacevich (2013) will examine the manner by which the militaristic perspective has caused the American public to become enamored with the concept of war.

Peace and Homeland Security

The technological, political, economic and social development of the United States over the twentieth century has caused the nation to become the greatest country in the world.   As an outcome of the global leadership position occupied by the United States, securing the homeland and its interests have always been a primary concern.   As an outcome of the terrorist assaults on United States’ soil on September 11^th, 2001, the United States suffered thousands of civilian fatalities.  The reaction by the governance and the people of the United States had been to endorse the launching of a military campaign directed at the annihilation of the Al- Qaeda and anti-Taliban factions.

The first assault initiated in Iraq and had been subsequently extended to Afghanistan.  The initial mission into Iraq was designated as Operation Iraqi Freedom.  The objective of the military initiative was to supplant Sadaam Hussein’s leadership in Iraq and provide continuing support for the anti- Taliban factions.    Subsequent to Operation Iraqi Freedom, a second military campaign was started in order to deter the Taliban factions from forming.  Bacevich (2013) considers that within two decades, the United States’ military apparatus has conducted significant military interventions in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Somalia, Iraq and Panama.

Bacevich (2013) debates the perspectives, maintained by the American public with regards to the emergence of militarism that has taken place since the War in Vietnam.   Bacevich (2013) proposes that the militaristic attitude continues to be pervasive in global politics in the absence of military crisis.   The perspective maintained by the author, a veteran of the Vietnam War is to align with the right.   Bacevich perceives the solutions which are promoted by the mainstream liberals with a context of skepticism.   In addition, Bacevich demonstrates that he is disenchanted with the mainstream conservative point of view.    In addition, Bacevich perceives that although there is a philosophical distinction between the Democratic and the Republican Parties, the outcome is that the two parties collaborate in harmony.

In 1795, one of the founding fathers of our nation, James Madison inscribed the following words: “Of all of the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other…No Nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare” (as cited in Bacevich, 2013, p. 7).  Bacevich proposes that the primary objective of his treatise is to cause the Americans to reflect upon the pertinence of the admonishments of James Madison with regards to the contemporary situations.

Reasons for a Strong U.S. Military Machine

The principles of national self- administration, constitutional governance, freedom and citizen participation have been tenets by which the United States military has abided.   President Woodrow Wilson believed that in the creation of an American nation which was militaristically robust, the world would be made safe for democracy (as cited in Bacevich, 2013, p. 12).  The objective of the United States was not to establish colonies as the preceding Spanish and French Empires had done.

Bacevich (2013) debates the peace that the United States has imposed as a result of its military development upon the world as a form of Pax Romana tailored to the interests of the American society during twenty first century.  The interests of the corporate elite, racism and militarism has been developed under the appearance of technological progress, economic growth, democracy, modernity, social progress and enlightened rationality.   The American attitude toward nationalism has always been directed at a mandate. These mandates have been religious liberty, the Monroe Doctrine, Manifest Destiny, or the Cold War against the perils of Communism.

In addition, the American attitude has been that democracy and liberty must be disseminated globally.   These perspectives have caused the development of the United States Military apparatus which exercises an unprecedented administration over the globe (Bacevich, 2013, p. 241).   The Pentagon has maintained an annual budget of more than $380 billion dollars and has troop deployment in over five hundred military bases in order to provide protection for the “new world order”(Bacevich, 2013, p.  13).

Conclusion

Bacevich (2013) does not endorse war.   Bacevich (2013) reviews the warnings proposed by one of the founding fathers, James Madison with regards to the ability of a nation to perpetuate under continuous war.   Bacevich (2013) asserts that the conclusion of the Cold War and the military triumph in the Persian Gulf have not derived peace and stability, the have derived chaos and disintegration.

References

Bacevich, A. J. (2013). The new American militarism: How Americans are seduced by war. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.