Fewer Americans want to serve in the military. Cue Pentagon panic

The Guardian ^ | April 10, 2019 | William M. Arkin

[The Toll]

Why join? Defend America? HA! Is that what you call this?

[sparklite2]

Well, you see, neocons believe democracy can be exported at gunpoint, and democracies seldom go to war against each other.

The real problem is that other cultures do not value for their citizens the same thing we value for ours. It is folly to cram their feet into shoes that don’t fit.

The solution to that is to invade, occupy, and change their values. That might have worked in post war Japan, but we lack to will to do that today.

This conundrum was addressed by Napoleon when he said, “If you going to take Vienna, take Vienna.” IOW don’t go to war half-assed, with ROE and hands tied behind your back. If you aren’t prepared to wage all out war, don’t step into it. We have yet to learn that since WWII.

[Svartalfiar]

The Coast Guard actually protects American borders - not the frontiers of far-off lands.

The Coast Guard actually deploys all around the world, not just US waters. They have a bases in I think Bahrain and Phillipines. They operate as part of the Iraqi and Afghanistani missions.