What is that big US military for, anyhow?
By Shoshana Bryen, opinion contributor — 12/12/19 03:00 PM EST
There are, roughly speaking, two ways to use a large, modern military force. The first is to enforce international “rules of the road,†guaranteeing freedom of the seas or punishing gross violations of international law and treaties, or keeping the peace by backing up treaties with capabilities. This includes rescuing Kuwait from invasion and occupation by Saddam’s Iraq. It includes retaliating for Syria’s use of chemical weapons. The second way a large and capable country can use its forces is to try to settle other people’s problems. This could include the Vietnam War, 18 years of war in Afghanistan, or centuries-long animosities engendered by 400 years of Turkish anti-Arab colonialism called the Ottoman Empire.
Very roughly speaking.
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/473468-what-is-that-big-us-military-for-anyhow
