What Is the Purpose of the Military?

As I have written about over and over and over again, the purpose of the military should be to defend the country. That’s it. One would think that the Secretary of Defense would know that. Yet, in a recent speech before the Association of the United States Army, Robert Gates articulated the following role for the U.S. military:

“Army soldiers can expect to be tasked with reviving public services, rebuilding infrastructure and promoting good governance. All these so-called nontraditional capabilities have moved into the mainstream of military thinking, planning, and strategy—where they must stay.”

That is, anything but do what the military should do.

Author: Laurence Vance

Laurence Vance holds degrees in history, theology, accounting, and economics. He has written and published twelve books and regularly contributes articles and book reviews to both secular and religious periodicals.

7 thoughts on “What Is the Purpose of the Military?”

  1. ” Tim R. ”
    I’m not a progressive or a liberal..Here’s a new word for you “paleo-conservative” ..No recent relatives in that terrorist organization known as the IDF or it’s uglier offshoots? That’s the part that bothered you? So you would enjoy video of Israeli soldiers pack-raping a 14-yr old arab girl ( one of the girls in question was shot afterward by the brave Israeli soldiers who are such wonderful allies ) ?
    Wow, seems like you’re the real scary one..

  2. Anyone see Charlie Wilson’s War? Boy, talk about party politics and getting laid. Anyone know who they cast as Osama Bin Ladin?

  3. Is one allowed to conjecture that Charlie Wilson’s War was perhaps planned and timed to appear just as Bush and Cheney have succeeded in reegineering the beginnings of a new Cold War–perhaps even something warmer than that–with the Russian Federation?

  4. Coincidences happen, naturally. If it is not a coincidence, however, tracking down the investors and financing might be of some interest.

  5. You are right about the military… however! Our governments sole purpose is to protect Us from foreign invaders (via through the Military)… and protect it’s citizens from harming eachother. That’s it… Right??? But the people fell asleep in this Country, and didn’t heed the Warning of Our Founding Fathers… therefore the Government has become Far Beyond what it was intended to be! Our Military now… has been expanded to protect the interests of the people in this Country of Ours. Grant it… there are those that have alterior motives… but the Military still has the Sworn Duty to Protect it’s Citizens irregardless what activists or the talking heads think!

    Without Our Military… You can Kiss Your Freedoms Goodbye!!! Like it or not… We have Many Privliges because of Them. You have the Right to speak out and protest against Them… because They have Given All of Us that Freedom to do so, by laying down Their Lives… just so You can have that! Maybe we all can just sit down and talk it out… till we all understand one another. That way… peace will abound. Yeah… Right???

    1. You are right about the military… however! Our governments sole purpose is to protect Us from foreign invaders (via through the Military)… and protect it’s citizens from harming eachother

      I believe that is the function of paramilitary organs such as the police.

      Grant it… there are those that have alterior motives… but the Military still has the Sworn Duty to Protect it’s Citizens irregardless what activists or the talking heads think!

      The military can make all the oaths it likes. Until we get a material demonstration of this “protection” (which was not forthcoming in New Orleans), votive proclamations of this sort will remain so much hot air.

      Without Our Military… You can Kiss Your Freedoms Goodbye!!! Like it or not… We have Many Privliges because of Them. You have the Right to speak out and protest against Them… because They have Given All of Us that Freedom to do so, by laying down Their Lives…

      The military is made necessary by others like themselves who wield undue influence abroad.

      Maybe we all can just sit down and talk it out… till we all understand one another. That way… peace will abound. Yeah… Right???

      That’s called “solving one’s problems like an adult” and is generally held to be the backbone of civil society.

    2. Having a Military is fine. A National Guard of citizen soldiers and a Coast Guard of volunteers can protect the nation from invasion. BUT, what the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have become are nothing more than Specialized Imperial Legions. They are not the Swiss Army.

      Consider how many US Military Bases there are around the globe. Over 600, even subtracting Embassies and Missions of similar purpose you are still left with about 400 facilities. 400 bases with US troops around the globe, almost twice the number of actual countries! Just in Germany the US has around 80,000 ground troops, enough to attack a fairly large European nation. These bases serve no “benevolent” purpose, their purpose is simple, CONTROL. The US can influence German politics because it has a whole Armored Division within driving distance of Berlin. You know why there is little love for France? They won’t allow US Military bases(this might change with Sarkozy). Most of the US “allies” have US military bases within their borders, so it should be no surprise that those countries “fall in” with US policies, they are not being generous, the US has them by the balls.

      Essentially the US Military Forces Globally serve EXACTLY THE SAME PURPOSE as the Roman Legions, yet on a much more grander scale. The Roman Empire looks like a joke compared to the US Empire(which stretches across the whole globe). They expended 1,000’s of troops to control North Africa and the Middle East, excluding Iraq and Afghanistan(which were never actually conquered by the Romans), the US does this with about 2,000 total. Iraq and Afghanistan are currently the only places where the local population is actively resisting US efforts to conquer them. And this requires over 170,000 troops to “pacify” the locals.

      The Romans never captured Germania successfully, but with extensive Soviet help the US was able to claim 1/3 of Germany. And now 62 years later the US has absolutely no plans to leave. The garrisons are in place. Like the Romans, the only way they are going to leave is if the Empire collapses and other “invaders” take over.

  6. The Legions serve the Empire and its Consul and Proconsuls, who today wield more power than the Sovereign of the land. The Legions can crush internal rebellions caused by the wrath of the god Neptune on the southern ports and those caused by weary laborers who are tired of war and conquest. They also crush the enemies of the Empire. Like the conquest of the occupied nation of Grenada which had been under the control of the barbarian craftsman from the island of Cuba.

  7. The military has not provided the United States with Freedom of Speech, nor any other freedom. The recognition of these freedoms as pre-existent to government in the Constitution, and in the Bill of Rights especially, provides and maintains such freedoms, including Freedom of Speech.

  8. i looked up this cause my dad & older sis are fighting over wat the purpose of the millitary is.though,my sis is right by reading this sight.

  9. The Army should take over the Post Office and deliver my mail. Only then will their mission be complete

  15. War is the extension of politics by other means. In so much as people seek to do anything, military power can be used to achieve it. Obviously, given the consequences of violence, war or conflict should be entered only as a last resort. Protecting U.S. territory and its citizens is only one of the United States’ vital national interests. Securing the constitutional form of government, democratic values, and free and open trade also require military power. Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in, or at least be ready to fight. Otherwise, you have to rely on, or hope for, protection from others. Americans, and definitely military service members, are not humble in their beliefs, and nor should we be.

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