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Will We Have Fevered And Enraged Commentary . . .

Posted by Pejman Yousefzadeh on Thu Jan 15, 2009 at 11:51:24 PM EST

Concerning Democratic plans to bring back the military draft?

Of course, it bears remembering that we encountered this kind of commentary when the suspicion was that the Bush Administration would bring back the draft, but the Administration never made any moves to do so--not that this lack of Administration action did anything to cause its critics and accusers to admit error. Those same critics and accusers will likely not say anything now that a Democratic Congressional effort is being made to resurrect the draft, notwithstanding the fact that their likely silence will expose them to the charges of hypocrisy they richly deserve to be the brunt of.

< What Happens When The Incoming Treasury Secretary Can't Do His Own Taxes? | From The "Just Imagine If Someone Said This About George W. Bush" Files >

Will We Have Fevered And Enraged Commentary . . . | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)

The Pertinence of Hirohito's Advice (none / 0) (#1)
by Mythusmage on Sat Jan 17, 2009 at 09:19:55 AM EST

Just recently I read of two collapsing states, Mexico and Pakistan. The essay was fine as far as it went, but missed the third collapsing state, Russia.

While not in a state of civil war as Mexico and Pakistan are, Russia is suffering regional insurrection and an ungoing deterioration in infrastructure and capability. When her financial, economic, and demographic catastrophes combine to end effective control over her military, then Russia is done.

Militarily none of the three presents much of a threat. While each is capable of putting up a fight, it wouldn't be much of one. Russia especially has been relying on a reputation that is largely undeserved. You keep hearing how Russia would crush Ukraine in a war, but it's more likely Ukraine would crush Russia instead.

No, the problem is not war, the problem lies in the subsequent occupation. Mexico is not that badly off, but war damage would add to the difficulty of rebuilding infrastructure and institutions. Pakistan's problem is that it was a construct of tribal territories and islands of civilization. The social and political infrastructure simply isn't there. Russia has many of the same problems as Pakistan, with the addition of rotting infrastructure. Structures that were there, but which have been allowed to degrade.

Finally, all three states are imperial powers. Control is centralized, with a single source of power trying to keep a nation under control with inadequate resources. It's very much like trying to supply an apartment building with hot water using a single heater.

Expanding a voluntary military to conquer the three is doable, it's the occupation and rebuilding where we'll need the draft. Then you have the rest of the world.

_____
Mythusmage

Adamant are the ethics of young people.

Will We Have Fevered And Enraged Commentary . . . | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)