I talked recently with Chuck at Miriam's Kitchen, Washington, DC about the military's most important role today, viz., that of keeping the peace worldwide. We used as the springboard of the conversation Phil Klay's recent article in the May, 2018 issue of the Atlantic magazine entitled "Left Behind." The article is interesting because its author presents the standard argument for military presence: engage an enemy in battle and win the victory! But today's military, particularly, the US military, is primarily engaged in what I call peace-keeping duties pertaining to forestalling or preventing any actual engagement with an enemy for the sake of peace. Its primary function is to support and encourage communication and dialogue that fosters mutual trust among peoples of differing cultures to solve common social and political problems without resorting to force and violence.
The old concept of win the battles and dictate the victor's terms with which the defeated must comply is laid aside in search of meaningful and productive interactions in a tranquil and accepting environment.
That is to say, the military, as well as US corporations and businesses; and our governments are reaching out to those self-same institutions abroad in formerly strife-worn countries to engage in economic enterprises for mutual gain and cultural exchange (i.e., the peace-keeping formula). In such a milieu, the US military's mission is to ensure the regional safety of the citizenry no matter a particular individual's heritage.
Currently, there are over 190 countries that have brought US bases and installations to their shores. In the cause of peace, our soldiers offer guidance to governments the world over when asked for help. It is in the spirit of comradeship-the same phenomenon that impels a service member to risk his life to save that of his comrade in battle--that our soldiery serves to bring peace the world over.
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