Letter to the Editor - Supporting the American Military

Throughout the years, the American military has become both a hero and savior, helping to stop war, war-mongering, and criminal activity, of all kinds, around the globe.

However, it must be said, recent and isolated incidents have sometimes nearly brandished the military's good name, and this is not fair or right, especially in light of the fact members are so often quite young when they enlist, and begin to build their reputations and lives via active enrollment and enlistment.

The reputations of these young recruits need to be protected as do the lives and livelihoods of the people the American military defends.

Most immediately, recent, isolated incidents in Afghanistan have to be explained as isolated and separate from the mission of the American military, which is to stand and defend in times of need, and, increasingly, to provide diplomatic assistance and assurances, by way of supporting security measures and community-building, in war-torn and bereaved regions, and by bereaved, I mean, regions affected by natural disaster or severe economic hardship and poverty.

The way forward for the military, I've suggested in other writings, including my recent book and political treatise, The Modern Roots of Holism, may be to move in greater coordination with the United Nations as per the original mandate of the UN Charter, toward the fulfillment of a truly international force consisting of military powers of nations, led by a UN military officer's commission. This is not far off from the purpose of NATO, but may better apply in a post-Cold War world.

My writing also highlights in an oped, “Secrecy to Diplomacy,” the military's hands-on efforts, in Afghanistan, toward in earnest community-building, atop the provision of security assurances, and suggests future diplomatic missions combined with intelligence work may be the goal of American military procedure.

We should conceive the military in accordance with its true values and mission, and build from there, while isolating and removing those officers and members who may tarnish the institution's invaluable reputation, and in this era filled with momentum for a not only globalized framework worldwide, but a peaceful one built on tolerance and the protection of human rights, universally.