Silencing of the American Citizen: Reviving National Discourse on Wars

### The Silent Crisis in the Republic: Ignoring America’s Unacknowledged Wars

In the post-Cold War era, American citizens were the sole opposition. Our political and military elite quelled them. The lack of debates on War, war policies, and their dire outcomes in the presidential race is a clear indicator. The essence of War is to conquer and subdue adversaries who oppose your ideologies and are prepared to combat you. They must be subdued. However, a review of our post-Cold War foreign and defense strategies reveals a string of losses instead of triumphs. The only entity effectively subdued by the political-military establishment since the conclusion the Cold War is the American citizen. We no longer pose a threat to their dominance. Their grand liberal schemes failed to liberalize China. They also failed to appease various nations like the Taliban, Vietnamese, Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians. They also failed with other nations involved in the Global War on Terror. Amidst this catastrophic trajectory, trillions of dollars have been spent without accountability for their failures. The same individuals who predicted China’s liberalization are now guiding recommendations forward. Their competence is overshadowed only by their boldness. Nevertheless, they have successfully subdued their most potent adversary: the American citizen and our Republic. The proof lies in the lack of substantial debate regarding their impact on our Republic. Not a whisper of dissent is heard.

### The Silencing of America

Having been silenced, the impending loss of our liberty seems inevitable. How else can one justify the absence of a national discourse on our wars’ exorbitant costs and failures? The American citizen has been neutralized, muted, and systematically excluded from any role in endorsing our foreign and defense policies. While profiteers thrive, fattening their pockets as America suffers. Why is this scandalous omission not a focal point in the presidential debates? How can we overlook the catastrophic fiascos of our foreign and defense policies? How can we overlook the unchecked ambitions of a power-hungry elite? We are drowning in war debt, entangled in one senseless conflict after another, openly engaging with China while dissipating our power and straying into endless military misadventures. And to add insult to injury, we never even had a say in this. Our failed leaders persist at the helm, steering us towards a new Cold War, pitting democracies against authoritarian regimes, a nonsensical division that only escalates tensions. Presently, we find ourselves embroiled in a new conflict with Ukraine. Our leaders have concluded that the pursuit of liberal democracy is futile—having failed in wars only to elevate China as a formidable opponent. And we, the American citizens, remain voiceless, devoid of any input or influence in these critical decisions. We have been silenced! No demands, no mutterings from the American citizen. There’s no call for an open national conversation on our disastrous foreign and defense policies despite the glaring ineptitude of our war efforts and the unspoken costs we’ve borne over the past three decades. This is precisely what the profiteers and warmongers desire. We remain quiet, and they emerge victorious while we lose everything. What should be a paramount issue, debated with the gravity it warrants, barely registers in this year’s presidential campaign. This is precisely how the war profiteers have always orchestrated it. For over thirty years, the American public has been shut out of the war dialogue despite a defense budget rivaling the GDP of small nations, troops deployed globally, and the staggering financial and human toll of these conflicts.

### The Erosion of Civic Values

Historian and Vietnam War veteran Andrew Bacevich cautions us about the collateral damage of perpetual wars: the erosion of civic values. The betrayal of these values is glaring in the absence of public deliberation concerning our military engagements. How can we claim to be a republic when our citizens lack a voice in matters of War and peace? How can the political elite profess to defend our constitutional Republic while excluding us from these pivotal decisions?

### Where Is the American Citizen?

Where is the public discourse on War after three decades of misguided foreign and defense policies depleting our resources and claiming countless lives? Where does the American citizen stand amidst all this? We stand at a critical juncture as a nation, seemingly veering off course. We must hold those in power accountable for their deceit, as evidenced by the Afghanistan Papers. Urgent questions demand answers: How competent are we? What is our stance on Ukraine? Our interests have been sidelined, and when addressed, the approach has been overly aggressive and misguided.

### The Urgency for National Dialogue

When will the U.S. transition to being a normal country during normal times, rather than a nation incessantly at War and perpetually gearing up for it—even flirting with nuclear Armageddon? Why are we allocating as much as $2 trillion to “modernize” an atomic triad that, if used, could obliterate life on Earth and several other Earth-sized planets? When will this madness cease?

### The Decline of American Influence

Reflect on the dwindling American influence in the global arena, the internal divisions and polarization, and the fixation on military remedies for international conflicts. Is the American empire sustainable? More crucially, is it worth sustaining?

### The Erosion of Liberal Democratic Values

How did a nation founded on liberal tenets like checks and balances, limited powers, and individual rights embrace almost boundless executive authority to eliminate security threats without regard for legal and ethical constraints? An executive monopoly over a militarized national security state spells trouble for liberal democratic institutions in an increasingly divided, fragmented, and unstable political landscape.

### The Failure of Constitutional Frameworks

Our constitutional architecture, constructed on liberal principles like separation of powers and democratic responsibility, has consistently faltered in limiting power or upholding the rule of law. This tilt towards autocracy is evident in the absence of national deliberations on our post-war blunders. We cannot restore our Republic to self-governance until we wrest power from an oligarchy that feeds on our resources and blood while neglecting our obligations to the Republic. This is glaringly evident in our wars.

### The Call for Citizen Action

Americans, united, could arrest this decline, but not by granting our current leaders more power. That would only propel us further into military folly. We must muster the courage to unseat them, revoke their authority, and regain control. We need a path prioritizing compromise, compassion, and community over conflict and confrontation.

### The Foundations of a Just War in a True Democracy

In a functional democracy—which the USA, unfortunately, isn’t—what would define a just war? “Just” means a war fought for defensive and legitimate reasons. Consider these factors:

1. Congressional Authorization: A just war necessitates approval from Congress, culminating in a formal declaration of war.
2. National Unity: Essential for achieving rapid victory, national unity is of utmost importance.
3. Transparent Aims: Clear and understandable war objectives are vital for ensuring all Americans grasp the mission.
4. Avoidance of Lengthy Conflicts: Rejecting prolonged, indefinite conflicts is crucial as they contradict democratic principles.
5. Equitable Responsibilities: Sharing the burdens of War across all sectors of society is essential. No American Citizen would be exempted from War responsibilities.
6. National Sacrifices: Collective sacrifices, including rationing essential materials, are necessary to support the war effort.
7. Open Funding: Transparency in war funding is key, with raised taxes, potential war bonds, and no hidden costs through deficit spending.
8. Civilian Oversight: Civilian leadership should direct war efforts, ensuring accountability for military leaders who fail to deliver results.
9. Press Freedom: Promoting freedom of the press is vital to keep Americans well-informed about the progress and costs of the War.
10. Swift Demobilization: Prompt dismantling of military structures after the War ensures a quick return to peace and normalcy.

### Conclusion

In scrutinizing U.S. wars since World War II, particularly Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s evident that none of these ten characteristics apply. These conflicts lacked Congressional approval, national unity, transparent objectives, and accountability. They evolved into prolonged engagements with unequally shared burdens, obscured costs, restricted press freedom, and no speedy return to peace. American citizens must insist on a dialogue about our wars and the foreign and defense strategies that have led them. How can we profess to be a republic when our citizens are excluded from determining matters of War and peace? The political elite cannot vouch for their defense of our constitutional Republic while sidelining us from these crucial decisions. It’s time for American citizens to reclaim their rightful role in decision-making and hold those in power accountable.

### A Plea for Action

1. Demand Transparency: Insist on complete transparency in all foreign and defense policy decisions. The American public deserves to know where their funds are allocated and why.
2. Engage in Civic Involvement: Exercise your right to vote, participate in community meetings, and partake in meaningful conversations about our nation’s future. Your voice carries weight.
3. Ensure Accountability: Demand accountability from elected officials. If they fail to represent your interests, work towards replacing them with leaders who will.
4. Prioritize Education: Educate yourself and others about the actual costs of War and the significance of democratic values. An informed citizenry is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy.
5. Foster Community: Cultivate a sense of community and solidarity. Together, we can.