What is the Job of the Military?
After reviewing much of the coverage of the Iraq war and the struggle to establish peace within the country, I have a question...
What is the job of a Soldier?
This is a question that has perplexed me of late.
Is the job of a Soldier that of a Policeman? No. This is why even the Military has a police force.
Is the job of a Soldier to establish a government? No. This is why we have a separation of powers in the US Constitution. The Executive Branch through the President leads the military through civilian oversight. We even have laws like Posse Cumitatus that state very clearly that the US Military cannot operate against its own citizens for this very reason.
The job of establishing a government is that of the PEOPLE and their elected representatives through free and open elections - not the military.
Is the job of a Soldier to train the police force? No. This is the job of experienced professional CIVILIAN policemen and policewomen.
Is the job of a Soldier to train the judiciary? Absolutely No. This is why even the Military has a separate judiciary.
The job of a Soldier is to Kill the Enemy. Plain and simple. This is and always has been for what they are trained. They should be efficient in their duties, never questioning their intent, abilities or mission. Most, if not all of the problems we are facing today in all of our foreign “wars” is that we have the wrong people doing the wrong job.
The job of a Soldier is radically different than that of a Policeman. The job of a Policeman is to protect and defend life, limb and property, to investigate and defend a rule of law in the nation.
Confusion creates distraction. Distraction breeds distrust. Distrust leads to failure. Failure leads to Chaos. Chaos plays directly into the hands of the enemy.
Why is there not a contingent of national police professionals such as those from the LAPD, NYPD, and other decorated departments throughout the US or other countries training the Iraqi police force?
Why are we having Soldiers training civilian police officers when they have opposing missions?
If the goal of the iraqi people is to establish a similar government lead by their elected leaders, why is there not a contingent of advisors each from the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches of the US or other government on the ground in Iraq training their respective counterparts?
Why do we intend for the Soldier to be something they are not. They are trained to Kill the Enemy, do it well, do it quickly and return home.