The Military Is Still Needed. Even If It Makes Us Feel Uncomfortable

Watching the NHL playoffs and listening to commentaries on politics I came across an analogy.

It's a proven axiom in sports that talent alone can't win. You need mental toughness and the willingness to play "dirty" to compliment talent. Just look at two of the most finesse teams in hockey, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit red Wings. They know this all too well. Has anyone noticed that what separates them from other teams is the ability to play rough when necessary?

Just like you still need physical enforcers to roam the ice to help defend and protect your team in hockey, nation-states still need to maintain a military.

After all, you never know.

Furthermore, a military is not just a fighting force. It can be instrumental in maintaining social order and aiding citizens in distress.

Alliances today are not necessarily so tomorrow. Right now, we're accepting the fact that in order to achieve world peace someone has to stop the violence. The West, led by the European Union and Canada, have taken this posture in world affairs. In the process, they have been accorded a luxury in that they have been protected by American military might and managed to save quite a bit of money along the way. However, though this position is desirable and progressive it's also a tad naive.

Sometimes dialog and diplomacy can only go so far. For example, perpetual engagement should take precedent before force but has the EU paved any meaningful inroads with Iran? Soft power, thought important, noble and necessary, is sometimes only as effective as the hard power backing it up.

People who charge "we no longer need a military" are observing the world strictly from a Western lens. I fear this can be dangerous.

The fact is that while there is a need to reinvent parts of our defense capabilities (i.e. fighting terrorism) there is also a need to ensure our conventional forces are adequately funded and trained.

Do you see major players like Russia and India reducing their armies? What about China? Or thugs like Iran?

This is not to suggest we play on the fears of people and allow the military complex to continue to grow but it is something to ponder and be conscious of.