Andrew Bacevich on the latest evolution of American warmaking

The always-insightful Andrew Bacevich writes on The New American Way of War LRB Blog 02/13/2012, describing the Obama Administration strategy of waging war with passive acceptance from the public rather than actual democratic endorsement:

Drones and special forces are the essential elements of a new American way of war, conducted largely in secret with minimal oversight or accountability and disregarding established concepts of sovereignty and international law. Bush’s critics charge him with being a warmonger. But Obama has surpassed his predecessor in shedding any remaining restraints on waging war.

How exactly the new American way of war will promote the longterm well-being of the United States is unclear. Indeed, the question goes almost unasked. All we know is that there are a lot of people out there who qualify as bad guys. And we aim to kill them all.

Bacevich is one writer who maintains a high degree of consistency outside of conventional partisanship.

Tags: andrew bacevich