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problems with recruiting and retention.

many support functions privatized, it could

easily drop to 1.2 million or less."138

And such difficulties are likely to persist to

some degree in the future: there are fewer

At issue, then, is not U.S. security but the

16- to 19-year-olds than a decade ago, and

security of Washington's allies and clients.

fewer of them are unemployed in today's

The Cold War deformed America's tradition-

strong economy. Twenty percent more go

al reluctance to get entangled in overseas

to college today than did a decade ago.

conflicts and brought with it the only

Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Clemins

peacetime draft in U.S. history not presag-

says, "We're now finding out what an all-

ing an imminent "hot" war. Excessive U.S.

volunteer force costs when there is zero

involvement continues today. Army spokesman

unemployment."133  In a world where

Lt. Col. Lew Boone explains that "our basic

doctrine is still to fight two nearly simultane-

America rides high and faces no obvious

ous wars."139 However, the end of hegemonic

security threats, even the most patriotic

young people are likely to see civilian jobs

communism--the Soviet Union, the Warsaw

as a good alternative to military service.134

Pact, the global network of Soviet surrogates,

and ideologically aggressive regimes like

Moreover, Maj. Gen. Garry Parks, com-

Maoist China--has largely eliminated the

manding general of the Marine Corps

The armed forces

threat to U.S. allies in Europe and East Asia.

Recruiting Command, reports that "negative

are a tool to

At the same time, America's friends have

sociological trends, such as increased drug

become populous, prosperous, and quite

and alcohol experimentation and abuse, bro-

defend a free

capable of defending themselves from any

ken families, and lack of physical fitness

society, not a

conceivable threats in the near future.140

preparation, are problematic areas that nega-

mechanism to

tively influence the national pool of available

Thus, Washington should be phasing out

young people."135 The Pentagon also points

antiquated alliances and treaties and down-

indoctrinate a

sizing its forces accordingly. Such steps

to the decline in the number of family mem-

free people.

should be taken over time and in consulta-

bers and friends who have served and thus

tion with America's allies. The United States

"impart knowledge and endorse the profes-

sion of arms as an option."136

should move from being meddler of first

resort to being balancer of last resort. The

What, then, to do? Obvious steps include

first line of defense should be provided by

adding recruiters, increasing advertising, and

allied states--with a still-powerful but small-

improving marketing. Moreover, better

er American military in reserve for use

screening and preparation of recruits might

against a hegemonic threat that couldn't be

reduce attrition. Such measures would help,

contained by friendly nations.141

but the challenge facing the military is more

fundamental.

Furthermore, the United States should

Most important, Washington should

drop its potpourri of nonsensical New World

return to a foreign policy appropriate for a

Order commitments--namely, trying to

republic rather than an empire. Deputy

build a nonexistent nation in Bosnia and set-

Defense Secretary John Hamre argued last

tling a brutal civil war in Kosovo. Although

year, "We can't afford to get any smaller."137

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright claims

that even she doesn't expect America to be

But even substantial cuts would leave

"the world's policeman," as of March 1, 1999,

America with the globe's strongest military,

President Clinton had deployed U.S. forces

especially if the military more effectively

more than 46 times--almost four times as

transformed itself for a new age. Philip Gold

often as did President Bush and three times

complains that "the present military is an

as often as did President Reagan.142 Occu-

Industrial Age, labor-intensive structure ill-

suited to 21st-century technologies and

pation of the Serbian province of Kosovo is

threats. Properly organized, equipped and

hard to consider as anything other than play-

with more superfluous bases closed and

ing globocop. If the Europeans or Asians

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