A defensive/offensive military?

[Dr.Who]

Our founders envisioned a military that was purely defensive. Yet today it has been accused of being largely imperialistic and engaging in numerous offensive wars.

Could we do with a military that is just defensive?

 

[BigRob]

Our founders envisioned a military that was purely defensive. Yet today it has been accused of being largely imperialistic and engaging in numerous offensive wars.

Could we do with a military that is just defensive?

Depends on what you mean by "defensive."

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Our founders envisioned a military that was purely defensive. Yet today it has been accused of being largely imperialistic and engaging in numerous offensive wars.

Could we do with a military that is just defensive?

Defensive, ONLY??!!!!!!



How're The CHICKENHAWKS gonna prove-their-manhood with a (strictly) DEfensive-military??!!!!!

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[BigRob]

Defensive, ONLY??!!!!!!



How're The CHICKENHAWKS gonna prove-their-manhood with a (strictly) DEfensive-military??!!!!!

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Care to offer your definition of "defensive"? Or would you prefer to continue adding nothing?

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Care to offer your definition of "defensive"?

If a limited-vocabulary is your issue, do your own work.

Baby-sitting you is counter-productive.....

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[BigRob]

If a limited-vocabulary is your issue, do your own work.

Baby-sitting you is counter-productive.....

​

Apparently the nuances of the issue are beyond you.

 

[pocketfullofshells]

Best defence is a good offense.

Afghanistan was Defensive

Iraq 1...Defense of our Ally

Bosnia...Defense of stopping Genocide

Korea...Defense of Korea ( S)

Nam...Defense of S vietnam ally.

WWII...Defense

WWI...Defense of allies


Only Iraq II< panama, and Gernada would be the exeptions....

 

[Dr.Who]

A defensive war is one of the causes that justify war by the criteria of the Just War tradition. It means a war where one nation is mainly trying to defend itself from another, as opposed to a war where both sides are trying to invade and conquer each other.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_war

The relevant principles from the "just war" tradition are:


They attacked us first
They are about to attack us first (let's debate this one as it is not a part of the original just war tradition)
It is not a futile cause - there is a chance of success
It is the last resort
The benefits are proportional to the expected evil or harms of war itself.
It is for a right intention, ie correcting a wrong like defending another country

 

[TheFranklinParty]

Imperialism suggests that we take over the lands we invade and reap the spoils of their resources. This is far from our mode of operation. If anything we end up spending money and resources everywhere we go.

Should we be there? That is a whole different question.