Why liberal globalism will keep losing wars

At the time of writing, after the Isis-K terrorist attack on US troops and Afghan civilians at Kabul airport, it ’ s hard to describe the situation there as anything other than chaotic. America has lost over 2,300 soldiers in the Afghan war, but this latest loss of 13 servicemen as well as 90 civilians and allies feels different. The manner it has occurred in has shocked many to the core — whether it is against the backdrop of losing over $80 billion of equipment to a state which is currently kidnapping young girls from villages and arresting musicians, or the repeated claims in media press conferences about trusting the Taliban with security during the airport evacuation (to the point of giving them a list of evacuee names). Last night Biden gave a theatrical news conference where he attempted to talk tough about seeking retribution against Isis-K, but for most people it fell flat.

In fact, at least for me, much of what I ’ m hearing in the West is falling flat. When I hear prayers for the dead soldiers, I hear PR people analysing how each word will affect polling with middle-aged white women. When I hear British officials decrying the American pullout, I simply hear those same men admitting to our own total military inadequacy and political irrelevance. The refrain of “we must stay with our mission” coming from defence officials sounds more like: “I ’ ve only got five years till retirement”.

Looking around, I see no genuine patriotism. Instead, I see ugly, stupid partisanship and self-serving cowardly careerism. The American armed forces are in danger of being transformed into a wholly mercenary army, where people join and fight purely for the economic benefits and perks. This transformation has not yet fully occurred, but it is well on its way. Despite the undoubted bravery and self-sacrifice of the troops in Kabul, especially our own paratroopers, the American people, and the British people for that matter, simply have no stomach for war anymore.

Liberalism does lots of things really well, but war is just not one of those. It does not inspire people to die for it, despite the flowery prose exhorting its virtues in many a magazine or history book. Neither does liberalism have the moral courage to make difficult decisions, as this latest dithering withdrawal shows. It has always been thus. While liberalism has won wars in its history, the most obvious being World War Two, I would argue that liberal democracies won every war they fought despite liberalism and not because of it. Hitler was defeated by the combined forces of old-fashioned nationalism and Soviet communism. Soldiers on the ground are rarely motivated by 19th-century liberal philosophers such as John Stuart Mill. By contrast, Christianity played a huge role in providing young men prepared to die for a higher cause. The defenders of the American empire fought for family, flag and God, none of which remains present in the current system. Indeed, if things would be different under a Republican administration (very unlikely) it would be due to residual anti-liberal elements, not liberal ones.

Globalism too, is to blame. Books will be written trying to explain the total annihilation of the Afghan government and military, but very few will be satisfying. The truth in my mind is that, like the American empire, the liberal leadership in Afghanistan was relying on mercenary firepower and anti-liberal elements to defend it. When it came to battle, many of the liberal defenders saw no reason to fight. After all, they live not in Afghanistan but in a world of global liberalism. What loyalty do they have to their country? And so instead they all assumed they could simply leave and move to a better economic zone. There is no will in these people to defend Afghanistan, because they have been taught by liberal Americans that nations do not exist.

Where to now for liberal globalism? It remains to be seen whether the ideology espoused by globalists and liberals alike can sufficiently adapt itself into something new. But it must do so, or ultimately it will perish.

A Message from TheArticle

We are the only publication that’s committed to covering every angle. We have an important contribution to make, one that’s needed now more than ever, and we need your help to continue publishing throughout the pandemic. So please, make a donation.