Could We Do D-Day Today?

CNN anchor Jim Scuitto posed a very interesting question on Twitter last Sunday, the 77th anniversary of D-Day, the allied attack on Normandy during World War II ...

Question: would/could the US mount and lead a #DDay today? Defend faraway allies? Impose an expansive draft? Accept the shared national sacrifice in blood and treasure? Fight until unconditional victory? I’m asking without prejudgment - curious what you think.

I'd like to say "yes," but I think the real answer is, sadly, "no."

Considering that many Americans today are far more focused on their rights than their responsibilities, and that we have to actually bribe adults (with giveaways of beer, guns, lottery tickets, donuts, etc) to get a free vaccine for a deadly disease that has killed over 600,000 of their fellow citizens, I think it's a stretch to think that any significant portion of us would rally to risk their lives in support of anyone else ... much less a (gasp!) foreigner.

Americans supported (at least, at first) the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because they represented a response to a clear and provable threat at home. They grew less inclined to support those wars when the threat of terrorism from Islamic militants receded and the emphasis of the military operations changed to supporting foreign governments and "nation building." 

And it's tough to imagine World War II-style "shared sacrifice" when so many Americans rage against simply wearing a cloth mask to prevent the spread of disease.

There's no doubt in my mind that our armed forces would give their all, but I doubt that the spoiled and self-indulgent Americans of today would support them, or flock to the banners. It's easy to imagine you're heroically protecting yourself and your neighbors by ostentatiously packing your AR-15 to the local Starbucks, but it's tough to actually put your life on the line in a combat zone in service of a goal larger than yourself.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo