1. Discussing Some Military Matters

2. Which Business Are We Talking About?

1. Discussing Some Military Matters

Here are some thoughts for you about recent military topics in the news.

First there is the sad business of the Marines urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters. Some have defended the Marines on the premise of “Look what they do to us that’s even worse!” That argument misses the point.

When nations engage in what as known as symmetric or conventional warfare, the means to victory is destroying the other nation state’s ability to wage war. This means destroying both their military and their ability to produce and provide equipment and supplies to wage war. In conventional war, once one nation state is no longer able to conduct military operations, the war is basically over.

In unconventional (also known as asymmetric or guerilla) warfare the means to victory is to secure the population from an insurgent force and to do things which will keep the general population from joining the insurgent movement. If these things can be achieved, then the insurgency can be defeated. As I’ve written here before, defeating an insurgency takes a lot of troops and America and its allies have not ever come close to providing the required number of boots on the ground.

That said, when the other side commits atrocities we are galvanized to pursue victory. The same thing is true for the other side when we commit atrocities. The general population becomes sympathetic to the insurgency and the time required for victory is lengthened. The actions of the Marines, therefore is inexcusable not only because it is an atrocity beneath them, but also because those actions are a detriment to achieving victory.

Second topic: the reduction in the size of the military due to personnel costs was announced as part of the budget this week. The reduction is deemed necessary because personnel costs are up. Personnel costs are especially up in medical care. Medical care costs are up because we recruit married people, often with children, and the military supports them, as well as the service member. Were we to go back to the lottery draft I have advocated for some time, then we would be better afford to maintain the size force we really need. 18 and 19 year olds are much less likely to have families and we could afford to be much more selective about which ones that do we take in the military. There was once a saying in the Army that, “If the Army wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one.” Perhaps we need to return to that philosophy.

Third: Kudos once again to the Navy Seals who rescued the hostages in Somalia. Two thoughts about this event are worthy of your consideration. The event illustrates again the fact Special Operations success depends on good intelligence. The results we’re getting now against Al Qaeda and other ne’er do wells like Somali Pirates indicates we’ve broken the code on getting the intelligence we need. That’s good news. The other thought is how once again Somalia illustrates how a nation free of organized, effective government is scarcely the utopia some in this country think it would be and want to convert this country to. Those of you who think these thoughts are welcome to go to Somalia and try it out for yourself. Hope you’ve got lots of cash for ransoms. We know you wouldn’t want any government money being spent on rescuing you.

2. Which Business Are We Talking About?

So many arguments about national issues seem to lack clarity because of a lack of general factual data and appreciation for proportions. This certainly applies to discussions about how to get the American economy moving again. The argument now over the worth of Venture Capitalism vs. Vulture Capitalism is a case in point. As a man in the street commentator said recently in a newscast, “I’m not as concerned about Capitalism vs. Socialism or Fascism as I am about a return to Feudalism.”

Consider what you find when you Google, “How many businesses are there in the US?” A Census Bureau report from 2008* gives these numbers.

There were 27, 756,676 firms, or to use a shorthand there are over 27.7 M (for million) firms.

Of those firms, there are over 21.7M firms without a payroll, leaving a little over 6M with a payroll.

Of those firms with a payroll, 3.6M had 1-4 employees.

Of the entire payroll paying firms only 18, 469 (That’s eighteen thousand) had over 500 employees. Of those 18,469, only 981 (Nine Hundred Eighty One) had over 10,000 employees.