Marine Corps needs WSC

Dwayne Hunn

“But we need to set a deadline to end the Iraq War. World Service Corps legislation won’t do that,” she complained.

An audience response from a concerned Progressive, whose support I solicit for the citizen-initiated World Service Corps (WSC) Congressional proposal www.worldservicecorps.us. In response, I urged the audience to play America’s abundant chips to win the war’s political dealt gamble.

“’Get-Out-of Vietnam’ demands went unheard until American deaths approached 30+ times today’s reports. And during Vietnam, television showed bloodied, gored soldiers and Vietnamese. Today, it’s tough to see an American coffin, and only Arab cameras mirror Iraqis death and destruction.

“You believe we were lied into Iraq. Like Vietnam, the dominoes weren’t there. So what? Many Americans buy propped-up stories. And it’s easy for good Machiavellian chess players to control enough policy and air waves to keep a war going -- and to start a new one.”

“It is easy for lies or scanty truths to guide Americans around a world on which they know little. Few Americans understood Vietnam, until over 500,000 bled there.

“Few knew or cared about Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, or their religious, cultural, or political heritage. Few knew Iraq before we proclaimed it a WMD factory, or weapons of multiple deception laboratory. Today more Americans know headline information about those people, but understand little. We pay a bloody, costly price for a headline IQ.

“There’s a cheaper, smarter way to understand the world. It reduces the hatred fired upon our soldiers, while reducing our need to enter tomorrow’s wars. It attacks today’s complex battlefields, where war rages for peoples’ hearts and minds, by arming peaceful, productive warriors against the enemy -- ignorance-. It’s part of the military transformation that our troops have tasted, after they stumbled with civil reconstruction in lands rolled by our Hummers.

“If we don’t start learning about the global village by doing good in it, then we dumb down our insights, which produce dumber policies. So, to reduce military deployments and have fewer dumb wars, build a robust army of peaceful warriors who, like peaceful Green Berets, understand and address critical global needs. As the Peace Corps Sargent Shriver said, ‘If the Pentagon’s map is more urgent, the Peace Corp’s is, perhaps, in the long run the most important.’

“How do Progressives build that army?

“By pressing Congressional Representatives to enact both WSC proposals, which deploys a million Americans in their choice of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors Without Borders, or the Red Cross, as well as other similar organizations. Under the key bill, by inspiring 6/10^th of 1% of those 170+ million able Americans over 18, we voluntarily strengthen America. Upon completing two years of service, WSC members would receive tuition payments totaling $15,000 or the equivalent in an IRA, or Medical Savings Account.

“If six years after enacting the key bill, only 900,000 were serving, only then would the back-up bill kick in, selecting the 100,000 shortfall from today’s 40 million 18-26 year olds.

“America is not admired as the world’s bulliest power. The world loves the reluctant American cowboy, who prefers building his neighbor’s barn over slapping down a neighbor or his barn.

“When a million sandaled American characters venture into the global village, fewer soldiers will don night goggles to fight through a dark side that produces more Ugly American targets. When red and blue-staters work in the world’s classrooms alongside rednecks and bluenoses, America’s benefits will match those we gained tossing out the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine.

“Machiavellian operators and radicalized terrorists explode the pathways of good policies. How must Progressives respond?

“Knock Machiavellis and terrorists onto defense with an overwhelming offense that leapfrogs their obstacles with can-do programs that reduce war.

“You can rally for peace or a Peace Department, but without building and training a peaceful army, you won’t have enough smart, trained troops to end wars.

“Even more than Progressives, our military’s transformation needs the WSC as the peaceful, productive, civil arm of the transformation needed to win 21st century wars.

“Terrorists have better stealth technology than we do. Stealthily hidden in a growing number of their hearts and minds, we can only defend and defeat them by winning hearts and minds. The WSC is the best offense and defense for today’s stealth wars. Our military needs the peaceful WSC to reduce the growing hatred fired at them.

“Help create the World Service Corps. Sign the on-line Petition and encourage more co-sponsors of the WSC legislation at www.worldservicecorps.us.”

Dwayne Hunn, Ph.D., has combined his People’s Lobby initiative work with Peace Corps and Habitat experiences to draft the proposed World Service Corps legislation. Please call your Congressional Representatives to encourage their co-sponsorship of the WSC proposals.