Military

The Case for Universal Service

Thom Hartmann / The Hartmann Report Mar 13, 2026 Shared sacrifice produces democratic accountability. With a volunteer army, war is something that happens to somebody else. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

The Democratic Party Can’t Escape Its Own Militarism

Maj. Danny Sjursen / Truthdig Jun 28, 2019 Beto O’Rourke aims to rein in the Pentagon with a nationwide “war tax.” It’s a plan that reeks of faux progressivism and policy minimalism. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Was Ending the Draft a Grave Mistake? No.

Rory Fanning and Joe Allen / Truthdig Apr 16, 2019 With all due respect, there is a better way to imperil the U.S. military’s imperial project than to reinstate the draft. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Was Ending the Draft a Grave Mistake?

Maj. Danny Sjursen / Truthdig Apr 3, 2019 Switching from all-volunteer to mandatory military service could force Americans to reconsider their ever-expanding empire. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

How Veterans Changed the Military and Built the Middle Class

Kevin Basl / OtherWords Nov 12, 2018 Like labor unions before them, veterans and soldiers organized to win benefits millions now rely on. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

America’s War on America

Eric Ortiz / Truthdig Dec 2, 2017 That sound of doomsday you hear in the distance is not "ka-boom." It's "ka-ching." Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

A Military Leviathan Has Emerged as America’s 51st and Most Powerful State

By William J. Astore / TomDispatch Mar 25, 2016 A military increasingly divorced from ordinary Americans blends soldiers with privatized mercenaries, empowers commanders to cash in on retirement and wields a quasi-missionary imperial force in at least 135 countries. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

The Military’s 40-Year Experiment

David Sirota / Truthdig May 11, 2013 On June 30, 1973, a 24-year-old plumber's apprentice became the last American forced into the armed services before the military draft expired. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The New American Segregation: The Military

Richard Reeves / Truthdig Jun 1, 2011 It seems that I see American soldiers only at airports. Walking forever through O'Hare, every man and woman in uniform is greeted by the same line: "Thank you for your service." It makes me cringe. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Dolphins GM Apologizes for Prostitute Question

Staff / Truthdig Apr 29, 2010 Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland has apologized to NFL draftee Dez Bryant for asking the footballer if his mother was a prostitute. Bryant said he was “really mad,” but didn’t say anything at the time to his prospective employer. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Karzai Weighs a Draft

Staff / Truthdig Feb 7, 2010 Afghan President Hamid Karzai has tepidly announced he is pondering introducing conscription in order to build a domestic army and police force capable of taking over security operations from NATO troops in his war-torn country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Call to Service

Scott Ritter / Truthdig Aug 1, 2007 The "Waging Peace" author argues that the antiwar movement's strategies are failing to reach everyday Americans and doing little to end the war or repair our troubled democracy. He proposes a different model to win the hearts and minds of mainstream America: national service. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )