The Atlantic Gets It Wrong on Military’s Woke Recruiting

Is woke recruiting the way to win in modern warfare? Is a fighting force based on diversity more capable than a cohesive unit trained for physical might? According to one author in The Atlantic, the answer is yes. In an article titled "What Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson Don't Understand About War," Phillips Payson O'Brien, Ph.D., sets out an extraordinary argument that not only fails to convince but also relies solely on strawmen to score political kudos. It seems O'Brien does not understand the underpinning truth in modern conflict; woke recruiting won't win wars.

The author constructs his case, the strawman, based on an argument he attributes to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Tucker Carlson, a Fox News personality, that neither man makes. He either misses their point or gets it but ignores what they were saying. Once O'Brien establishes the strawman, he sets about tearing it down using examples from the Ukrainian military experience in driving back invading Russian forces.

Both Cruz and Carlson recently argued that a US Army recruiting video sent the wrong message about the qualities necessary to maintain a formidable military. Highlighted was a Russian recruiting video featuring muscular, athletic men doing what soldiers do: firing weapons, combat training, showing teamwork and warfighting skills. Another video clip Cruz and Carlson found to contrast with the US Army's efforts shows the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) with, again, disciplined military members doing military things in units of 100s and 1000s, with fighter aircraft, warships, tanks, artillery pieces firing, and multiple rocket launchers putting missiles in the air supporting China.

US Army Relies on Woke Recruiting Message

O'Brien quotes Carlson complaining US forces are becoming "'more feminine, whatever that means anymore' just as China's are 'more masculine.'" Contrasted with a PLA recruiting video is the US Army's woke advertising showing cartoon images of a young girl extolling the virtues of a "two moms" family where fighting for justice is marching in parades with “love one another” signs. The narrator is a slender, diminutive woman who announces she is a US Army corporal and says she "answered her calling." It's an important point, albeit subtle. The presentation ends with the corporal explaining that her decision was all about her. America's enemies' films were about teamwork and cohesiveness combined with the combat capability to win. The US Army's recruiting ad was about something else.

Dr. O'Brien's article has the subtitle, "On the modern battlefield, brains and adaptability yield far better results than ruthless brutality does." O'Brien's point would be valid if those were the only choices at each end of the spectrum of military capability. But they aren't. Instead, in keeping with the strawman fallacy, ruthless brutality and brains and adaptability are not mutually exclusive.

Throughout the history of warfare, some of the most successful field commanders and troops have exhibited intellectual prowess, adapting to the dynamics of the combat situation while executing the fight with ruthless brutality. Joshua led the Israelites (notwithstanding he had God on his side), who seldom left enemy soldiers alive. Themistocles, whose agility and brain power pushed Athenian sea forces to defeat the Persian Empire at the Battle of Salamis. Hannibal, Caesar, Sherman, Grant, Pershing, with troops fighting through the brutality of trench warfare, and Patton, to name just a few, led fighting men with brutal violence and keen intellect to win.

Ukraine Armed Force Winning Because They Must

O'Brien does provide evidence for his point of view. He says Ukraine's Army and Air Force exhibit the "modern battlefield brains and adaptability" to beat back what was reputed to be a more powerful Russian foe. However, O'Brien fails to emphasize the value of fighting for survival. Kyiv's forces are fighting for their lives with each city block of combat. The Kremlin's forces, in many cases, had no idea why they were in Ukraine. To say the Russian army is unmotivated is an understatement. To be sure, Ukrainians perform magnificently as the underdog with fewer soldiers and equipment than the invaders. They are innovative, agile, tactically savvy, and demonstrate perseverance and courage beyond what most would have imagined when Moscow's horde roared across Ukraine's borders. Suggesting this level of warfighting success comes without ruthless brutality is ridiculous.

If you believe having a Ukrainian Javelin missile penetrate a Russian tank and turn it into a fireball, incinerating the occupants, is not ruthless, you would be naïve. Or, if you consider having anti-personnel fragmentation bomblets dispensed from US-provided Highly Mobile Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) missiles decimate infantry caught in the open not combat brutality with unmatched intensity, you would be genuinely mistaken.

Cruz and Carlson are railing against the notion that a softer, gentler military, as suggested by the US Army recruiting video, will triumph over America's PLA and Russian enemies. The idea is delusional. A tough, disciplined, dedicated soldier desiring to be part of a well-trained, well-organized military team, and yes, with brains and adaptability, is certain to be a more successful message. Furthermore, the US Army's recruiting numbers underscore the video ads don't have the desired result. "Traditional masculinity is something today's woke military seems hostile to, but it's always been the driving force in encouraging people to enlist. A volunteer army needs volunteers, and why exactly would a traditional white male want to volunteer anymore?" asked Glenn H. Reynolds, a law professor at the University of Tennessee, in the New York Post. So, Dr. O'Brien, you may identify with the US Army's recruiting theme, but the folks you count on to do the fighting don't.

Having two moms and marching in parades with signs extolling others to "Respect Everyone" and "Love Each Other" are not the criteria necessary to kill the enemy and break their stuff. That's what Cruz and Carlson were saying. And US Army recruiting numbers prove them right.