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The Military and National Security Challenges
NSEC 503: National Security, National Defense & Foreign Policy
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Abstract
In this week's assignment, I will address the importance of the military and the national
security challenges. What are the specific roles the military play in furthering the goals of
American security? Another aspect that I will take into consideration will be the identification
and evaluation. Of the 21st-century national security challenges confronting the American
military. I will be bringing into the discussion the limitation of military-related strategies in
engaging in national security issues. Is important to understand the Christian Just War of the
national security approach, I will be integrating the Biblical perspective and the importance of
Judeo-Christian tradition in the understanding of the national security issues.
Key words: Roles, challenges, just war, worldview
The Military and National Security Challenges
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The military and national security efforts play an important role for the national security,
for this reason an estimate of $634.2B or 16% of the 2016 fiscal year budget was allocated to the
Department of Defense (Tucker, 2016). Their responsibilities may include but are not limited to
supporting diplomacy efforts, humanitarian aid, riot control, design, and protection of embassies
and military bases. In general, within the Department of Defense (DoD) and through the
respective dedicated agencies the enforcement of policies and laws is conducted to help to reach
government efforts and goals. Various of the agencies under the DoD are Defense Logistics
Agency (DLA), National Security Agency (NSA), United States Department of the ARMY
(USARMY), and Navy just to mention some examples. Some of the most important roles of the
Department of National Security in today’s world is to provide intelligence and security in the
age of technology and weaponry. The military employs highly skilled Soldiers, as well other
agencies that enable resources, and coordination to help the United States and its assets.
American citizens are safe from dangers such as terrorist attacks, with this, the military also
plays a variety of roles within the United States such as a humanitarian mission, and support
through estates law enforcement agencies using the National Guard.
One of the few methods policymakers utilized to forward their idea and accomplish their
goals is diplomacy but when all this method, efforts and even sanctions and rendered ineffective
come into place the military efforts. According to Curry (2021), in this week discussion “The
instruments of state power that are available to address national security issues are many. Son,
such as hard power utilize military might.” (2021). In order words, it has been proven that the
implementation of force by military efforts is not as popular but often effective. Furthermore,
scholars such as Elliot Cohen describe the necessity of what is been described as hard power
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with some significant factors to take into consideration. Some of these factors are evidence of a
decline in the use of violence, humans have learned to be subtle and different in non-violent
ways. Other Scholars such as Steve Spike, have been known for defending this argument despite
the human behavior having reminded the same, therefore, the implementation of power will be
always required as a last resort to address national security matters. (2021).
Some of the methos implemented by the military to further the goals of national security
are nuclear deterrence and control of weapons of mass destruction. The capability of being able
to perform in a multi-domain global conflict an example of this will be War on Terror after the
terrorist attack of the 9/11 in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan (Snow, 2019, p. 356).
Perform clandestine operation with the used of special operation forces, and according to Snow a
revolution in military affairs is suggested in where; the information technology propelled a new
type of warfare, moving out of the America attrition of warfare in where the specials forces are
chosen over mechanized forces (Reveron, 2014, p. 119). Unconventional military forces—or
special operations forces (SOFs)—have become the “darlings” of nonnuclear forces among the
aware public and many political figures. (Snow, 2019, p. 204).
National Security Challenges
Historically the national security challenge has changed multiple times, ever since the
foundation when the Union was continuously working on how to expand their borders and open
to commerce. Another national security historical approach in the WW the U.S. cannot longer
remain neutral. Lastly the Cold War and fall of the Soviet Union are some historical events worth
mentioning. In more recent times, not just limited to the infrastructure aspect of the U.S defense
apparatus, a new focus has been brought to the attention the with a more increasing interest in the
last ten years and this is cyberspace. An example of the government effort being made to
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improve in this aspect is due to the amount destinated to improve in this area in this current fiscal
year (FY) 2022, with a total of $9.8, and 500 of those destinated to a Technology Modernization
Fund (n.d., 2022). In the most contemporary aspect of the national security challenges, we have
seen nuclear power as a deterrent, the U.S. capabilities, and some allies' countries fighting on
two different fronts. The utilization of asymmetric warfare and counterinsurgency operation to
include counterterrorism and clandestine ops. (Curry,2021). The utilization of non-conventional
forces such as special operations forces to conduct clandestine operations to support national
security missions without the intervention or constraint of public view. Despite the opposition to
this type of force “special operations forces are opposed because they are special and thus
arguably elite. The Army has a very long tradition of opposition to any imputation of elitism in
its ranks, and a segment of its forces that disdains the grail of doctrinal obeisance and replaces it
with independent, original thinking is suspicious at the least.” (Snow, 2019, p.206).” Not even
the most vocal proponent of SOFs argues they will replace conventional forces. There are things
small, clandestine SOFs can do those conventional forces cannot, such as secretly infiltrating
enemy-held territory to locate targets for aerial bombardment. At the same time, SOFs cannot
stand toe-to-toe with and defeat an organized army on a conventional battlefield.” (Snow, 2019,
p.206).
Nuclear Weapons
Some argue weapons of mass destruction have proven to be one of the most devastating
tools of war, but in many other ways have served as a tool of peace. What could be considered
this in such a way? To support this statement, we need to look at the importance of understanding
the level of deterrence it has been proven to have nuclear power. According to Dr. Snow, “The
alternative method to deterring nuclear war is to avoid or lessen the likelihood of war by
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controlling the number of states that have access to them.” (Snow, 2019, p.195). With the
weaponization of nuclear power comes challenges such as the potential supply to non-state
actors or mismanagement of weapons by selling this to the enemy of the allies countries. “The
risk that nuclear terrorists could detonate a nuclear device or sabotage a nuclear facility to cause
a major radiation release remains real.” (White, 2019). To prevent nuclear weapons or weapons
of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hand countries like the U.S. have fought the
proliferation. “Using them right now, to deter large scale war.” (Heinrichs, 2017). Snow tells us
about two types of proliferation one of them is the horizontal proliferation “which refers to the
spread of nuclear weapons to states that do not currently possess them.” As well of vertical
proliferation “which refers to growth in the arsenals of current nuclear weapons states.” (2019, p,
196). To prevent these major efforts have been made mostly by diplomacy intervention or
treaties such as “Non-Proliferation Treaty.” It was negotiated in 1968, entered into force in
1970.” (2019, p. 195). This type of treaty seeks the reduction of weapons of mass destruction or
nuclear capabilities as tools of war. Heinrichs believes that compatible with traditional Christian
Just War theory the U.S. maintains a robust, and credible nuclear deterrent force. (Heinrichs,
2017).
Cyber Domain
With the advancement in technology, we have seen an increase in cyber-attacks by
hackers who engage in the use of numerous methods to pursue their target, and some of those
examples are social engineering, phishing, whaling, industrial espionage, and denial of services.
Some of these hackers are well known to be non-state actors supported by other countries who
seek to gain an advantage in some cases financially an example according to Just American Wars
book “Some even argue that the United States and China are already at war, albeit in cyberspace,
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the currency markets, and influence in developing countries.” (Reveron, et al,. 2014, p. 206). The
United States has become so dependable on technology and for this reason, the National Security
Department invest so much in recent years. “We are in a never-ending low-intensity conflict that
is being waged all around us. Add to the cyber realm the issues of terrorism, WMDs, and
organized crime and one recognizes that governments must be on a constant war-footing against
the forces of lawlessness and violence.” (Patterson, 2018, p. 262). According to the
Authenticated Government Information for the 2022 fiscal year the U.S. will have requested a
budget of $17.4 billion (about $54 per person in the US) dollars with an increase of five percent
from the previous fiscal year. (Cyber Security Funding, 2022). This is to be divided among all
the federal agencies that fall under the National Security Department jurisdiction.
Christian Just War Tradition
Around the time of Augustine of Hippo, the Christian notion of the Just War emerges.
The following are frequently believed principles of war justice: having fair cause, being the last
resort, being announced by a legitimate authority, having the right purpose, having a reasonable
likelihood of success, and the outcome being commensurate to the means used. “Just war
thinking is rooted in the classical and Christian ideas of political order, political responsibility,
and justice. The fundamental responsibility of political authorities—the key to their legitimacy-is
providing order and security for their populace.” (Patterson, 2018, p. 165). The just war theory is
a primary philosophy that aims to reconcile the fact that taking human life is gravely wrong.
States have a responsibility to protect their people and uphold the rule of law. Defending
essential moral principles and saving innocent human life sometimes necessitates the use of
force. Christians still employ the just war theory, with certain modifications, to determine
whether war may be justified. “Conventional warfare is conducted within a structure of rules of
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engagement (ROEs) that lend a certain predictability to situations, and a prime measure of the
virtue of a conventional warrior is the ability to recognize situations and to apply the proper
doctrinal solutions to them.” (Snow, 2019, p. 206). Even though it is not agreeable, war may be
necessary and justified hence linking to the goal of national security. The military role is to
secure the protection of our country's most basic and long-term needs: safeguarding Americans'
lives and safety; preserving the United States' sovereignty, including its values, institutions, and
territory; and ensuring the nation's economy.
Conclusion
The U.S. national security efforts have and will always be challenging due to the nature
of evil actors who do not sleep whether nuclear threats or cyber-warfare have most of the time
prevailed. The military has been proven to be a valuable tool for policy implementation in this
Nation. The U.S. has historically created a time of peace, expanded, and safeguarded our way of
life. We have been there to aid the hopeless, liberate those oppressed and support our
Constitution. The freedom that comes with the shed of blood on the battlefield has been an
example of selfless sacrifice for many and an example to follow. In the Holy Bible John 15:13,
said Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (NIV). We have
not left anybody behind, we have been the force that deter evil efforts without losing the
Christian values in the process.
References
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Curry, D. (2021, May 18). Hard power and national security. Liberty University. Retrieve from:
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/197837/pages/watch-hard-power-and-national-
security?module_item_id=25057364
Heinrichs, R. (n.d., June 13). The indispensability of US nuclear weapons and why anti-nuke
idealists are wrong. The Institute of World Politics. Retrieve from:
https://youtu.be/bHv7MSR5U-Y
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
Biblical, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
n.d. (2022). Cyber security funding. Authenticated U.S. Government Information. Retrieve
`from:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BUDGET-2020-PER/pdf/BUDGET-2020-
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https://www.google.com/books/edition/National_Security/X-ChDwAAQBAJ?hl=en
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