IV On Ideological and Military Defense

IV On Ideological and Military WE LIVE in an age of conflict. The accepted political and economic ideologies lead men to the use of compulsion and violence in domestic as well as foreign relations. Foremost is the ideal of the struggle for supremacy and of the survival of the fittest. The ideologies of socialism and communism do homage to class struggle and to dictatorship of the class most powerful in number. The ideology of nationalism transfers the same struggle from "classes" to nations and states. The ideology of the interventionist welfare state justifies and advocates the national struggle for the sake of certain domestic groups which it provides with special privileges and favors. It is obvious that such a world cannot live in peace. If nations would abandon the ideologies of struggle and war and restrict their governments' functions to the protection of life and property of individuals, conflict could not arise, for each individual could live where he chooses, practice a profession he selects, and associate with whomever he wishes. The states would have to refrain from all restrictions upon the liberty of the individual no matter what nationality, language, or religion. And capital and goods should be allowed to move freely, unhampered by government decrees which grant favors and privileges to some and discriminate against others. What reason and cause for national conflict could there possibly be? The only reason for concern in such a society is the danger arising from the existence of those nations and coalitions of nations that continue to adhere to the ideologies of struggle and conflict. That is to say, defense against foreign aggression is of vital importance as long as other nations believe in communism, socialism, 307 308 AN ALLIANCE OF FREEMEN nationalism, and the welfare state. As long as these ideologies inspire men to aggression, a liberal society must be prepared to meet and repel every attempt of aggression.

In our age Western Europe and other countries of the free world are directly threatened by a militant communist power, Soviet Russia. Communism moves with a giant's stride in its planned conquest of the world. At the end of World War II, communism ruled over only 200 million Russians. In 1945 and 1946, more than 100 million people in Eastern and Central Europe were added to the Soviet's sphere of power. At the end of 1949, about 600 million people in China were subjugated to communist rule. The communist bloc thus has grown from 200 to more than 900 million men—that is to say, from one-thirteenth to more than one-third of the world's population. In addition, large parts of the population of the countries in Western Europe and other parts of the free world are communistic and yearn for the day of communist "liberation" and conquest. The most urgent task of the free nations in Europe, as well as in other parts of the world, is the cooperation in their efforts to counter an aggression by Soviet Russia. The free nations must be prepared to meet the enemy on two different battlefields—one ideological and the other military. If they should fail to hold their lines of defense through united efforts on both fields, they will ultimately succumb to the yoke of the totalitarian regime.

The ideological line of defense is the understanding and practice of the philosophy of individual liberty. It is the defense that is the sole responsibility of our intellectual leaders. Millions of people in all walks of life must be convinced that the social system of liberty is most beneficial for all. The people who, wittingly or unwittingly, choose between ideologies developed by a few philosophers and economists must learn to see the progressive improvement of economic and social conditions under the system of freedom and free enterprise. A free world united in honoring individual liberty will provide the communist world with ample demonstrations of the accomplishments and blessings of its civilization. A European system of social organization that provides a steadily improving standard of living and safeguards its citizens' political and economic freedom will give the lie to the contentions of communist propaganda. It will radiate the message of individual liberty to millions of people behind the Iron Curtain; and each European broadcast and communication with the communist world will help to unmask the ideology of government omnipotence and dictatorship to be what it really is: a spurious ideology whose application means ON IDEOLOGICAL AND MILITARY DEFENSE 309 loss of liberty and poverty for the people. Millions behind the Iron Curtain and in Russia herself will begin to compare with their own the way of life of free Europe and begin to see the enormous accomplishments which liberty can bring about. A Europe that is healthy in its political and economic ideology not only would maintain its ideological position towards the communist area but could carry the ideological struggle in a counterattack deep into Russia.

Once the communist countries themselves have become the battlefield of the ideological conflict between tyranny and liberty, the external danger of communism will diminish. The communist leaders are fully aware of the vital importance of the ideological struggle. There is hardly a field of government activity to which they devote as much effort, skill, and money as to communist propaganda. While the United States of America is aiding the poverty-stricken world with grants of foodstuffs and other materials, the communist governments are spending even larger amounts for their propaganda. While America is trying to fill the stomachs of starving people in underdeveloped areas, the communist leaders and agents are busily influencing their minds and converting them to the doctrines of communism. The political situation in all parts of the world is a fair indication of the relative effectiveness of these methods of international relation and communication.

The ideological counterattack by the defenders of individual liberty must be coordinated with European military preparedness against possible communist aggression. The communist leaders, becoming aware of the gradual disintegration of their ideological foundation through an infiltration of the ideology of liberty, may very well, in an act of desperation, order immediate military attack. Europe must be prepared for such an attack. The military preparedness of Europe against communist invasion must at all times be adequate to repel the communist armies. The need for military preparedness is determined by the position of the hostile forces on the ideological battlefield. That is to say, the size and number of European armies must depend on the success or failure of the ideology of freedom in its penetration of the communist area. Military preparedness is merely a supplementary preparedness the extent of which must stand in reverse relationship to the strength of the ideological forces. When the ideas of liberty retreat because of our intellectual failure, we must build up our military forces to match our ideological shortcoming. We may observe the truth of this statement in the present ideological and military positions of the communist forces and those of the free world. In 310 AN ALLIANCE OF FREEMEN matters of propaganda and ideological warfare the forces of the free world have suffered repeated defeats and are definitely retreating.

Consequently, we see the free nations arming and preparing themselves at heavy expense to meet the communist forces on the military battlefield. On the other hand, when the ideas of liberty advance and force communism into retreat, we may relax in our military preparedness and begin to disarm, always in proportion to the waning strength of the communist armies. In a Europe of individual liberty, universal military service and conscription must be abandoned. Universal military service is the prototype of authoritative government and regimentation of the individual. It deprives a large part of the population of independent initiative and the right to independent decision. Central government agencies determine what the individual has to do. He becomes a number in a regiment which in turn has a number. His physical needs are taken care of by the collective, which does away with his freedom of vocation, residence, production, and consumption. Universal military service is the breeding cell for the ideology of government omnipotence and regimentation.

There can be no room for such an institution in a liberal Europe. European armies of volunteers who make the war craft their life's profession and vocation should form the defense forces of Europe. Armies of professional soldiers, comprising two to three million volunteers from Europe and other parts of the world, would be able to defend Europe very effectively. A capitalist Europe could provide its soldiers with always new and superior weapons. European routinized mass production in arms would by far excel that of the communist nations. European capitalism would always explore new methods of production, open up new industries, and put to use new technological inventions and methods. The enormous economic superiority of a liberal Europe would indeed make it invincible. The European armies of professional soldiers and volunteers should be independent national armies subject to orders by their respective parliaments. No special arrangements of a defense community or military unification are needed—mutual defense agreements would suffice. No new supranational authority would have to be created, thus avoiding the many difficulties and sources of disagreements as to problems of contribution, leadership, stationing, training and educational programs, choice of language, etc. National armies would not require their governments to abandon independence of decision and sovereignty. And yet, national independence and sovereignty would not harm the true unification of ON IDEOLOGICAL AND MILITARY DEFENSE 311 Europe, the unification through liberty, freedom of trade, and movement of men and capital.

Through mutual defense agreements the liberal nations would acquire security against aggression by non-liberal nations. The fighting power of allied armies has always been satisfactory in the past. Allied armies twice defeated a powerful German war machinery which was highly unified and centralized. It is our belief that there is no task which a unified army can fulfill that cannot be done as effectively or better by allied armies. A liberal Europe would take care of its own defense. The system of free trade and individual liberty would provide Europe with enormous economic and military strength. Such a Europe would not have to plead continuously for American aid and its independence would not require an American guarantee. The North Atlantic Treaty Pact would lose its present tragic importance and signifiance or be wholly superfluous. Europe would very quickly regain its strength and old position which it maintained during its age of liberty and capitalism, for strength is inherent in liberty. He who is free need not fear.