Questions tagged [military]
Questions related to that of the military of any country applicable. May include questions about the actions or inaction of the military or questions about the armed forces themselves or questions about government action related to the military.
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2answers
84 views
Are cost effectiveness studies regularly done for weapon systems?
Possibly I have some economist bias, but I'm used to idea of assessing cost effectiveness. In a few cases, when there was something like political debate in my country, I tried to google basic fact ...
2
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1answer
212 views
Did US vice president Pence say anything close to “by any means necessary”?
I have not been able to find a transcript of US vice president Pence's recent (26-Mar-2019) speech to the US Space Council. This one is from last year.
The phrase By any means necessary carries a ...
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2answers
195 views
Why doesn't US use military force to retrieve citizens from North Korea?
There have been several American citizens detained in North Korea and one mortally injured during his incarceration. Under what circumstances do countries (such as the USA) use military force to ...
4
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1answer
193 views
What arguments do proponents of the second amendment use to conclude that gun ownership helps protect the people against the government?
It is said the reason for the second amendment to the US constitution is protection from an oppressive government.
Should push come to shove, although hugely outnumbered in personnel numbers, the US ...
3
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1answer
106 views
What happens in transfer of technology in defence deals
As per an article, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai, is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines under technology transfer from Naval Group of France under a 2005 contract.
I don't understand the term ...
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2answers
212 views
Conscription rights if UK Locked in Backstop
Does the EU have the power to develop a European Army, and to conscript European citizens into it?
If so, would the Northern Ireland Backstop mean that UK citizens could also be conscripted into this ...
1
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1answer
118 views
Can defense acquisitions by countries be kept secret?
Or are they usually are? Take for example between US and its allies. In modern days, are there any safe guards for them to be kept classified. Or safeguards to be kept transparent?
Take for example: ...
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0answers
106 views
Why did South African soldiers choose EO over UNITA?
This is a question concerning Executive Outcomes and UNITA. I concede this question is slightly Tom Clancy-esque, but I think now that these events have been largely declassified all these decades ...
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2answers
122 views
Why aren't there any protectorate anymore?
Republic of Minerva looks good. It fails in one thing. It fails to protect itself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_Reefs
Capitalism is good for pretty much everything but security. So a rich ...
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0answers
72 views
What concessions did India make to get jets 9% cheaper in the Rafale deal
The Modi government claims that the Rafale deal it brokered is cheaper than the original deal by 9%. How did it achieve this? What concessions did Modi give to Dassault in order to get the deal at a ...
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2answers
370 views
Why would a US armed forces branch not give back a property (it took over during wartime) for free?
Short context (inspired by a post on Aviation.SE):
In 1941 the Navy took over Bennett airfield in NYC and banned all commercial and civilian flights. After WWII the airfield was meant to return to ...
2
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1answer
137 views
Are Russian, North Korean and other countries' show of strength aimed for a domestic or international audience?
I don't know if I'm asking this on a correct site but here it goes. I've noticed this trend on many occasions. Examples: recently Russia announced the start of production of new "superweapons" such as ...
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1answer
152 views
On what basis is matériel used in EU military operations?
On what basis is matériel used in EU military operations?
For example, Operation Sophia is the EU military mission to interdict people smuggling routes in the Mediterranean.
On what basis are the ...
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1answer
148 views
Who commands Operation Sophia?
Operation Sophia (formerly EU NAVFOR Med) is an ongoing European Union military operation, established in 2015 to interdict refugee smuggling routes in the Mediterranean Sea.
Who commands this ...
5
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1answer
105 views
Are UN peacekeeping operations decided via unanimity?
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations looks after UN peacekeeping interventions.
Do these operations require unanimous support, majority support or something else?
13
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2answers
3k views
What are the arguments for the militarisation of the European Union?
Since Maastricht the European Union has been developing a military element. Firstly with the Common Foreign and Security Policy, then (via the Western European Union vehicle) the European Security and ...
3
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1answer
349 views
Why are dams so controversial in Pakistan?
Given the situation of water in Pakistan and seriousness that can be raised due to lack of water, why is the construction of dams in Pakistan so controversial? E.g., nowadays Mohmand Dam is very ...
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1answer
278 views
What happened to the steam catapult topic?
In mid 2017 Donald Trump communicated to the press, that the US Navy would not be going forward with the electric aircraft carrier catapult system (around which the new Ford class aircraft carrier has ...
6
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2answers
267 views
Criticism of Trump's drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, what would be the alternatives?
We've recently seen high level departures from defence officials in the Trump administration. And criticism and concern by allied governments.
Those frustrations are motivated largely by the US ...
11
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1answer
968 views
Do countries inform each other about ballistic missile test launches?
Informing potential adversaries about intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test looks logical, to not trigger false alert.
I can't find any info - do countries do it? Do some protocols exist for ...
3
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1answer
222 views
How does “the military” control Pakistan?
I read recently that PM Imran Khan literally holds no power in Pakistan, and that every decision he takes is drastically influenced by the military. How?
Isn't the military, owned by the government?
...
0
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2answers
365 views
Where does China buy its hi-tech weapons from other than Russia?
If US sanction on Russia kicks in, where can China look for buying its hi-tech weapons?
Does China have any source other than Russia to buy its weapons from?
.
P.S. By hi-tech weapons, I meant ...
1
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1answer
228 views
Can a militia (for example, a mafia's armed wing) defeat a nation's army and take over the government? [closed]
As the question suggests, is there a scenario where a mafia or some sort of armed gang roll out their forces on public roads, then attack the nation's army and declare a coup?
If this were possible, ...
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12answers
16k views
Why isn't demilitarization used as a defensive strategy?
If a country was to disband any and all of its military, and sell off its military assets, wouldn't it be an effective way to prevent an invasion? Because after this, it's clear to anyone that this ...
2
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1answer
449 views
Who designed the proposed Space Force logos?
On August 9, 2018, the Trump administration provided several proposed logos for their planned Space Force. Who designed these logos? Is there some government organization that is tasked with creating ...
5
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2answers
154 views
Negative impact of the Ottawa treaty / Convention for Cluster Munitions for the modern army?
The Ottawa treaty prohibits anti-personal mines, the Convention for Cluster Munitions prohibits cluster munitions. Several nations with modern armies are signatories of the treaty.
I was wondering if ...
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4answers
3k views
Politicians to remove sexism in registration for potential conscription in the USA?
According to Wikipedia, only men are required to register for the draft with the Selective Service System in the US.
Some feminists want equal conditions for men and women.
Are there any USA ...
33
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2answers
7k views
Why was Congress able to create an Air Force without a constitutional amendment?
Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress and includes the creation of military forces:
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use ...
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1answer
383 views
Do any European politicians advocate for creating an European Army and leaving NATO?
The United Kingdom with figures such as Thatcher being against a European army (ref here) and Tony Blair (ref here) who was for it, have been the most sceptical country towards the creation of a ...
6
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2answers
550 views
Do any European politicians advocate shutting down American bases in Europe?
The USA has military bases all over the world (including in some EU countries such us Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece) which is expensive to their economy. List of military bases here. On ...
3
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1answer
164 views
Have some of Russian troops withdrawn from Syria since Putin's announcement in december 2017?
On 11 december 2017, Vladimir Putin announced that Russian army would partially withdraw from Syria.
"In two years, the Russian armed forces, together with the Syrian army, have defeated the most ...
38
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3answers
8k views
What was Eisenhower's warning about?
Eisenhower in his farewell address warned the American people about the United States Military Industrial Complex and its emerging power.
According to Wikipedia The US spends more on the military ...
3
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2answers
340 views
Legality of attacking an occupier by third-party forces within partially-occupied state
Suppose state A is (illegally, militarily) occupying some of the territory of state B (denote the occupied part B1 and the unoccupied part B2). Suppose also that state B is allied with state C, and ...
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6answers
6k views
What makes countries dependent on US-supplied defense equipment?
I was reading that the USA is blocking Turkey from acquiring F-35s. Turkey is reportedly anxious, and throwing some hollow threats.
I have two questions regarding this:
Why are countries like Turkey ...
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3answers
305 views
Are there examples of military forces that aren't rigidly authoritarian?
We commonly think of military forces as being rigidly hierarchical, and committed to following orders to a suicidal extreme for individual soldiers. But, are there examples of military forces ...
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9answers
10k views
Why would Assad use chemical weapons in the civil war as of 2018?
The US has recently accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons in the civil war. However it seems to me that Assad has little to gain from doing so:
Chemical weapons give a casus belli ...
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8answers
10k views
How are states supposed to protect themselves when the National Guard is under the federal government?
Recall the second amendment:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Great, so states have ...
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1answer
814 views
How many troops would it take to guard the US/Mexico border? [closed]
CNN reports here, that Donald Trump said
Until we can have a wall and proper security,
we're going to be guarding our border with the military
Wikipedia, which ought to be as good a source as ...
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0answers
79 views
Why didn't the PPP government of pakistan face any problem from the military?
Between 2008 and 2013, the Pakistan Peoples Party government engaged in several high profile disputes with the military
Osama bin Laden capture
memogate scandal + Hussain Haqqani's release
Raymond ...
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2answers
259 views
Have congressional hearings any effect concerning military scandals?
While I was researching the topic of the F-35 I noticed a certain pattern in military politics which comes up again and again.
In the TFX program Boeing was the clear winner of the Request For ...
3
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3answers
273 views
Countries with nondemanding military?
I live in Switzerland and recently had to join military. To my surprise, it turned out I can go back home during weekends. Only exception is when you're assigned to guard duty, when you need to stay ...
2
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1answer
271 views
Why is the US military enlistment age (and previously the draft age) set at 18 years old?
When was this age for enlistment and/or the draft established? Has it ever been challenged?
1
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1answer
113 views
What's the standard procedure for responding to an overt domestic tyranny event? [closed]
Are there actually protocols and contingencies for the extreme hypothetical situation of if our government tries to establish a dictator? Is it decided who the military sides with? What happens if the ...
3
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2answers
207 views
Is stopping and searching vessels in Asia-Pacific waters to enforce North-Korean sanctions consistent with the US Coast Guard's mandate?
The Reuters news report Exclusive: U.S. prepares high-seas crackdown on North Korea sanctions evaders - sources begins with the sentence:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration and key ...
3
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1answer
364 views
Longest known chain of command? [closed]
What's the longest known chain of command length for any government or large organization, (legal or illegal)? For example, WP's abstract military organization chain length is 11:
corporal
sergeant
...
4
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4answers
1k views
How does US manage to maintain such a high military expenditure?
Note: this is somewhat related to this question
US clearly dominates the world when it comes to military expenditure, both in % of GDP and nominal value.
This answer indicates that West European ...
18
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1answer
717 views
How are women integrated into the North Korean military?
Background
Korean People's Army soldiers (per Wikipedia)
About 25% of North Korea's population is in either an active duty role or a reserve/paramilitary role in the Korean People's Army, and North ...
2
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1answer
155 views
Does Pakistan have the power to force allied foreign troops to leave the country? [closed]
Recently President Trump had criticised Pakistan over the supposed inaction of Pakistan towards terrorists. The funding is a kind of compensation for military support in form of bases and other things....
2
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1answer
305 views
Swiss military neutrality and the three roles for the military
Basic question - there are (were) three purposes for the military at the time of the Peace of Westphalia (tell me if I'm wrong).. Internal defense (crime, rebellion), conquest, defense.
Swiss ...
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2answers
365 views
Why don't various democratic countries keep military as the 4th component of the check and balance?
We regularly see militaries seize power from Democratic governments (Egypt). In some countries, military ruled for decades (Spain), in some countries military has considerable influnce on the decision ...
