In this opinion essay for The New York Times, Elliot Ackerman argues that America’s next president should speak a new language about war, peace, and military service.
Writing during the 2020 Democratic primaries, Ackerman examines how traditional rhetoric about “supporting the military” has failed to address the costs of two decades of post-9/11 conflict.
War, Politics, and National Security
Ackerman argues that political leaders must move beyond bluster and confront the realities of long wars, military families, and national security decisions that carry human consequences.
Congressional Oversight and Shared Sacrifice
The essay highlights war powers, the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, the all-volunteer military, deficit-funded wars, and the need for broader civic responsibility.
A New Language of War and Peace
At its center, the piece calls for a more honest national conversation about war, one grounded in accountability, restraint, sustainability, and the shared burdens of American power.