How does the military collapse?

Question

I was reading an article on CNN regarding a fear that the Army and Marines might "collapse" if we don't leave Iraq in the near future. How exactly does a military force collapse? Do the soldiers refuse to deploy and abandon the bases en masse? I'm confused.

Answer 1

I'm guessing 'collapse' just sounds better than 'experience accellarated degredation in thier level of readiness going forward.'

Answer 2

In this case, CNN is suggesting that the individuals doing the fighting are being stretched to the limit of human endurance. A collapse here would happen when the soldiers become unable to carry out their duties, or carry out the duties at such a reduced ability that the enemy gains important advantages. So, for instance, if a mission requiring 20 soldiers and a tank was given to 5 soldiers and a Humvee, then you might expect that mission to fail. Even if they do succeed, they are likely to do so at great cost and be less able to carry out the next mission

Historically, armies collapse because of a combination of extraordinary hardship and bad morale. The confederate army suffered from desertion towards the end of the civil war. The confederacy had a hard time properly equipping soldiers with things like boots. Also it was pretty obvious that the war was going badly for the south. So many of the soldiers just left the ranks and went home.

Another reason for an army to collapse is for the leadership to fail to properly organize the soldiers. Soldiers with no instructions faced with an enemy military tend to do less well then soldiers lead by someone with a plan.

Answer 3

CNN is recognized in this country for being very "Left Wing", which is fine. But in order to captivate the Left Wing audience they cater to, the facts need to be distorted, and key facts left out. If they don't continue to tell the Left what they want to hear, then they'll lose them. At this point, CNN is deeply vested in the defeat of our country. Should our outcome in Iraq be positive, CNN would lose it's credibility. And that's why the propaganda on military colapse. You raise a good question, and the answer is, our Military is in no way co lapsing. With CNN, don't believe anything they tell you, until it can be verified from a credible source.

Answer 4

Do you honestly believe our military will ever collapse? CNN put out an ignorant article which was probably written by some sissie boy who has never served. Our military is in no way in danger of collapsing.
Marine Veteran

Answer 5

CNN - and it's liberal refuse - would like nothing more than for our military to collapse or to sew seeds of fear and doubt. What country are they working for? Not us!

Answer 6

CNN can go screw themselves. How dare they try and talk about our military. They are nothing but socialist and confused and they are an insult and an offense to the United States Military. Don't be confused, our Military is not in any danger.
USAF Veteran

Answer 7

The most common way for a military to collapse, which means it cannot fight effectively, is for it to lose personnel who fail to reenlist or resign their commissions.

If you lose too many troops and cannot recruit more to fill their spots, your force loses its ability to fight at its previous strength.

Answer 8

Do believe everything you read...especially from CNN.

Answer 9

I tend not to trust CNN, as they have a tendency towards liberal reporting and not listing facts.

Answer 10

Um mm well let's see????? maybe due to LOSS, INJURIES and not to mention
PHYSICAL and MENTAL EXHAUSTION.
How's that for starters??
We need to start DRAFTING ASAP.