> But if it's Russia, and Russia begins to expand further into more of Europe than I'd also step up, but not right now as it stands.
No you won't.
You'll talk tough on the internet, like a lot of other wardrummers. But when push comes to shove, you won't grab a rifle and go to work. That'll be somebody else's job, but you'll totes "stand with them in solidarity".
I think you're projecting here. There are plenty of people who will willingly pick up a gun and plenty who won't. Ukraine is the perfect example of that. You know nothing about the person you're replying to in order to know which group he'd really belong to.
Whoever wants to get in the fight can do so right now.
The Ukrainian government looks to have created its own foreign legion, so you'll even technically be fighting under the Ukrainian flag as a uniformed soldier.
Enlistment period is indefinite: until the "state of emergency" ends.
Update based on new information: Russia doesn't acknowledge the Ukrainian Foreign Legion (they keep rebranding, not sure what they'll end up sticking with), so if you get captured, the Russians will treat you like a criminal, and not an EPW.
But he is correct in his assertion that the vast majority will not. America is a soulless nation that “just works” as long as we’re all making money from it.
The second push comes to shove and we need to mobilize the nation ala-WW2 our leaders will realize just how deeply they played themselves.
If Russia wins in Ukraine, and doesn't stop there, Europe will switch to a war stance. In that case people won't have much choice. You either volunteer, are drafted or are working in an industry that makes your continued civil job more valuable than you being in the armed forces.
I think you left out the option for people to leave. Particularly in the US where such a large percentage of our youth are immigrant/minority.
Is a Chinese or Indian American 20, 25, or 30 year old faced with the prospect of dying for the EU going to join up? Or go live a happy life in Ningbo or Hyderbad? And those are the relatively successful immigrant/minorities. What will your average Colombian or Brazilian 25 year old do? Sign up to fight in the Balkans? Or go live a happy life in Rio well away from potential radioactive fallout zones? Not to even speak of Mexican 25 year olds or Black 25 year olds who already have a strained relationship with the US government as it stands.
Now there will always be some people who choose not to fight, but the past 40 years or so we have fostered an atmosphere where we have greatly increased the number of people likely to fall in that camp. At least in the US. It'd be foolish to assume that in a nation of immigrants, people would not exercise the choice to return to their nations of origin faced with the prospect of a (likely nuclear eventually) conflict with Russia. Especially when we'd want to put most of those very people on the front lines of that conflict.
If NATO europe is invaded my guess is all major powers would be involved. Not sure how much leaving would be available.
Also from the immigrants I know most would HAPPILY stand up for freedom and Democracy. Despite how shit we treat immigrants almost all are way better off here. There's a reason people are fleeing in record numbers. An all out global conflict just increases this exponentially.
Not to mention it's already great way to get legal papers. US army, France foreign legion, etc.
Though it is gross how we have treated some who have served for the US; the second they commit a petty crime they are deported. They should have the same rights and serve in jail here and then release here. Especially given the huge issues & obstacles our vets face.
To be fair: the French have some competent forces (FFL), as do the Brits (Royal Marines). I'd put both of those a notch above the Crayola Connoisseurs, and that's saying something. Lotta combat-ready dudes in Bulgaria as well.
But yeah, Europeans by and large lack the mindset of traditional Americans, who look at military service as a right of passage. It's been fascinating to talk with Europeans about the present situation. Most of them still really don't understand even the short-term ramifications of the current conflict, nor do they understand the underlaying causes.
That all said, I'm not sure where the next generation of American warfighters is going to come from. After the überbungle that was the withdrawal of Afghanistan, every person I know currently serving wants out now.
No you won't.
You'll talk tough on the internet, like a lot of other wardrummers. But when push comes to shove, you won't grab a rifle and go to work. That'll be somebody else's job, but you'll totes "stand with them in solidarity".