By ELLIOT AVE-LALLEMANT and ADELINE TRAMMELL
Last week, three students from the United States Army War College visited Beloit to do a discussion panel with students. This was part of the Eisenhower Series College program, an outreach program where military personnel connect with civilians and college students to discuss national security.
The topics discussed ranged from the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, disinformation in the digital age, and the pros and cons of working with China in the field of biomedical research. In accordance with the Chatham House Rule, the panelists will not be named. Beloit students were also encouraged to ask questions pertaining to American national security.
The panelists were in the middle of a 10-month graduate program, which teaches topics such as history, international relations, and organizational leadership. There are also 60 international students of various backgrounds that take part in this program at the War College.
The first panelist was an expert in public affairs, and his talk was mainly focused on the dangers of misinformation. His first point was that the “phenomenon of disinformation is not new,” and that it follows a predictable pattern. Building on that, his second point was that the current circumstances pose new challenges with regard to disinformation, citing things like social media for making access to potentially wrong information easier. For the panelist, the logical response is to create an informed public. This comes down to teaching digital literacy in school, like they do in Estonia, something that the U.S. should do as well.
The second panelist discussed his experience in Afghanistan and his thoughts on the U.S.’s withdrawal from the region. His time in Afghanistan showed him that the U.S. were the good guys and that they represent a positive set of ideals to the world. When the U.S. withdrew, he understandably felt a crisis of faith. What helped him get over this crisis was seeing other parts of the world and how they had rebuilt with the help of Americans. He concluded that when you fall, your enemies will try to discredit you, but that “an ideal doesn’t die when someone calls you a hypocrite, it dies when you let it go.”
The third panelist talked about biomedical research and how that relates to the U.S.’s relationship with China. In the last 10 years, China has become more of a leader in the advancement of medicine. This is a good thing, but ultimately has complications considering the fact that they are one of the U.S.’s biggest strategic competitors. The panelist explained some of the pros and cons when working with China. Some of the pros are that China has a large population, world-class scientists, and big market potential. The cons are the complicated regulations within China, intellectual property theft, and data security. The panelist hoped that medical companies think about potential national security risks when working with China, and that the conflict is peacefully resolved in favor of a better world.
One question posed by a Beloit student asked the panelists about the Yemen bombing plans that were leaked via Signal, an unsecured communication channel that was used by the highest military officials, such as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance. When asked how this event changes civilian trust in the military, the panelists voiced that this incident does indeed bring the trust in the military into question. One panelist shared a story of a previous security issue, where classified information was shared on Discord and Reddit. If there is a gap between enacted and proposed values, a panelist explained, misinformation and conspiracy can take advantage and create distrust. Trust certainly seems damaged in the case of this leak.
Another question asked was how they felt about the current administration’s stance on higher education, where colleges have been labeled as the enemy and student visas are being revoked. The panelists all had degrees, ranging from Communications to Civil Engineering. The panelists withheld any criticism of government actions, but they emphasized that the military values education greatly. The panelists emphasised that education is often a requirement for military promotion and that education is so deeply ingrained in the culture of the military, they doubt it will change due to the current administration. One panelist used a quote from Thucydides, an Ancient Greek war general, to describe the relationship between education and military, saying “The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.”
The final topic the panelists were asked was what the public should be focusing on that they aren’t currently. One answer was Taiwan, where the question isn’t if China will invade, but when. This panelist also described increasing tensions in the South China Sea, particularly between China and the Philippines. China has been overstepping its ocean boundaries and intruding on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the water around the country.
Another issue brought up was the future of Antarctica. The future of the continent was described as “A long game we’re not really playing well right now.” The future of the Arctic has China at its core, and the potential of the region is only increasing as climate change continues and global temperatures rise. There’s potential for new trade routes if enough sea ice melts, and resource treaties have the potential to be renegotiated after 2048.
Featured image: USAMM
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