The ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will have little impact on this year’s elections. Afghanistan in particular seems to have vanished from the national consciousness, perhaps because of a presumptive confidence in General Petreaus. Moreover, Republicans as a minority party are far less inclined to make the wars a politically divisive issue than were Democrats during President Bush’s tenure. With a selective and professional military that reflects American society less than it did fifty years ago, war and its role in national politics are destined to inhabit a smaller space in our collective awareness.

Gerson writes about politics, global health and development, religion and foreign policy.

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