America's endless, invisible wars

Our nation's military engagements are vast and amorphous, yet most Americans remain blissfully ignorant and indifferent

A U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

I wonder how many Americans could accurately answer the question of how many wars the United States is currently waging.

Leave aside the pesky details — you know, like an accurate list of the countries where American forces are engaged, the strategic case for our military actions in specific theaters of battle, and the overall cost of these wars in terms of blood and treasure. I'd be content to know that a solid majority of Americans were aware that we're currently at war in (at least) seven countries across the Greater Middle East: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Pakistan.

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Damon Linker

Damon Linker is a senior correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also a former contributing editor at The New Republic and the author of The Theocons and The Religious Test.