Gordon Forgey

For years, the French have had the Foreign Legion.

The Legion is a band of volunteer soldiers separate from the army which is available to fight anytime and anywhere.

Mystery and lore have surrounded the Legion for more than 150 years. Supposedly, the Legion was primarily made up of criminals and misfits. Most Legionnaires are not even French citizens. They come from all parts of the world. Many are strictly mercenaries.

An all volunteer, international and separate fighting force may not be a bad idea in this age of ISIS and other terrorist threats.

Temporary international coalitions work only if widespread consensus and commitment exist. The United Nations seems unable to respond in situations that need a military presence, and it does not have a multinational force at the ready. NATO members are increasingly reluctant to commit their own. Neither does NATO have a stand-ready multinational force.

Such cooperative efforts also need time to organize and time for the political process to work. They are fragile at best.

The turmoil in the Middle East is a perfect argument for a fully formed, fully functional multinational force at the ready. With ISIS threatening the very capital of Iraq and other Arab countries, most governments are unable or unwilling to commit to fighting it toe to toe, although all are fearful of the consequences if ISIS is not destroyed.

Each nation could help finance the force, and, as with the French Foreign Legion, it would be a unit unto itself, not one pieced together at the last minute. It would be void of political and national loyalties.

The French Foreign Legion has a romantic yet sordid and violent history. It may not be the paradigm of good works or even good policy, but the world, unable or unwilling to take up its own defense, could use such a force no matter what it is called.

Right now, it seems to be called the American military, and that cannot go on forever.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher