Donald Trump parade may be more than fire and fury

A military parade in the US capital would further divide the nation, but many worry that such an event would also herald involvement in a future war, writes Carole Coleman.

Donald Trump parade may be more than fire and fury

A military parade in the US capital would further divide the nation, but many worry that such an event would also herald involvement in a future war, writes Carole Coleman.

US president Donald Trump has suggested the Pentagon begin preparations for a military parade in Washington.

He so enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of France’s Bastille Day that he wants to stage a similar show on home turf, maybe on the Fourth of July.

As a regular attendee of summer parades in the US, I’m not sure this is a brilliant idea. Like St Patrick’s Day in Ireland, Independence Day parades are a chance for Americans to put their local community spirit on show, not their nation’s military might.

Fourth of July is all about shiny fire trucks, police cars, school marching bands, and dance troupes. The only danger a spectator faces at one of these displays is being struck in the eye by a flying lolly.

Kids bring along bags to collect sweets thrown from passing floats, and tiny tots dash onto the parade route to pick up stray gobstoppers.

The message these parades send is that each town or suburb is hanging in there as part of the American dream. Themes of freedom, sacrifice, and history are always present — but are rarely in your face. Fourth of July parades are less about American exceptionalism and more about tradition.

Fourth of July in Washington DC, where this parade is planned, has a similar family feel.

Busy inhabitants of the capital city and surrounding metropolitan area flock to the banks of the Potomac River for picnics, music and fireworks.

Barring anything truly sinister, the only hint of danger is from hungry mosquitoes or an unexpected downpour.

But a ginormous military parade in Washington, whether on the Fourth of July or any other holiday, would be a completely different kettle of fish.

Picture thousands of men and women marching in formation down Pennsylvania Avenue as helicopters and fighter jets buzz and whoosh overhead.

Picture parents explaining to their children that this parade is really all about “fireworks”, just not the kind they’re used to.

Of course, many countries stage military parades. Yet the usual places that spring to mind are Russia and North Korea, where such displays say” “Look what we’ve got!”

This is likely the focal point of Trump’s latest Pentagon request.

If Trump isn’t planning to start a foreign war anytime in the next year, he wants his enemies to believe that he can.

He’s already said that his nuclear button is bigger than North Korea’s. He may want to reinforce that message by sending “hu-u-u-ge” ballistic missiles down Pennsylvania Avenue lined by throngs of cheering crowds.

But would there be vast cheering crowds? Washington DC is home to the Pentagon and arms lobbyists, but many who work in various branches of government wouldn’t be seen dead near any parade glorifying military might.

If the money that will be spent on such an event could be put into housing or education, those citizens would be much happier.

Yet libertarians and other Trump supporters would be delighted to see America manning up.

Others, meanwhile, might simply come out of sheer curiosity.

How necessary is a national military parade, and what might it lead to?

Various global arms control graphs for 2017 showed that Russia slightly led nuclear stockpile charts with about 7,000 nuclear weapons, followed by the US with approximately 6,800. By comparison, North Korea had 10-20.

America doesn’t need a military parade to show that it’s significantly more nuclear-capable than North Korea. Nor does it need to exacerbate the arms race with Russia.

A military parade might be popular with Americans who’ve supported or fought in foreign wars, but then it would have to be held every year — always bigger and better than the year before.

There’s a theory that Vladimir Putin and others stage these parades to distract from what’s happening at home. That way common people, struggling with their daily lives, can at least see their president making a show of protecting them from foreign aggression.

For similar reasons, many have predicted that Trump could go to war this year or next. Like George W Bush before him, if Trump is involved in a foreign war towards the end of his first term, the electorate would likely elect him to a second term.

Trump has threatened “fire and fury”, but there’s no indication that he’s committed to enter into conflict.

A military display is one more idea that will divide American opinion. It’s what happens after the parade that matters most.

Carole Coleman is a former RTÉ Washington correspondent.

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