by 
Any student of history knows that battles are not always fought one country against the other, but often countries will seek the aid of others. Sometimes money changes hands. Other times it’s an alliance or a common belief set.
In the Old Testament, during the fall of Israel, we see that multiple times the empire that was falling sought out help from other countries. Ahab’s Israel sought out help from Jehoshaphat in Judah. During the fall of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar, Judah sought out help from Assyria and Egypt. History records their demise.
During the waning days of the Roman empire, a similar thing happened, where the invading inhabitants were drafted in the army to fight, but it didn’t turn out well for them either.
Firstly, in both cases, the reliance on foreign soldiers can lead to a weakening of loyalty and allegiance to the state. In Imperial Rome, the use of foreign mercenaries meant that soldiers were not necessarily tied to Rome by a sense of national identity or shared values. Similarly, the US hiring foreign soldiers might result in a similar disconnect between these soldiers and the nation they are serving.
Secondly, the presence of foreign soldiers within a state’s military can create tensions within the population. In Rome, the growing resentment of the Roman population towards the foreign mercenaries eventually led to the weakening of the Roman Empire. Similarly, the presence of foreign soldiers in the US military might lead to similar tensions and divisions within the country.
Lastly, both instances demonstrate the potential for foreign soldiers to be used as a tool for external powers to exert influence over a state. In Imperial Rome, the use of foreign mercenaries made the empire vulnerable to manipulation and subversion by foreign powers. Similarly, the US hiring foreign soldiers could potentially be exploited by external actors seeking to undermine the stability and security of the nation. In conclusion, while the hiring of foreign soldiers may seem like a practical solution in the short term, it can have long-term consequences that should be carefully considered. The historical example of Imperial Rome serves as a cautionary tale of the potential pitfalls of relying on foreign mercenaries for military strength.
Late Stage Imperial Follies
More recently, the British employed Hessian troops during the Revolutionary War, and America used the same type of mercenary soldiers in the Civil War.
Having to employ others to fight your battles tends to indicate that the people of your own nation no longer wish to fight, or have a reason to maintain your empire vision, so you have to seek others to do your fighting. This is what we’re seeing in the latest plan by the U.S. military to encourage illegal aliens with a path to citizenship through our armed forces.
Granted, we’re not at war right now– though who knows what could happen from day to day– so instead of fighting on the front lines for their new country, they’d be signing up for enlistment in an organization where men can be women, you get a college education for free, and access and training on all sorts of weaponry. You’re signing up to protect people that are not your own.
It seems to me that it would be better to appeal to the people of the country or stop getting entangled in foreign affairs than to continue to try to be the world’s policeman all the while potentially arming and training those that could eventually be our oppressors.
