Military-age male
Military-age male (abbreviated as "MAM," plural "MAMs") is a term used to refer to men at ages where they are generally capable of military service. Typically used to describe males in the age range of 16-45, sometimes including men up to 60 years old.[1]
History
Usage in genocide
A concerted effort was made by the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska to capture and execute all Bosniak men of military age in the Srebrenica massacre.[2]
American usage
American usage of the term began during the Vietnam War, when the American public and American military-industrial complex used the term to better redefine whom was a threat towards military action and response."[1]
Usage in post-9/11 wars
This term was commonly used in the Bush-era wars around the world and later in Obama- and Trump-era drone programs.[1]
Usage in immigration rhetoric
The term has also been used by the Republican Party against migrants crossing the Mexico–United States border.[3] [4]
Impact
The usage of the term has been criticized as a propaganda effort intended to avert public criticism from the US Department of Defense, and for obfuscating and preventing proper oversight of US defense and foreign policies.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Coyne, Christopher J.; Hall, Abigail R. (2024). How to run wars: a confidential playbook for the national security elite. Oakland, CA: Independent Institute. ISBN 978-1-598-13392-9.
- ^ "Krstic Judgement" (PDF). ICTY. 2 August 2001. Part II. FINDINGS OF FACT – A. THE TAKE-OVER OF SREBRENICA AND ITS AFTERMATH – 11. A Plan to Execute the Bosnian Muslim Men of Srebrenica.
- ^ "Migration and the "Military-Age Male" Fallacy". Reason.com. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Light, Michael T.; He, Jingying; Robey, Jason P. (22 December 2020). "Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 117 (51): 32340–32347. Bibcode:2020PNAS..11732340L. doi:10.1073/pnas.2014704117. PMC 7768760. PMID 33288713.
- ^ "'Military Age Males' in US Drone Strikes". AOAV. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2024.