In his famous treatise "The Prince," Italian political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli warned states against relying upon foreign mercenaries for their defense, arguing any short-term benefits were vastly outweighed by the long-term risks.
Mercenaries, as Machiavelli observed in his own time, were notoriously unreliable and being primarily motivated by financial gain often abandoned the state employing them or turned against it for better offers.
Machiavelli even blamed reliance on mercenary armies for many of the troubles befalling the Italian states of his day.
Instead, Machiavelli advised states and their aspiring rulers to rely upon standing armies of citizen soldiers.
As he argued, citizens with a direct stake in their homelands and tied to it by family and tradition, were far more likely to prove loyal and defend it strongly during times of crisis.
Amidst the recent Christmas festivities, a debate raged on social media regarding the use of H-1B visas, which allow U.S. employers to import foreign skilled workers on a temporary basis.
H-1B workers are in essence a form of foreign economic mercenaries, selling their labor much the way traditional mercenaries once did their combat.
Like mercenaries of the past, proponents assert that these H-1B workers possess specialized skills not otherwise readily available in the public, and which are necessary to defeat an external enemy, in this case, China.
But does relying upon these foreign mercenaries really make America stronger and safer, as some claim? Or, like the Italian states of Machiavelli’s day, do they risk making America weaker and vulnerable?
Certainly, amongst the biggest users of H-1B visas are companies in high-tech industries critical to not only America’s future national prosperity, but security as well.
In this regard, there are undoubtedly advantages to enlisting foreign born geniuses, like Elon Musk or Albert Einstein, to America’s service.
However, despite what some may claim, very few of these H-1B workers are geniuses, or the best and the brightest, with most instead of varying skill levels employed in positions many Americans are, or can become, equipped to fill.
There is also evidence that these visas are often used by U.S. employers merely to import cheaper foreign labor to replace American workers.
In fact, many of the same U.S. tech companies said to require them because they cannot find adequate domestic talent, have been laying off the very American workers they claim are in such short supply.
Of course, some argue, as others surely did for mercenaries in the past, that it should not matter whether U.S. companies employ Americans or foreigners, especially as they are the ones paying them.
But while it may not make a difference to the company, it most certainly does to the country.
For like the Italian states relying upon foreign mercenaries felt little need to train their own citizens to fight, if U.S companies can simply cheaply import foreign workers, they have scant reason to invest in the cultivation of domestic talent, as they would otherwise.
And if the prospects for Americans in tech and other industries critical to America’s defense continue to dim, they will not enter them in the first place and acquire the skills they are said to lack.
Thus, creating a self-perpetuating prophecy.
Looking at the number of foreigners now occupying U.S. tech companies and residing in America’s top universities, particularly in STEM related fields, an argument could be made this already occurring.
As a result, not only are American citizens being deprived of economic opportunities in some of the highest growth industries, but the country is becoming ever more dependent upon foreigners.
To that end, what happens then in times of crisis, such as in the event of a war with China or another powerful adversary, or even in the case of economic calamity?
Will these foreigners remain in America or flee to another country promising them greener pastures? Or worse still, sell their skills to America’s enemies, as mercenaries have throughout history.
Indeed, the Italian states of Machiavelli’s age often discovered mercenaries employed to fight on their behalf in one war fought against them in the next.
Or switched sides in the middle.
Even now, many Chinese nationals trained in leading edge technologies by the best U.S. universities and companies have already returned to help the home team compete against America.
And while others may go on to assist current U.S. allies, today’s friend, can easily become tomorrow’s adversary.
Some will surely prove loyal to America, just as some mercenaries served states employing them honorably.
But there is no assurance, and if they do not, America may discover, as the Italian states once did, that it has not only trained its enemy but left its citizens woefully unprepared just when it most needed them.
Ultimately, as Machiavelli astutely concluded, a state is only truly secured through the strength of its own people.
A lesson America would do well to remember.
Lee Steinhauer is a strategic policy and political consultant known for his book "The Art of The New Cold War: America vs. China. What America Must Do to Win." Lee is a frequent guest on Fox, Fox Business, Newsmax, and a published policy and opinion writer for numerous media publications. Read Lee Steinhauer's Reports — More Here.