RE: Do you think American soldiers are put on too high of a pedestal
January 18, 2017 at 4:16 pm
(This post was last modified: January 18, 2017 at 4:35 pm by Opoponax.)
(January 18, 2017 at 1:04 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:(January 17, 2017 at 9:49 pm)Opoponax Wrote: Conservatives often strike me as bereft of the knowledge of the depth of human suffering.
I can tell you the vast majority of military members and their families are, themselves, conservatives.
They say the Air Force is the branch with the most liberals. Which is crazy, because even here it's rare to find one. Off the top of my head, I can think of like 3 out of everyone I know. My husband says there are always a ton of liberal jokes going around at his work. Especially around the time of the election.
I don't need you to tell me that. As I said before, most of the enlisted are apolitical. They're there for the job. The officer corps, and to a less extent, the noncoms are conservative because of job security and a sense of duty that's instilled as part of their training. The more conservative the government, the more money for the military.
And how about you ask them this: "Do you want to be sent off to fight in a totally unnecessary war, or would you rather our politicians work out something sensible so that you don't have to go?"
As a former soldier, I actually care about the members of our military. I think Afghanistan was necessary, so to send our troops off to fight there was not a reckless act. But Iraq? Or the shit that Trump looks to be starting with China and North Korea? Yeeaaaaaaaahhhhhh----FUCK THAT.
Or maybe that's what this country needs. Maybe it needs a war where 100's of thousands of soldiers die in an unnecessary war, and a draft where anyone of proper age can be made to go to pick up the slack for the dead. Maybe it needs its private industry taken over by the government for war production following a formal declaration of war. Unfortunately, us smart people on the coasts would get hit first and hardest should bombs start falling here. But the sick thing about that is that the red state rubes would likely cheer that. If only Chinese bombs could fall on Kansas.
(January 18, 2017 at 1:11 pm)Minimalist Wrote:Quote:I believe so firmly that we need a peace time draft. Iraq either wouldn't have happened or it would've been done "right."
You mean like Vietnam was "done right?"
What? What the hell does Vietnam have to do with the second Gulf War?
(January 18, 2017 at 2:10 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: ...What exactly does "going all out" mean for a war?
I think of it as WW2 type strategic and tactical destruction.
This idea of sparing civilians is relatively new and it causes serious problems in waging war.
The Japanese were far more fierce, dedicated, better trained, better supplied than any of these terrorist dirtbags today. But an entire nation was brought to heel through merciless strategic bombing and attrition on the battlefield.
I think war is the most serious thing a nation can do. It's not about kickin' ass so that "foreigners" can feel the self-righteous wrath of the United States. War should only be undertaken when the security of the nation is truly at stake and nothing short of war can save it. And in such a case, the full power of the military should be unleashed. The only limitation is nukes and other weapons outlawed by convention---unless the other side uses them first.
I am truly against war for all but the most necessary reasons. And if it does become necessary, then a formal declaration should be made, and the enemy battered to the point of unconditional surrender.
