Some People think all Veterans Are Evil

[Blaupanzer]

War is not mindless, either in origin or conduct. While those who decide on its use may have too limited a frame of reference; they cannot be excused from their decision by claiming they never thought about it. In a modern state quite a few people have to review the decision before anything real happens.

Mindless violence is the schoolboy shooting up his institution or the bar fight.

Even gang shootouts where two rival groups happen to bump into each other can be considered mindless. Note that the gang guys usually only shoot in the general direction of their rivals. That's what makes this mindless. This encounter also can be planned, but a certain amount of this type of street violence is random and mindless.

[Kidlicious]

People romanticise war. It's not viewed in it's true nature. If you deny that you don't really understand it's nature yourself.

[SlowwHand]

Only a total moron wants and romaticises war. I would venture to go so far as to say that no group of people wants war less than a veteran.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Only a total moron wants and romaticises war.

Something we agree on.

I would venture to go so far as to say that no group of people wants war less than a veteran.

And how many wars have you not supported?

[SlowwHand]

I wanted to take Hussein and then leave Iraq. My problem was somewhat less than Bush's. I didn't give a damn if Iraq took ownership of their country, but Bush did. He didn't realize that they're totally unmotivated to do so.

[Kidlicious]

Speaking of Bush

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Only a total moron wants and romaticises war.

"I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."

"It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," Bush said.

[SlowwHand]

He's talking of new beginnings, not the bloodshed. Courage is being frightened and doing what has to be done anyway. Talk to the Iraqi leadership about why they drag their feet while asking us to stay.

[Blaupanzer]

I am a veteran who supported the Afghanistan incursion. I did not support Iraq at the start, in the middle, or lately. I did favor Kosovo, I did not support Somalia. Being a veteran does not make me blind. It makes me hyper-aware.

All wars are not evil, nor are all warriors. If we do not threaten war related to Israel for example, that nation might well have been overwhelmed. We haven't had to fight, but no divisions from Russia or Iran have shown up either.

[Blaupanzer]

Bush is not a veteran. He dodged the draft by pretending he was in the Air National Guard. Vets are very wary of enthusiastic warriors who will stay home and have no experience. -- Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld

[Supr49er]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
Bush is not a veteran. He dodged the draft by pretending he was in the Air National Guard. Vets are very wary of enthusiastic warriors who will stay home and have no experience. -- Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld

Yeah, the "Chickenhawks" are despised by veterans.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
Bush is not a veteran. He dodged the draft by pretending he was in the Air National Guard. Vets are very wary of enthusiastic warriors who will stay home and have no experience. -- Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld

Not Slowwhand as it seems. BTW, were you in a war?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
Being a veteran does not make me blind. It makes me hyper-aware.

I don't think you have to be a vet to be hyper-aware of war.

[Blaupanzer]

Yes, Viet Nam. Wounded there.

[Blaupanzer]

The question comes down to war as state-sponsored violence. Are you ever in favor of this? Is there any cause, other than defense of the territory of the homeland, in which you favor war? If yes, then the hyper-awareness warns you which things can be achieved within "reasonable parameters," whatever those are, and those in which we will be pouring money and men down a rathole as long as the public permits it. Betcha vets get that right more often than "chickenhawks."

[Elok]

Just to play devil's advocate, wasn't the military solidly pro-McCain (and thus pro-let's-continue-the-war-in-Iraq)? I know my brother in the Army hates Obama, but then he's a satellite tech or something, and he's never been in battle.