Imagine:

[Havensdad]

It is not uncommon for some to ascribe their own motives onto others that they do not know.

Your statement is perhaps more a reflection of your own value system than it is anything else.

Yeah, that was a bit far. Serving our country is a noble thing. Doing it to get a college education, is ALSO a noble thing. A good friend of mine did that.

 

[InTheLight]

How about imagining that all foreign and domestic peacemakers and defenders left your neighborhood so that your precious little girl can grow up without any foreign presence of any kind, so she is free to be made to marry some 70 year old sex pervert with a record number of diseases, or that the ruling thugs in your 'foreigner-free' neighborhood decides to use your precious little girl for a suicide bombing run against the nextdoor native equally murderous warlord. Just imagine what life would be like if there were no-one in the way to stop drug warlords from taking little girls into their own 'small country-sized' harem of underage slave prostitutes.

You have described a horrorific scenario, but is this sufficient reason to invade, occupy, and attempt to nation build this country into one more in line with our ideals?

If you think it is why aren't we intervening in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia (actually almost all of Africa)?

 

[mandym]

You have described a horrorific scenario, but is this sufficient reason to invade, occupy, and attempt to nation build this country into one more in line with our ideals?

If you think it is why aren't we intervening in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia (actually almost all of Africa)?

Or is it enough to invade that nation to protect innocent children from such crimes against humanity?

 

[annsni]

I wonder how much the GI benefits factor into his service? I'm not doubting his giving and putting himself in harm's way, but when I was in my late teens, I knew many who enlisted in order to get help with college and in buying a house after their service was over.

He had no dreams in joining other than to serve our country and be in the military. It took him YEARS to get his degree and he didn't buy a house for years either - and he's since sold that and lived in military housing with his family. He's thought of getting out but he wants a solid plan for a job before he does. He's now almost 43 years old and has been in the Navy for almost 22 years. It certainly wasn't the benefits that have kept him in for all these years but instead he's liked his jobs and feels strongly about serving.

 

[Sapper Woody]

No, its not. Tell me, your a soldier. What would you do if the U.S. got invaded by foreign troops, and while you were fighting them, a large group of the soldiers under your command defected to the enemy camp? They started hanging out with the enemy troops, and were giving them invaluable information that was costing you hundreds and thousands of lives? Tell me, who would YOU be targeting when you attacked their convoy?

You took my scenario, and tried to turn it back on me, but failed miserably. The people they attacked were not prior military. They do not hang out with US at all. They have never given us information. They were simply Afghan truck drivers hired to drive wheat seed from one place to another. They didn't even step foot on a military installation.

So, your analogy has failed, as has your strawman.

As to me not reading all the links, I did. But the other links didn't give a comparison, which is what I was going for. People are dying, yes we get it. Too many people for anyone's liking. But to blame it all on Americans is wrong. That is my point. The terrorists kill far more than we do/have. And our goal is to end all the killing, both on our side and their side. Their goal is to get us to leave, so that they can again reign in terror unmolested.

 

[Mexdeaf]

He had no dreams in joining other than to serve our country and be in the military. It took him YEARS to get his degree and he didn't buy a house for years either - and he's since sold that and lived in military housing with his family. He's thought of getting out but he wants a solid plan for a job before he does. He's now almost 43 years old and has been in the Navy for almost 22 years. It certainly wasn't the benefits that have kept him in for all these years but instead he's liked his jobs and feels strongly about serving.

Anyone who joins the military "for the benefits" is as nuts as anyone who would pastor "for the (earthly) benefits", IMHO.

You have to do it because you believe that you are making a difference somehow, or else it's all for naught.

 

[Sapper Woody]

I wonder how much the GI benefits factor into his service?

Who cares? Is someone who dies for their country less heroic because they aren't going to make a career out of the military, and are only doing it for college money?

 

[Mexdeaf]

Who cares? Is someone who dies for their country less heroic because they aren't going to make a career out of the military, and are only doing it for college money?

I salute you, sir! Due to my physical affliction of deafness I was never able to accomplish my dream of being in the military. People who serve or have served are my heroes, regardless of WHY.

 

[Sapper Woody]

I salute you, sir!

This is gonna be so off topic, but I can't help but say this. "I ain't no sir! I don't rate a salute! I work for a living!" :laugh:

If you want to salute someone, salute Don. I hear he loves it when enlisted personnel space themselves out by 6 paces as they are passing him. :thumbs:

 

[Don]

This is gonna be so off topic, but I can't help but say this. "I ain't no sir! I don't rate a salute! I work for a living!" :laugh:

If you want to salute someone, salute Don. I hear he loves it when enlisted personnel space themselves out by 6 paces as they are passing him. :thumbs:

That is SO WRONG.

When I was an enlisted Security Specialist instructor, I used to tell my enlisted students that I had no use for most officers. 15 years later, that opinion hasn't changed.

 

[Robert Snow]

Yeah, that was a bit far. Serving our country is a noble thing. Doing it to get a college education, is ALSO a noble thing. A good friend of mine did that.

I meant no offense. Targus, along with some others seems to look for negative motives toward those he doesn't like.

I think the benefits for military service are definitely appropriate. In fact, if they were increased, it would be fine with me.

However, I know some who enlisted during a time of peace, after the Vietnam War that did so mainly for the benefits. They did not see any military action on the horizon. They did realize that this could change at any moment though.

Today, for someone to enlist they know that they will probably be sent to a war zone. This does add an element of valor to their service, in my opinion.