Do you support the US Military?

[noxiousraccoon]

Anyone notice that the wars we 'lose' are generally those in which we fight ideas, rather than people? We lost the "war against communism" and we're on a road to losing the "war against terrorism."

I would like to hear more on this, if you have the time.

[Tural]

What, specifically?

[noxiousraccoon]

Well, elaborate on: We lost the "war against communism"
Protip, we didn't directly cause the fall of the Soviet Union, and Communism still exists today. -shadowkhas

[Tural]

I was mostly relating to the Vietnam Conflict, which we certainly did not win. We didn't even make progress in the end. Everything was right where it began, just with a lot more dead soldiers and civilians.

[noxiousraccoon]

Ok, gotcha.

As for shadowkas, I know that communism still exists today it doesnt necessarily mean we lost, but I agree with your statement.

[Locke]

For the longest time, I was against the military. Then, as odd as it seems, I joined the Sheriff's Department and just finished the academy tonight for Search and Rescue. On top of this, I joined Sea Scouts (Boy Scouts expect more military and more worth while skills). Thats what I've been doing for the past few months (which explains my absence). But after living in military environments for a while, it sure beats civilian life. I plan to enlist for the Marines or I can join the navy as an E5. National Guard is also appealing...

Anyways, I support your choice to be in the military. What I don't support though, is the war itself. Its pointless and will just have us in a similar situation as Vietnam. In Vietnam we lost 60,000 troops and they lost a few million. After billions of dollars spent and many lives lost, what did we gain? Nothing. As stated by Tural, when you fight a war against ideas, it is very hard to win. The only thing continuing the war will do is make more countries hate the U.S. We are wasting lives and money on our current war which does not need to be happening. But I don't want a debate on that. It's just my opinion.

Final note...Go U.S. Military!

[XBC-Requiem]

E5? What rank is that in the Marines? I know that it's a Sergeant E5 in the Army.

[ducktape]

E-5 in the Marines is a sergeant. E-5 in the Navy is Petty Officer 2nd Class.

[XBC-Requiem]

Okay. I thought that the Marines and the Army had similar ranking systems, but the Navy and Air Force are a bit different, which kinda screws up things for me... I'm in the ARNG, and I'll be in Air Force ROTC at school next year, then Army ROTC for 4 years in college...

Ugh. Things can't ever be simple, can they?

[[cc]z@nd!]

as far as my thought on the military, i support the soldiers sticking up for their country, but the wars themselves aren't necessarily worth supporting. i don't support fighting in iraq now, and i personally don't want more tax dollars and dead soldiers over there, but i'll support the military because even if they don't want to be there, they are.

[Alexander]

The insurgents will just kill each other if we leave, and Al Qaeda will just head over to wherever else the US military is to fight it. Al Qaeda doesn't care about defending Iraq, all the mujahadeen (not the insurgents, who are fighting for dominance over the other branch of Islam, and to get the United States out of Iraq) care about is their own martyrdom, to kill a few infidels and then get sent to the land of 72 virgins. Afghanistan is completely consumed by Al Qaeda, that's where we should be with intense levels of troops, looking for the orchestrator of 9/11. (Yes, Osama, not Jews.)

Al Qaeda = Religious Zealots
Iraq Natives = See themselves as protecting their land

If the United States pulled out, the structure of Iraq would indeed be more fucked than it already is. So are our convictions for staying because we want to make ethical decisions? I don't think so. When has the US' foreign policy EVER been dictated by ethics?

[shadowkhas]

Afghanistan is completely consumed by Al Qaeda, that's where we should be with intense levels of troops, looking for the orchestrator of 9/11. (Yes, Osama, not Jews.)

I agree with this man.

[SHOUTrvb]

Alexander is completely right; anyone who says differently will have posting rights removed for 1 day. Halomods isn't a democracy.

[noxiousraccoon]

,not Jews.)

[shadowkhas]

Sir, your post makes no sense.

[Kirk]

I see more of a cold war between America and itself than a war with Iraq. Iraq is a massacre.

[noxiousraccoon]

O, my bad. I forgot the "haha" at the end of that.

[XBC-Requiem]

I leave in about 20min to ship out.

Thank you to those of you who support me.

For the two of you who don't:
Realize that I'm fighting for your right to not support me. And I hope you realize how f***ing selfish that makes you. But it's not my problem. You're the ones who have to deal with yourselves.

Once again, thank you for your support. I really do appreciate it.

[Dan!!]

I plan to enlist for the Marines or I can join the navy as an E5. National Guard is also appealing...

Let me tell you, if you get sent to Iraq, Iraq is pretty much the opposite of Disney Land.

[kornman00]

For those of you wondering, my MOS is 25U. I will be a LAN Manager, basically taking care of a PC network. But, mind you, I will still go through the same Basic Combat Training that the infantry do, and I could very easily be shifted to an Infantry.

If you support the Military, please let me know. If you don't, then that's fine, because you have the right as an American not to, but I want you to know that I will fight for each and every citizen of the United States.

I don't care to see everyone b****ing at one another over this. If you have a reason as to why you're against the Military, state evidence.

1. Your BCT will MORE than likely NOT be that of what our 11B have to endure.
2. You CANNOT be shifted to be an 11B, unless your recruiter some how managed to buttfuck you contract.
3. I support my fellow SOLDIERS.
4. I hope they aren't really adding the IV portion of CLS to BCT yet. Your required to actually stick someone to receive certification for that once in the real army (you'll be an IET soldier until you graduate from your AIT and leave the godforsaken shit hole they want you to call a 'home').
5. If I had a "hang in there kitty" walet sized picture, I would send it to you. I wish you luck in your venture through BCT. Your going to need it to combat the Blue Falcon's you'll have the pleasure of calling your "Battle Buddies".
6. Don't let them get you down for being Nation Guard (usually just fun sasses, but some people go over the limit). You're no different from Active, just you're not going to get stationed over here in Germany, sorry

On the Topic of #3: IMO, supporting the soliders is different form supporting the military, as you would be supporting the actions they are required by OATH to do (same for our "commander in chief" but lets not go there) if your supporting the military.
If your supporting the soldiers, your supporting them in their safe return home and their success in helping our fellow brotheren in Iraq. The Iraqi's are no different from any other human being and don't let a few rotten apples spoil your view on the people who HAVE no choice in living in such a violence filled country.
For them, they're having a school shoot out would probably a good day in most parts of the country :/

EDIT: DAMNIT, I missed him before they took him away :/.

After reading some posts in this thread I must comment. While I support my fellow soldiers and getting them home, its kind of a catch 22 because I don't think we should just cut rope and pull out of Iraq when these people need our help for the loads of crap we unfortunately brought with us. But I don't particularly want us whoring all of our troops there, when we need to be in Afghanistan .

EDIT: At the post above mine: The bases\camps in the middle east we have fortified are actually pretty damn good (still some places where you're in setups that are like in Jarhead). But it I could be just seeing the better part of things since I'm Finance :p. But he should actually not be dreading each coming day if he is even deployed by the time he is finished with his IET. And when he comes back, he should have a place in his pocket already needing to be burnt if you know what I mean .