“Guess who’s running America!”
Well, General McChrystal has been given the axe and there is a new General in Afghanistan.
McChrystal, and his aides, in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, made some unflattering but probably true comments about certain Obama Administration officials and the general lost his head, literally.
Now, you have to admit that General Petraeus, who has a very Roman-sounding name, looks resplendent in his uniform. Each adornment surely means a lot and undoubtedly shows that he has been responsible for killing lots and lots of people. Hurrah!
In Ancient Rome, successful Generals were treated very well by the Emperors and were mightily feted when they came back from conquering yet another country. Those who were unsuccessful often fell on their swords which may have contributed to the saying that: Those who live by the sword, die by the sword. McChrystal has not fallen on his ceremonial sword yet but he has retired.
Now, by contrast, this morning’s news revealed that the Taliban had attacked a major American airbase in Afghanistan with a truck bomb and small arms which might lead a curious person to wonder about just how successful the war in Afghanistan really is.
Of course, according to the Obama Administration and the kingdom within the kingdom (called the Pentagon – another Roman word?) everything is going according to plan although one could be forgiven for asking: which plan? They’ve been so many plans during the last decade that they must need a whole building to store them all!
Yes, Bush and the Pentagon attacked Afghanistan first, then Iraq, then Obama joined in and re-attacked Afghanistan again and in both cases, the attacked countries have suffered monumental destruction and hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and are in a state of complete chaos. Does this deter the Administration or the Pentagon? No way.
Obviously denial is a way of life in both places. In fact, so pleased are they with their total failure in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are attacking everywhere in Pakistan using drones while planning to bomb Iran.
Now the question that I’d like to ask is: Does the Obama Administration control the Pentagon or does the Pentagon control the White House?
Looking at the magnificence of Petraeus you could be forgiven for thinking that the Pentagon holds the upper hand. I mean, look at how Obama dresses. He just wears suits, nice ones of course, but suits just the same. If he walked down Wall Street, you’d think he was a successful banker or a share trader (are there any other kinds?).
Of course, Obama, ironically, is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces but he has no adornments, none, and what he knows about waging imperial wars would probably fit on the back of a very small postage stamp.
Given this fact, I reckon the Imperial Pentagon, assisted by lobbyists from the arms manufacturers, is running America!
And this means that, on planet earth, war will go on forever. Joy, oh joy! Peace on earth and goodwill to all men.
Human evolution, it seems, stopped with the Roman Empire!
and so it goes, eh? the “win the war” chant is so old, it’s sad to think anyone really believes the bullshit.
then, people claiming that “unemployment benefits” aren’t helping people who can’t find jobs, because there are jobs? huh?
it’s all so absurd…….thanks for stopping by. not so much a diversion, simply finding ways to stay away from most of the stupidity surrounding us all day, every day.
hope you are doing well!!! Cheers!
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This post fits so well with your last one on guns. We see something we want, like oil, and we use our guns to go get it. It doesn’t matter who we will kill to get what we want.
Is it any wonder that people seeing what our government does tries to do the same thing. Get a gun and go take what you want. There is always a good excuse you can make up for doing it.
This works until someone comes along with a bigger gun or until a lot of someones are will to fight and die until we quit.
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Coffee, old friend, thanks for calling by. It seems that America is going to the dogs. That’s sad given that it was built on hope and idealism.
Jeannie, if only more people in Australia could read the accounts from you and Ted. The Australian Government slavishly follows America believing it will protect us should any of our neighbors invade. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house!
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Just like the fall of the Roman empire, the American MIC has over extended itself. While the MSM feeds us nonsence and untruths the economy crumbles. War drums beating feverishly in the Persian Gulf may be our downfall.
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David G Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 am
We can but hope so, 76-water. America needs to be set back on its heels. It is a danger to itself and the world!
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coco Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 2:21 pm
http://yhoo.it/aPdbvP
‘the economy crumbles’………….
we are told things are looking up (just to placate us)……….then in the next breath!!!
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David G Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Coco, keeping the punters confused and fearful is a common political strategy.
Thanks for the link. It must be the longest link in the history of the internet!
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Ted Zagar Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Yes, things are looking up–it’s always that way when you are at the bottom!
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Hi, I just thought to add that having been in combat myself being attacked is part of war. I am not saying that you are a ignorant. Just stating the fact that wars tend to involve two sides. Even when we are winning (which we amply are), the enemy may not feel that this is the case. Last time we were ambushed somewhere offbeat in Afgha, they attacked us with automatic fire and grenades. We retaliated in kind, after 2 hours of combat we called in some air support (we had exact coordinates) and we blasted them out of their sinkhole. Now for the record I thought I would add the following. I don’t have a problem fighting an emeny like the Taliturds. They are despicablem drug addled thugs no different that those crap pots in the Trashy Rubbish they serve on TV nowadays like the GOLDEN MILE. I do have a problem with arm chair strategists who have nothing to lose telling us what we are doing wrong. Petraeus has a Phd, is a master warrior and cares about his troops. When he was asked to join the fight his response to the president was 30 years and hundred thousand men (roughly, can’t exactly remember the quote – too much gunpowder and blood up my nose). Anyway, the issue was not simply war but nation building and this is the crux. Winning war is easy, keeping the peace very hard. We get attack by the equivalent of Melbourne Mafia drug dealers with a turban. Do not under any circumstances think that they are like us. They have no rules and often will use civilians and children as shields. No one like war, I certainly do not. But as far as I am concerned Patrick Henry was right when he said. Give me liberty or Give me Death! for the average peace loving Afghan that is exactly what they want. You may think whatever you want about Petraeus, but you need to walk in his boots for a little while before jumping to conlcusions. Peace.
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Just some typos. I thought I would add the following Petraeus PHD was on the vietnam war. He is well versed on the nature and complexity of dealing with guerilla warfare. The idea that we can have peace by default when we are dealing with extremists is naive and short sighted. The mindset of these people we are fighting is no different that those of Adolf Hitler (Liebensraum) only in their case it is global or Stalin (who was not above butchering his own people) to achieve his aims. Default is not peace. If we move out tomorrow, the war continues. It is what we believe that causes the conflict. They believe they have the right to wage war on anyone that disagrees with them, We BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP THEM WAGING THAT WAR. Do you ever forget that.
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SoldierDeRef, thanks for your input from the military point of view.
Let me make a few points. That Petraeus has a Ph.d is immaterial. America does not have the right to stop anyone from doing anything. It has elected itself as the world’s policeman while it is in the process of trying to control the world using military force (eg. it has bases everywhere and is heavily into invasion and occupation).
The rest of the world does not want American control and neither does it want to have the American lifestyle imposed upon it. Read Ted’s comments on ‘Bang, Bang. You’re dead,’ for some reasons why.
Cheers.
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Until I read Soldier DeRef’s comments, I thought the rainbow over Petraeus’ head was incongruous. He probably is a great leader becausee he does care very much about the people under his command. The kind of leader a person hopes to have in a warring situation.
However,..
That the USof A goes around the globe fighting wars, inflicting an imperialistic vision of themselves as the sole judge, jury and punisher, godlike choosers of who deserves life and who deserves death.. everyhwere… is inappropriate AND it is precisely what the Founding Fathers warned against! FF’s even said that revolution might be required in situations like the one we are in!
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David G Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Grace, thanks for your input. It really is up to the American people to get rid of the warmongering, greedy leadership.
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Btw, I wasn’t being sarcastic about the rainbow over the head. It was the visual at the time.
Imo, you might be right, David. Kind of like going to Mount Mordor to dispose of The Ring, we must wrangle the beast right here in its lair!
I have a more healing approach, myself. Kind of like, If America were able to heal – it would stop inflicting wounds everywhere it goes. The PTSD approach (from which I suffer from myself). Heal the people’s PTSD and then the nation will stop inflicting pain and causing PTSD in its wake – everywhere it goes. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
We have already created a hypervigilant world., Everybody is super aware of what the Beast is up to these days!
My therapist has told me my solution and I will share it with you. It is simple, yet brilliant. The key to some freedom, perhaps. Here goes:
I dont care what others think.
drop shoulders,
breathe,
exhale.
do it again.
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Grace, American leadership plus corporations ensure that war is endless. And because they think that war solves problems (and makes money) they will even war against their own people should they voice dissent. Perhaps revolution is the only answer!
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You have reminded me that stress, depression, a state of hypervigilance.. – these are all tools of the body to warn that danger is near.
Yes, maybe revolution is the answer.
That one word sure freaked to the core, my “former CIA,” former friends.
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“..they will even war against their own people should they voice dissent..”
David, this may be the most shocking development. For all.
I had a dream several years ago. One of those dreams that is so real it is like not a dream, but more, it felt like I got dropped into some zone to witness something. A boat with highly educated, middle class, white and multi-cultural political activists. They were brought out to the middle of the ocean and then were dumped out there! They said to the Chinese crew, “No, you can’t do this to us!” The Chinese woman in charge said, “Because we can, we will.” They left the activists out there in the middle of nowere and the boat drove away. The shock of the event, the shock of the educated activists. It was all very shocking. Mind you, this was years before I ever heard of such murders at seas of educated activists!
Here is an article I found yesterday. How many of you are certain that nobody cares what you have to say? You and your non-typical political views..
http://www.alternet.org/news/147420/7_outrageous_examples_of_police_spying_and_harrassment_toward_peaceful_activists/
Grace
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David G Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Grace, I checked out that link. Scary stuff, eh? The irony is that we elect our Governments and they reciprocate by spying on us and by treating us as the enemy!
Cheers.
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The article was written with a humorous tone. A bit of a keystone cop, Get Smart, Hogan’s Heroes and Barny Fife all rolled into one, imo. However, if one reads between the lines – as well as other articles about just how savvy the spies of this world are – there is nothing humorous about the kinds of things that go on. Kill lists – pre-approved by the Master & Commander himself, The American President. Anywhere, anytime, justified. No judge, jury, due process, miranda rights, crying mothers insisting their child is innocent. Pre-approved.
Europe beware. Hold on to what you’ve got. Social nets have to go in the new worldodor.
“..there will be some belt-tightening. But that belt is a noose, and President Obama and most of his Democrats and all of the Republicans have joined a lynching party led by the Wall Street gang. They are hell bent on finishing off what’s left of the fragile social safety net in the United States.
The banksters are currently savaging Europe, tearing away at social democracy in a struggle to reverse two hundred years of civilization. They are bound and determined to kill off the very idea that society should be constructed for the purpose of taking care of people’s needs. The entire edifice of the European welfare state is to be disassembled on orders of international finance capital, leaving the citizens naked to the machinations of the moneyed classes.”
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/all-power-casinos-death-social-safety-net
Australia hold on.
Maybe it is because I am sick and had to be right with my maker, that I feel free to talk about unspeakable things. I don’t want any of it to happen. Hiding the head in the sand won’t make it all go away. I want a beautiful world for my son and everybody’s kids.
In the end, we can’t walk on both sides of the street and have any integrity. It is why we are feared.
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David G Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
A powerful comment, Grace. I don’t think you realize the effect you have. Your honesty and simple wisdom is uplifting.
Love and peace.
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Grace Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
David, thanks.
It would be fun to have a DC summer camp. Of course it is winter there.
It is warm here and the air smells of sunbaked trees.
Good night
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As I said. Everyone loves peace but no one wants to pay for it. When the Brittish were taxing the American colonies the colonies tried to find middle ground and eventually had to resort to the conflict. The taliban are invaders, they are for the most part ethnically pakistani. Bin Laden is a saudi. Wahabbi islam fomented from Saudi Arabia has spread because of the 90 or so billion dollars that the Saudi government has spent on radicalising the muslim world in the last 50 years. The idea that these are peace loving moderate people is simply rubbish. Passivity will only invite attack. if you do not believe them you should read islamic history. It took Spain 800 years to get rid of Islam, at which point they coincidentally (in 1492) discovered the new continent of America. America may be flawed but they are not occupiers in the classical sense of the world. America will leave iraq and afgha, just as they left the phillipines. They are not colonialists. The problem is not them or us leaving, we will leave soon enough. But we have something called rulesets. These rulesets enable us to leave when the country is self actuating and under reasonable control. Our rules of war are as follows – I usually try to educate people on this because they believe falsely that they understand what and how war is waged. This hopefully (and I do not care if you disagree) makes some important points clear – one of which is the fact that we WILL NOT leave the land until roilling conflict is finished. Now my commanding officer is Petraeus and my doctrine of war follows along these lines. This is a summary of them, the process of reaching them and how decisions are made is far more complex. But once war has been enacted, these are the rule sets we stand on. In times of peace the rule sets differ. You can not discount history and to presume that we can do away with war in this world is just folly.
The Top 100 Rules of the
New American Way of War
By Dr. Thomas P. M. Barnett and Dr. Henry H. Gaffney Jr.
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Grace Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Hi Soldier,
“.. 90 or so billion dollars that the Saudi government has spent on radicalising the muslim world in the last 50 years.”
That, propaganda – and the Saudis are very good friends of the Bushes. The Saudis always stay at Bandar Bush’s Ranches and assorted compounds. The spring after 9/11/2001, the Saudi King and then President Bush held hands and smiled as they walked through the spring flowers, speaking in soft tones that only one another could hear.
Why would Saudis fly into our buildings to prove the Zionist claim that all those Muslims are out to get us? Why would American planes escort members of the Bin Laden family out of the Country during the No Fly Zone in effect? Al Queda is a cia construct. Osama an on the payroll cia employee. Go to Afhanistan, but stop short of bombing his cave? ANd then, since were already there we might as well just stay a little longer..
It is good to hear my fellow, one that is willing to put everything on the line and represent America in the world, as you apparently are. Keep questioning, it leads a path all its own.
If you can do any good, then that is making the best of a bad situation. Which I consider any situation that leads to violence and death, bad.
One more question I might ask, is: I wonder what ever happened to the top 100 rules of Diplomacy? There was a time when war could not be waged until all diplomatic attempts had been exhausted. The new rules of war must have been enacted around the time of our Pre–emptive war ventures. What are we doing overseas? Humanitarian ventures? at the point of a gun!
Peace takes skill and wits and if I were a soldier I would think the goal is to never have to fire a weapon. Especially in village environments where it is not so easy to visually distinguish a bad guy.
Be safe. Be well.
Peace on Earth.
Grace
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I would like to add that I welcome healthy discussion. No real soldier loves war. We love peace. I don’t wake up in the morning wanting to die by enemie’s bullet. I wake up thinking that we are here to solve problems. The poor, the oppressed sometimes need someone to stand up for them. If you sit on your couch you can point the finger but consider this. Tyrannies can last for lifetimes unless someone rises up to end them. These people are ignorant, held back in darkness and left to create a future out of nothing. The Taliban treat people like cattle. They are idle, self conceited, armed, dangerous, abusive. They peddle drugs, they often are drug addicted and THEY lOVE WAR. War is awful, evil but sometimes unfortunatley the only way to stomp on scorpions. Peace
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Grace Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 4:36 am
” No real soldier loves war. We love peace. I don’t wake up in the morning wanting to die by enemie’s bullet. I wake up thinking that we are here to solve problems. The poor, the oppressed sometimes need someone to stand up for them.”
See – when people criticize American soldiers, it is statements like the one above that says what I think that alot of young men and women, understand what they are “there” to do. They understand that in a world full of humans, people need help. This is the reason that they believe in their missions. I think are are a majority of honorable people in rank and file.
It is the leaders that deserve the most intense scrutiny. Soldiers follow orders. That is what they do. Leaders, and all decisions that come down from the top, deserve intensive questioning.
It is my duty as a loyal American citizen to question what our Politicians are asking our citizens, as soldiers, to do.
I believe that a sacred trust is being abused. Ask many a Vietnam Vet. They will tell you it is their Government that betrayed them. Not Jane Fonda. Propaganda works.
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SoldierDeRef, thanks for your two comments. I deleted the 100 rules because it was too long. If someone is interested, if they Google the book title, they can access the rules.
I would like to make a couple of points. Your attack on Muslims/Moors is completely one-eyed. At one stage they were the only civilization of any consequence (the rest were in the Dark Ages) and they were very artistic and scientific and built many wonderful buildings and cities.
Regarding America not being occupiers. They are still in Germany and Japan and WW2 finished in 1945!
Regarding American warmongering, who authorized America to go around the world invading and occupying other sovereign nations at will and taking their resources? You talk about your doctrine of war: where is your doctrine of peace? Why has America amassed the world’s biggest army if not to conquer or control the world?
I don’t discount history. It shows that war has never achieved anything except to bring death and destruction and hatred to millions. It’s you who has the wrong mindset but you are too indoctrinated to see it!
This blog condemns war and those who are involved in it.
(Kim) war is engaged in by savages!
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I can back up my figures, they are in the public domain. It is not propaganda.
I quote Reza F. Safa , author of Inside Islam, estimates that since 1973, the Saudi government has spent an unbelievable $87B to promote Wahhabism in the United States, Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe. According to official Saudi information, Saudi funds have been used to build and maintain over 1,500 mosques, 202 colleges, 210 Islamic Centers wholly or partly financed by Saudi Arabia, and almost 2,000 schools for educating Muslim children in non-Islamic countries in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia. Bush being friends with the Saudi’s does not change the fact that the Saudi’s spent 90 billion dollars in expanding their Wahabbi influence. I like to point out that we (US ANZUS) actually perform reconstruction work, in fact a large part of our budget is nation building. Nevermind the fact that when we entered Iraq all the hospitals were fundamentally defunct. We found 1 incubator that was non functional and was decades old. Sadam had a single power station running for a whole country which was designed to power only 30-40 thousand people. There were no anti biotics, no drugs of any kind, no medicine. Imagine doing surgery on someone without anaesthesia. If you do not believe me it was all chronicled in MY YEAR IN IRAQ. http://www.amazon.com/My-Year-Iraq-Struggle-Future/dp/0743273893. I saw Bremmer try to solve massive technical problems. Have you ever been to a warzone? Iraq was a war zone before we got there. How about the children’s jail in Iraq (real thing). How about the children’s jail in Iraq. I am not the only one that saw it. See interview in Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,351165,00.html I am not making this stuff up. You all think you understand what is going on.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,351165,00.html We are not fighting the population per se. You falsely believe that Afghanistan is just Afghanis we are fighting. We are not, we are fighting freedom fighters from all around the world. Sadam Hussein was no benefactor, he was a destroyer. The idea that I am indoctrinated is bunk. I have spent years in places where you have never set foot. Most extreme trouble spots are on the border lines with Islam. Chechnya, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Muslims in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kashmir, Indonesia, the Philippines, the rest Middle East, Sudan, Nigeria. Even in certain regions in China and Thailand there are issues. You don’t believe me, read about the Janjawee militia. Here is one from your own type of readership Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2004/04/22/sudan-government-and-militias-conspire-darfur-killings
We have set up hospitals, infrastructure etc. But you don’t want to believe that. We have spent hundreds of billion of dollars in this engagement. Idiots quote that the war is based on OIL. Really???? It costs us ten time more to be here than we could get in oil in 20 years. Do you want to know what the reality is. Here it is. Islam is completely bereft of any real value. I have seen old men arranging marriages with 9 YEAR OLDS!!! Standard behaviour is many Middle Eastern countries. Islam is a geopolitical force driven by OIL money and empowered by easily manipulated thugs. You all need to wake up to yourselves. I have been to these crapholes, from Nigeria, to Iraq to Iran etc. I am happy to discuss Islamic history and even give you some hard core facts from NGOs that will tell you how bad the standard of living is in these places, never mind that women are chattell. We won’t go into that. Because apparently women only have rights in the West. In Islamic countries they are worth half a man. You want to believe the media because it is EASY. Costless. You don’t see these people as being tyranised. If you spent any time here you would see it. Why do you think there is MASSIVE Migration out of ISLAMIC countries into the WEST. Because ALL their economies save 2 are fundamentally FAILED economies. There is no jobs, no future, no training, just extremist in power. Corrupt extremists at that. Ahmenijidad is happy to spend billions on building nuclear weapons but does not give a RAT’s ASS about his people. Don’t believe me then read these daunting stats on IRAN – http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1051866.html I have chosen good site with international presence. I could go and on. I have an excellent library. I am not just a grunt I can back up the information.
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By the way, I have been to both Japan and Germany and as I recall we did rebuild them through the Marshall plan and Through General McArthurs Japan reconstruction effort which we financed to the tune of 300+ billion dollars in trade. Our countertrade allowed both Japan and Germany to become world superpowers to the point that the European Union was entirely framed around Germany. Thank you very much!! To all the French out there you owe us your life. If I remember correctly the US did not want to enter the war. 94% of Americans were against it. We still fought because lets face it Adolf Hitler was the devil. And please don’t misquote history. When America took over Japan and Germany they were vanquished enemies that the whole world was fighting. I would also like to point out that the US liberated Geremany and helped it through the blockade with the Russians to their ETERNAL GRATITUDE. You should get some history books and actually read them. The russian blockade of Berlin 1948 for your interest. Here some light reading from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Blockade
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My break is up. It was enjoyable to place comments that I know will not follow the norm. I look forwards to exchanging thoughts again some time. It was fun. Just remember ‘the freedoms we enjoy’ came at the cost of someone fighting for them. Many parents in these places would gladly give their lives to have their children grow in a free country. Give thanks that your do.
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Grace Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 4:05 am
Soldier,
That was an eyful and a brainful.
Thank you. If the world is as dangerous as it is and that I seem oblivious to much of it is a testament to somebody doing their job!
There’s a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
There’s a hard rain a fallling.
Bob Dylan
(just played while I was typing)
I want to clarify some words I wrote. I believe that the Billions that the Saudis have spent is propaganda money. They are a part of a plan that includes the Bushes and has very little to do with love for Moslem people. Who is it that is always bemoaning those darned violent arabs? Israel?
“.. 90 or so billion dollars that the Saudi government has spent on radicalising the muslim world in the last 50 years.”
Who would benefit from a radicalized population? Weapons makers. Weapons brokers. Mercenary companies. Certain Corporate entities. Certain Countries.
See where all these questions lead.
Follow the $$$
The Universal language that even those drug kingpins who are drugged up and shooting people – (reminds me of the cia induced gang wars in Los Angeles.) understand $$$.
For having alot to say , I am short winded these days.
I appreciate what many people are doing for me, on my behalf and that of my peaceful neighborhood and may that extend to the whole world.
I have an eight year old son. He motivates me. I don’t want him to see death and violence. I encourage his interests that he may be a happy adult, one day. I hope that the Planet may be maintained in peace. That is the kind of future I like to think about. However, my mind is open.
I will send this. I will re-read all you wrote and see if I have anything to add to the many points that you have made.
Love and peace.
Grace
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Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it,
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’,
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’,
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard,
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.
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Grace and SoldierDeRef, I’ve read both lots of your comments and admit to being somewhat mystified. The premise seems to be that we live in a dangerous world and only armies can save us.
My position is that the world is dangerous because armies and nuclear weapons exist and because there exist politicians and warmongering generals and avaricious armament industries who will use these armies for imperial and economic reasons.
Peace will never be achieved by armies. Peace will only be achieved when humans are intelligent enough to see that war is both counterproductive and barbaric.
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I don’t understand war. I am the type who believes that we all could have lived together as neighbors. I can barely comprehend the death and bloodshed that America causes all over our home planet. If it isn’t our soldiers or “our” mercenaries, it is all the people holding weapons that we sold them. It really boils down to somebody at the top playing god. Deciding who will live and who will die in THEIR game. Nobody told most of us that it isn’t just a rigged game, but we are playing the game they have laid out for us. HIStory, is the story of the winner. Turns out that the advice of following the money – really explains alot. Makes reading between the lines more legible.
I live in a world where military service is respected. I cannot win any arguments when it comes to the honor of service. Also, though I am anti war, speaking disrespectfully to people who dedicate themselves to service of the country is wrong. However, it is my duty to help educate people about things that maybe they never thought of. I often take for granted that I grew up in a liberal minded household, chock full of counterculture reading materials. Some people – even today – it never ocurred to, or was never modeled for them to question our revered leaders. It is a process of deprogramming and forcing results will backfire.
Hey I would rather have the dialogue now – than at the butt of a gun at four in the morning (when most Palestinian homes are raided.) I live in the United States, but hey hunters need their prey. They destroyed the best forests. All the good huinting is in urban environments it seems.
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Grace, I don’t understand war either. Rational people don’t. Compassionate people don’t. Altruistic people don’t.
War is understood by barbarians, the ignorant, and the bottom-dwellers of our society who are sent out to be killed. Meanwhile, the wealthy profit from it while the power-crazed get their kicks.
War is for losers!
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