My stance on the military(US as well as UK)

I see I have attracted some criticism for referring to the US military as a collection of knuckle dragging borderline pyschopaths with an inveterate taste for blood- I was simply repeating a Vietnam era trope- which I noted got me kicked off a Catholic website.

Whilst I reserve the right to be as critical of the armed forces of either country( esp when they engage in conduct expressly condemned by the UK or US governments or the Geneva Convention- such as the murder of POWs for which a Royal Marines sergeant was recently convicted by a court martial), I should point out that I am no pacifist-painful though it may be at times war is necessary(pace WWII). It seems to me that for differing reasons, both Right and Left make the same mistake with the military- the former uncritically venerates it as much as the latter equally uncritically demonizes it( presumably the enemy is always presumed to be in the right- be it the PIRA, Taliban, Al Qaeda, Iraqi or Argentinians) and this is WRONG.

No entity in a democratic society is entitled to uncritical "Our Boys can do nothing wrong" virtual veneration any more than equally uncritical demonization.

Contrary to popular superstition, soldiers and other fighting men,esp having seen the horrors of combat, are the usually the most pacific members of society-it is usually the politicians(no names, no pack drill but we all know of whom I allude to) who are the most bloodthirsty. "And therefore the soldier, more than any other persons, prays the most intensely for peace, for it is he(and more recently she) who must suffer and bear the deepest marks and scars of war!", the late General Douglas McArthur is supposed to have said- and "Dugout Doug"(as he was irreverently known by his subordinates during WWII) is surely right on this matter.

Anybody think as I do?

Terry

I did not get any of that. Explain more clearly please.

Basically, he is anti-military.

@emequious_swerve:

Oh.

Strangely, it's not the first time I read a thread posted that has the words "that got me kicked off a Catholic website." in the OP. Probably not the exact words, but still.

Cool. Just thank me for putting my life on the line for you.

@paracelsus:

You do know those "pyschopaths" risk their lives to save you, Terry.

Yep, the US military is raping the world. Old news.

@paracelsus: I think stereotyping a group of people as you have is your first mistake. But do what you want to do. Sit back and enjoy the freedoms granted you by men who shed blood and died so you can have the freedom to badmouth them.

I don't think being critical (read not buying everything your goverment says) is bad. I think a good citizen is critical of his government. But hating against the military instead of politicians is like being mad your parents sent you to bed without dinner and then punching your brother in the face.

Or something like that.

The military is an unfortunately necessary evil, filled with trained killers. Far braver trained killers than most civilians, but still trained killers.

This is exactly why i hate anyone who is anti-military

Bro, seriously, you should wake up, Puppet Vs Puppet= Puppet ruling the Country. No matter where you are from you should know that. Now you can go on and take on me but i know its true.

As for going in the army, you should know without a doubt that someday or a other you will commite a injuste thing (Specialy if you are in the US army) My gran pa and my dad knews that but they still made it to the army because they wanted to made something good of their lives but in fact opinion based i think my gran pa was forced and my dad was influenced by him (Thanksfully my dad quitted the army) , you are acting like they doesnt know what they are doing, for my part, i will never join the army but you can think otherwhise, that's your right.

Have a nice day and thanks for reading.

@jeanralphio: thank you

You served? Thank you, sir.

I'm enlisted Army.

@jeanralphio: Humor me, what MOS?

25u Signal support system specialist,we're the back bone of communications and I'm also guessing you're under the impression that assholes can't be soldiers and vice versa,join the military,you'd be in for a surprise.

@jeanralphio: I was an 11 Bravo. Served active from 2005-2008, recalled from IRR in 2010. Two tours.

My impression is people are people. I try not to stereotype.

Oh. Well still, thank you.

Hooah. Toured where?

@risingbean: @jeanralphio: Both of you army?

@jeanralphio: Iraq both tours. Baghdad and then based from Balad.

@adhd_assassin: Yup.

@paracelsus: Why did you feel the need to post this?

You should be thankful this is an all volunteer military. Because if it wasn't then there would be the possibility of someone like you being drafted. So I think you should be VERY thankful.

@risingbean: nice. A marine corps poolie, so I'll join your ranks soon enough

@adhd_assassin: http://terminallance.com/2010/01/05/terminal-lance-1-how-knick-names-are-born/

I find the series funny even if it is one of you sorts making the jokes. It's true enough for grunts across the services. You may as well begin hating life now.

Good luck, Boot. Thanks in advance for the sacrifices you'll make.

God Bless.

Edit: Post eaten, retyped.

Im in the royal navy (uk) and have been for 8 years and as much as im not bothered bout you being anti war I just find the reason you are a little bit dumb, but hey every1 has a opinion but maybe you should do a little bit of research before making posts.

...So what I got was that politicians are bad but somehow the military is to blame?

I don't understand, I just can't believe the ignorance in this thread right now.

@adhd_assassin: @risingbean: What's your opinions on MP and CP?

@jeanralphio: I'm ok with Military Police manning checkpoints.

Which is what those acronyms mean to me.

@risingbean: Courtesy patrol I mean.

@jeanralphio Ohhhh, those guys. I forgot all about them. I never had any issues personally, but I can hold my liquor. I think they serve a purpose when helping Joe back to the barracks. Joe does drink hard afterall.

Edit to include reply function

@paracelsus: Just curious, why did you get kicked off a Catholic site for badmouthing the militaries of majority Protestant countries?

One thing I don't like is the unnecessary proxy wars that the major countries get involved in. I'm thankful my country's military doesn't engage in such things and are only sent out for U.N sanctioned peacekeeping, as it should be.

You clearly didnt get my first point, when i say rule i mean it, they make diversions and excuses but in fact, both Sides are controlled by Incs/Riches, with time i noticed that, i never said everyone was voting for the same side, i said everyside are bad so if you still dont get my point well than i think i cant add anything else to make you understand my point.

Also, I never said they wouldnt do some goods but i think the goods they will do doesnt equal the bad (In general).

I have ''problems'' with military and Politics. As for your disapproval i respect it but i cant agree with you.

Thanks for your time

Well that's not my problem, since i dont realy care about all this (Not the subject but this conversation). Take care.

@paracelsus: If what you're saying is:

• The military shouldn't violate it's own international agreements.
• The Right blindly venerates the military.
• The Left demonizes the military too often.
• A soldier who serves shouldn't automatically be granted a moral pass whenever his/her conduct comes under question.
• The most pro war factions in the country generally aren't the people that are being sent into wars and this disconnect is harmful.

then I agree. At least that's what I think you're saying.

Well i wont waste my time. If ''we'' cant understand my says than that's not my prob and i'm not trying, i'm just leaving comments that might sound similar but that's not the same .r...., i would still be posting stuff related to my says if i was trying. Anyway my this is my ''last comment''.

I always try to respect the opinions of others... but whenever I read posts like these, I can't help but picture the OP as some bitter jackass with limited exposure to the real world, trying to be edgy to validate his incredibly aggrandized views of his own intelligence.

And I'm probably wrong. I admit that. I just don't think there is another school of thought out there to which I so blatantly disagree.

Look, soldiers aren't all saints, and the military isn't a quintessential force for absolute good.

But they dedicate their lives, put themselves on the line, to defend the very freedoms which say that we CAN badmouth them. For me, that's all that matters.

And your qualifications?

I'm a US Airman, and spent some time in the sandbox doing some bad things to bad people. Do you have the right to be critical of me? Absolutely, your taxes pay my salary. Do I believe in war as an absolute last resort? Absolutely. I've seen death, and I've seen good men and women change because of what they've seen. Do I feel bad about what I've done? Maybe, sometimes, but usually no. I don't see myself as crazy, I don't relish in bloodshed. In fact, the unit I was with, we took quite a few prisoners. It was preferred over killing. We actually saved the lives of wounded enemy combatants. Why? We aren't monsters. You can accuse of a thousand reasons why we would, but the fact is I know why we did, and the world isn't black and white. I, for one, do not like the idea of the "sacred cow" service member or everyone in uniform is a hero. For damn sure, I am NO hero.

I volunteered. I knew what I was getting into, and I will volunteer again. I'm sure @risingbean understands where I'm coming from, as guys like him have paved the way for guys like me.

At the end of the day, I may not agree with what someone says, but, I will defend to the death your right to say it.

I'm not even American, but this was some astute and discerning writing right here. Much respect.

I'v assaulted compounds in Helmand and I'v also helped build bridges in Kenya, if you think the army is black and white then you are really don't know anything.