See other Resistance Articles
Title: Thank A Vet?
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance216.html
Published: Nov 11, 2010
Author: Laurence Vance
Post Date: 2010-11-11 06:22:29 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 1626
Comments: 121
We’ve all seen the bumper stickers: "My son is in the Air Force," "If You Can Read This in English, Thank a Marine," "Proud Vietnam Veteran," "Fly Navy," and of course, "Thank a Vet." Why should we? Why should we call them heroes, give them military discounts, grant them veterans preference, express our support for them with ribbons on our cars, honor them with a holiday, hold military appreciation church services for them, and thank them for their "service"? Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to commemorate the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. It had nothing to do with honoring current and former members of the military like Veterans Day is celebrated today. And if the sole purpose of Armistice Day was to honor World War I veterans, it should never have been celebrated since no American soldier did anything honorable by intervening in a European foreign war. And it doesn’t matter if he was drafted or not. Britain’s last World War I combat veteran, Harry Patch, died last year at the age of 111. He boasted that he hadn’t killed anyone in combat. "War isn’t worth one life," Patch said, it is "calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings." In his autobiography The Last Fighting Tommy, Patch wrote that "politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organising nothing better than legalised mass murder." In the last years of his life, Patch warned some young naval recruits that they shouldn’t join. Frank Buckles, age 109, is the only American veteran of World War I still living. When asked while being honored for his service at a 2007 Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery what he thought about being there while the United States was at war, he replied: "I’m no authority, but I’m not in favor of war unless it’s an emergency." I think that Buckles is more of an authority on the horrors of war and the folly and wickedness of war than the current members of the Joint Chiefs. It is only because World War I did not turn out to be the "war to end all wars" that the holiday was changed to Veterans Day as a tribute to all soldiers who fought for their country. Although I believe World War II to be neither necessary nor good, I come not on this Veterans Day to criticize the "greatest generation," who, it turns out, were also great at pillaging and carousing. For reasons I explained in "U.S. Presidents and Those Who Kill for Them," World War II marks the permanent establishment of the American military as the president’s personal attack force to kill by his decree Koreans, Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Grenadians, Panamanians, Yugoslavs, Serbians, Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis, Yemenis, and Pakistanis. Next on the list is Iranians. Sometimes these presidential decrees are rubberstamped by a congressional authorization to use force, but they are always preceded by presidential lies and warmonger propaganda. So why should a Vietnam veteran be proud? He was typically young, ignorant, deceived, and drafted. He may have fought obediently, valiantly, selflessly, and fearlessly, but since he had no business fighting in Vietnam in the first place, I have nothing to thank him for. And I certainly can’t thank him for preventing the Viet Cong from turning America into a socialist republic. Besides, LBJ beat Ho Chi Minh to that anyway. Many Vietnam veterans have written me and expressed shame, remorse, anger, and resentment – not pride – for having been duped into going thousands of miles away from American soil to intervene in another country’s civil war. In fact, I have found that it is those who are not Vietnam veterans who are the most vociferous defenders of the war in Vietnam. The most undeserved and oftentimes disgusting outpouring of thankfulness I have ever seen is over those who have fought or are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The praise and adoration of those fighting in "the front lines in the war on terror" reaches its apex on Veterans Day, which has become a day to defend U.S. wars and recognize all things military. These soldiers certainly have done nothing worthy of thanks. Sure, they have rebuilt infrastructure – after bombing it to smithereens. They no doubt removed a brutal dictator – and unleashed American brutality in the process. And yes, they have rescued orphan children – after blowing their parents and brothers and sisters to kingdom come. What is there to thank our soldiers for? They are not defending our freedoms. They are not keeping us safe from our enemies. They are not protecting us from terrorists. They are not guaranteeing our First Amendment rights. They are not defending U.S. borders. They are not guarding U.S. shores. They are not patrolling U.S. coasts. They are not enforcing no-fly zones over U.S. skies. They are not fighting "over there" so we don’t have to fight "over here." They are not avenging 9/11. They are not safeguarding the American way of life. Oh, and they are not ensuring that I have the liberty to write what I do about the military. What, then, should we thank our soldiers for? Should we thank them for fighting an unconstitutional war, an unscriptural war, an immoral war, an offensive war, an unjust war, or a senseless war? Should we thank our veterans for helping to carry out an aggressive, reckless, belligerent, and interventionist foreign policy? Should we thank the military for sucking $1 trillion out of the federal budget? But, some will say, these soldiers are just doing their jobs. They can’t help it if the U.S. military sends them to fight in an unjust war in Iraq or Afghanistan. They are just following orders. They didn’t enlist in the military to kill people. What would any sane man think about a doctor who takes a job at a hospital knowing that the hospital instructs its doctors to euthanize old and sickly patients – and then says he was just doing his job, following orders, and didn’t take the job to kill people? Why are soldiers treated so differently? Why do they get a pass on committing or supporting those who commit murder and mayhem? But, someone else says, the military has lowered its recruiting standards and is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Many soldiers are ignorant about the true nature of the military and U.S. foreign policy. Why should we fault them for their ignorance? Why should they be criticized for unjustly killing Iraqis or Afghans or Pakistanis? They are just following orders. Let’s go back to the doctor I mentioned. Suppose that after he takes a job in ignorance at what he thinks is a reputable hospital he is instructed to euthanize old and sickly patients? What should he do? I don’t know of anyone who would say anything else but that he should quit his job or at least refuse to euthanize anyone. Again, why are soldiers treated so differently? Why do they get a pass on committing or supporting those who commit murder and mayhem? But, comes another reply, soldiers have a term of enlistment. They can’t just quit their jobs. Doctors can walk away from their jobs at any time. Then I guess it all comes down to morality: Be a mercenary and kill for the state or refuse to do so and suffer the consequences of dishonorable discharge and/or imprisonment. It is high time that Americans stop holding veterans and current members of the military in such high esteem. It is scientists, engineers, inventors, businessmen, industrialists, software developers, and entrepreneurs that made America great – not veterans of foreign wars. It is doctors, iron workers, taxi drivers, bricklayers, writers, electricians, and cooks that positively contribute to society – not soldiers. I would like to be able to thank a vet – on Veterans Day and every other day of the year – but I’m still searching for a reason.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Comments (1-66) not displayed.
.
.
.
#67. To: Jethro Tull (#61)
Ahhhhhhh! Now that I have a nice hot cup of tea, grown in India and packaged in France, I can continue. First, to get it off the table, I do not disagree with you on illegal immigration, and would like to see the so-called H-1b Work Visas sharply curtailed. Both are driving down American wages, and act to the detriment of the common man. I am, rather than an advocate of "free trade", an advocate for fair trade i.e., what is fair to the people of the United States. Of course fairness is a matter of perspective too. The American Steel Industry collapsed because of two things: 1. Tariffs that isolated the U.S. Steel Industry and protected them from bad business decisions. 2. Inflexible Unions opposed to modernization because it would put "Union Members" out of a no longer needed job. When the Tariffs were lifted U.S. Steel producers collapsed and the "Union Members" were ALL put out of work as entire plants closed. So, both were short sighted as despite their great advantage of short shipping routes to their customers the customers were able to buy a better product for less on the open market despite much higher shipping costs. The lesson is that Tariffs are not a panacea. Protectionism, and isolationism, are no longer viable in world of producers and markets. That does not mean we have to allow vast inflows of goods brought about as a result of near slave labor and no environmental regulation. Both from self interest and as an ethical matter. So, tariffs should be high enough, and no higher, to equalize the difference. That preserves competition while at the same time protecting domestic industry and jobs. Another long term objective, something that is like waving a Cross wrapped in Garlic to a Vampire so far as our Bankster Masters see it, is the encouragement of employee ownership. Not communisim but businesses owned and run by the people who work in them. There are, at least, two good reasons to encourage it: 1. Employees who hold a real stake in the business have self interest in seeing that the business succeeds. 2. It encourages local ownership, and discourages selling out to a foreign interest. If they sell out they're selling themselves out. 3. It empowers the workers making them more self-sufficient. However, the Banksters have, in the past (Pan-Am Airways comes to mind) a distinct aversion to financing employee takeovers, and have been reluctant to float the loans necessary to do it. A good case study is a small steel mill near where I live. The major corporation that owned it decided it was not profitable enough to keep open. Problem was it was the only major employer in the community in which it was located and closing it meant large scale unemployment for the community. So, the employees bought the plant mortgaging their own homes and taking on 60K of debt per household. A year later the mill was flourishing and was more profitable than ever. Within a couple of years the debt was retired and the employees all owned their own share free and clear. The solutions to our problems are not just erect a wall and pretend no one else exists. It just is not going to work in an interconnected and interdependent world. What is needed is a dose of rational self interest. It was commented under Reagan that a rising tide lifts all boats, and I believe that to be true, but only if we drive a stake through the heart of the Bankster Vampires sucking the lifeblood from the planet.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Those books were written years after the fact - after the men had a chance to reflect on what they had done. I gave you a link from an article by Cpt. Benedict B. Kimmelman who sat on the jury. In that link were quotes from the JAG and the assistant JAG. No one was "horrified" at the time the event took place. Kimmelman didn't become "horrified" until after the Battle of the Bulge when he was captured and in a German POW camp and reflected upon what he had done. The men on the firing squad were also not "horrified." One stated, ""I got no sympathy for the sonofabitch! He deserted us, didn't he? He didn't give a damn how many of us got the hell shot out of us, why should we care for him?" The other soldier said, "I personally figured that Slovik was a no-good, and that what he had done was as bad as murder." I have never before come across anyone else, military or no, that rushes to such harsh judgment about an event, and they display so little knowledge. Just because I do not agree with your portrayal of Slovak as a poor victim does not mean that I have no knowledge of the matter.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Sorry to disagree but your knowledge of that affair and how the military works is abysmal. Especially for someone that was once a part of the system.
Cyni, I have the utmost respect and highest regards for soldiers who have served honorably even in what were dishonorable causes (the assumption being that most who served believed the propaganda that got them involved). I had an uncle who was a POW in Germany and who was the recipient of many medals. And one of the nicest, kindest, most decent man you could ever hope to meet. I respect men like that. The ones I don't respect are the ones who made up the propaganda that has gotten us involved in various blood-letting enterprises where we had no national interest or any business. As Smedley Butler rightly pointed out, war is a racket, a racket to enrich the few at the expense of the many and should never be fought until and unless it can be shown that it is being waged against real enemies and in our national interest,* not on tactics (like the War on Terror). How does one, or one nation, win a war on terror? Would it not require the extermination of most of mankind since almost all of us are terrorists by some definition? And our country has created terrorists by killing innocent people. Their family members won't be satisfied to think of their innocent loved ones as "collateral damage" and their deaths as being somehow "for the greater good." Politicians and bankers should get to fight their own d@mned wars. I bet you there wouldn't be many if that were the case. *National interest, not the pecuniary interest of people in the MIC and the bankers. People who would throw their own mother under the bus if there was a couple of dollars in it for them.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. He (Gordon Duff) also implies that forcibly removing Obama, a Constitution-hating, on-the-down-low, crackhead Communist, is an attack on America, Mom, and apple pie. I swear these military people are worse than useless. Just look around at the condition of the country and tell me if they have fulfilled their oaths to protect the nation from all enemies foreign and domestic. Exactly right. We were there as a tripwire. What the damned N.Koreans likely knew was that we had our dirty little 175mm nukes aimed at their invasion passes. Our standing orders were, upon order, Fire our nukes, blow the Guns, and run for our lives. Because we had about 15 min. to live. Definitely made booze your recreation.
James... Agreed. I approach all views of the grunts in the military with a skeptical eye. I was in the unenviable position in the mi8litary, of having someone stand in front of us and tell us we were expendable. Seven of us on each crew. It was all passed to us in the abstract, but it did not take a genius to realize what was being said. It boiled down to, if you go, you wont be back, death sentence, for doing your job. I am rather jaded concerning those that have zero regard for the grunts, past or present. In due time they may well change their minds.
Most here have not a clue as to how serious that is and how expendable you were. I do. I had friends that were firing regular munitions point blank into charging Chinese hoards, killing them by the thousands. They finally spiked their guns and ran for their lives. Those still in Korea will be written off, there is no way we can save them nor help them. This was done in WW2, write them off by the thousands and move on.
1. Tariffs that isolated the U.S. Steel Industry and protected them from bad business decisions. 2. Inflexible Unions opposed to modernization because it would put "Union Members" out of a no longer needed job. O_I - Our steel industry collapsed because of our entanglement in global treaties (agreements is more accurate) that for whatever reason we abide by. Out congress has willingly surrendered their constitutional oversight for a pound of flesh. It is THEY, not the president, not the Senate, and not the unions who have the ability to cancel these (WTO/NAFTA) agreements. We simply need to fire the oafs and employ the clear thinkers. (((((((((((((( WASHINGTON - The World Trade Organization has ruled that stiff tariffs President Bush imposed last year to give American steel companies time to get back on their feet violated global trade rules, officials who have seen the preliminary decision said Wednesday. Administration officials said they would appeal the decision and that the tariffs will remain in effect during the appeal process. "We believe the steel safeguard measures comply with our international obligations and will appeal the panel report if it is finalized without change," said a U.S. trade official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. U.S. steel-consuming industries, however, urged the administration to end the "safeguard" program, which has two more years to run. They have complained that the high tariffs have cost their companies 200,000 jobs over the past year. "We need to find other ways to help the steel industry without hurting their customers," said Lewis Leibowitz, general counsel for the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition.
Probably true, now. When I was on the DMZ we saw no evidence of the UN. The 7 guys killed when I was there were shipped back under OUR flag. I was slated to be an "escort" for one guy, passed on it. I don't handle funerals well. I did go to a KATUSA's funeral, for a day or two. Not sure how long it was. Their trip to Happy Mountain is a Drinking/Eating Affair. Now THEY know how to Die! I could reasonably converse in screwed up Korean. I was representing the Army. We also paid for it.
How do you spike guns? in the field. I assume you are talking about howitzers and the like.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" Enjoy the scenery --- Camp St. Barbara http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/stbarbara.htm
Put a charge in them and blow them up so they are unserviceable. One of my friends was lying wounded in Tokyo General hospital when the doctor came in and said he was outta there. He thot he was going stateside. No deal. He was not fit for infantry duty so they put him in artillery so he could ride in a truck. They killed Chinese as long as they could, spiked their guns and took off running. After his second wounding, they reluctantly shipped him back stateside.
Lead by U.S. Army Col. Donald Kropp, officials from the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) salute a casket draped with the U.N. flag. The casket is believed to contain one of five U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War who were repatriated during a ceremony at the Panmunjom Freedom House. The UNCMAC officials received the remains from North Korean officials during the eighth repatriation ceremony held since joint search and recovery operations began in Korea in 1996. The five sets of remains brings the total returned to 19. Kim Yong-kyu, a spokesman for the U.N. command said the remains were recovered from Gaechon City, about 50 miles north of Pyongyang. The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division suffered nearly 5,000 casualties while retreating through the area after China entered the war in late 1950 heightening the possibility that the remains are of U.S. soldiers. The repatriated remains will be shipped to the Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii for processing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Jim Varhegyi) (RELEASED) I had friends, shot down over the North, never found, MIA and finally a year ago written off by pen as KIA. It never ends.
We need a few of those on the US border with Mexico.
And if you don't have the C-4 handy, you can load a round with a PD fuze and roll a grenade down the tube. We also understood that the tube was shot after we fired our Nuke Rd. Don't know.
The nice thing about the 175mm Gun was that they'd shoot 22 Mi. You could sit back a ways and sip a brew while the round was in the air. :-)
Yeah... have a brew while watching a few bodies snapping is something I want to see on the Southern border. BUT NO ...... all we get are signs from DHS and BLM.
We carried the 10,000 pounder. One drop, firewall the engines and run like hell.
Today, America is just an arm of the UN. That picture I posted shows a coffin of at least one US soldier that was draped in a UN flag. Meanwhile back at the chicken ranch, illegals are taking over the southern border of the US. I wonder if the USA has agreed with Mexico and the UN about this invasion.
Dont tell the illegals but if a draft is instituted, they will be among the first to go.
If I am so ignorant about the Slovik matter and "how the military works" then please educate me, because with the exception of my opinion of Slovik, everything I have stated about him I have backed up with a link from one of the men who found Slovik guilty. That cannot be said about you. You claim that Eisenhower went against the advice of his staff without providing a lick of evidence to back up the claim. On the other hand, I have provided a link which clearly shows that he was found unanimously guilty, that the President of the Court Martial board sentenced him to death, that the death sentence was enthusiastically approved by the JAG, the assistant Jag, and the division commander, MG Cota. Contrary to your claim, Eisenhower followed the advice of the people directly involved in the matter. As for not knowing how the military works, those are empty words you threw out because I do not agree with your attempt to cast Slovik as a victim. Yeah he was a victim in the sense that he and millions of others were drafted and forced to fight a war we had no business fighting. Should he have been executed? No, probably not. The other 49 weren't. However, he knowingly played the odds and lost. He was given every opportunity to recant his written statement. When the cook took Slovik to his CO, the CO tried to get him to recant his written statement. He refused. The JAG tried to get him to recant his written statement prior to the court martial. He refused. The members of the court martial tried to get him to recant his written statement, not once but twice during the court martial. He refused. If he had recanted they would have dropped the whole damned matter. They did everything but beg him to man up and go back to his unit. Since my knowledge is so abysmal, please tell me which of the facts I have stated are untrue and/or what I have left out.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Education seems to be out of the question. Any person posting here prints a photo of himself, some good, some not so good. Brashness, immaturity and arrogance always stands out. It turns people off. Add incivility and obscene language to the photo and it comes across in living color. ON the forum we are the portrait we paint.
Any person posting here prints a photo of himself, some good, some not so good. Brashness, immaturity and arrogance always stands out. It turns people off. Add incivility and obscene language to the photo and it comes across in living color. ON the forum we are the portrait we paint. I have been neither uncivil to you nor have I used obscene language in discussing this topic with you. That is nothing more than a red herring. I find it funny that you had no problem in posting to me until it was time for you to put up or shut up. LOL! As if people can't see through your pitiful attempt to hide the fact that you are incapable of refuting the link I provided or anything I have said. Begone old man and quit wasting my time.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
It is too late to withdraw what we have all seen. The portrait has been readily available. It could use a lot of work. That is advice, take it or leave it. We have seen YOU.
True mark of a quitter. I hope you stay and add something, of which you are capable. A little polish here and there and we mite see something different.
We have seen YOU. That is nothing more than a red herring. I find it funny that you had no problem in posting to me until it was time for you to put up or shut up. LOL! As if people can't see through your pitiful attempt to hide the fact that you are incapable of refuting the link I provided or anything I have said.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
I never said I was going anywhere. Since you refuse to back up your words with anything resembling proof and throw out red herrings in order to deflect from that fact you are wasting my time.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Wasting your time?? Do you realize how adolescent that is??? How arrogant. If you are unable to comprehend what I have said to you in polite terms, then any advice by anyone would indeed be a waste. Proof of what? A few here have in the past put it very bluntly their conception of you. I prefer a more civil approach. There is much to be learned, no one here is the repository of all knowledge. Listen and LEARN.
Ok, dammit, I agree. From now on, I will reach to shake "What do you mean, illegal orders?" "Well, you followed your chain-of-command "Treason... War Crimes?" "Just tell them you were just following orders."
~~~~~~~ Defensive Racism Has Its Place Do you realize how adolescent that is??? How arrogant. If you are unable to comprehend what I have said to you in polite terms, then any advice by anyone would indeed be a waste. Proof of what? A few here have in the past put it very bluntly their conception of you. I prefer a more civil approach. There is much to be learned, no one here is the repository of all knowledge. Listen and LEARN. One thing I've noticed about you is that when you begin loosing a debate you change the subject and start posting red herrings like the above. It's too bad you aren't man enough to admit when you are wrong. It's a pattern.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
you know, i really liked this article & its sentiments- another titled 'the troops don't protect our freedoms' has been posted here for many years, but is not so caustic. But after seeing how this article hurts many good men here, i would rethink the manner in which these ideas are expressed. out of Christian charity. because if one merely insults & alienates those who would otherwise agree with then, message is not effective.
"if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Cor 12:31—13:13 Noticed???? Good heavens. Please fill me in on any debate I have ever lost. I would like an unblemished record. Seriously...To me winning means little, I would rather learn something. And if you have ever paid attention to my postings, in an unbiased fashion, you will find that quite often I compliment posters with the grade of A+ or better. This on threads I dont even post on. Why??? Because I read, I learn, I appreciate and respect. If one were to look, I bet I have given you an A+ in the past because you are intelligent and do some very good writing. In my past, I have given lectures to large groups of doctors. Thats bad because they all KNEW I was an ignorant rube and they knew everything. Try it sometime. That was my assignment and I had to do it. But I did know two or three things about the subject that they did not know. It was in their interest that they admit such and listen. How does one do it??? Very difficult because they, as you, are too often unwilling to consider what someone else has to say. Right or wrong, listen. The doctors? They were rude, chatting among themselves, showing their disdain for the rube up front. Until, I called attention to their rudeness, and then zapped them with one of their failures, one they wished no one knew. From that point on, they were polite, listened to the rube and some even thanked rube for "teaching" them a truth they wished to ignore. Summation...I been doing this for years, have some experience with dealing with my betters, made friends with most of them.
True... People need to realize, there is a military within the military. The grunts are at the very lowest rung of the military ladder. It is they that do the bleeding and dying. Hate the military? Thats fine, I did too, while in and out. Being a grunt in my time because they could drag me away does not mean that somehow I was inferior to someone that was never in a like position. Grunts are the cannon fodder, the expendables, no one likes them, no one. Lay the vile burden of war on their shoulders, blame them for the ills of the world, that is easily done. Respect them once a year, not possible, they were and are sub human trash. Been there, we were trash brothers together, many of the brothers bled and died. Yes sir, human trash because they are at the bottom of the ladder.
I don't think "best and brightest " young people would commit themselves to a vocation that primarily involves killing people. They'd find a job that makes them indispensable to the community and out of the army, even operating a farm. Here's one insider's view (Sean) of the SNAFU nature of the military: Interesting article you cite on the performance of the US military in Grenada. I don't usually comment on military matters, but as I served in the 82nd during this time I thought I'd add my $.02. I have to say that the Washington Monthly article and your commentary on the US military is spot on in every detail, except that the original plan of attack involved the Rangers parachuting in to take the runway so the 82nd could then airland its troops in, with my battalion, the 2/325 AIF, being the first one in. I did not participate in the invasion as I was on emergency leave when it happened, but I heard all the stories afterwards and they corrobarate much of what was in that article. It was amazing the number of casualties my unit experienced considering how badly outnumbered and outgunned the Cubans were. A captain and platoon sergeant from my battalion were both killed when they foolishly walked solo up a hill to try and locate the enemy...and succeeded in doing so. Our brigade HQ was hit by an A-10 strike that was called in by a lieutenant to take out a sniper resulting in one dead and and at least 11 injured—proving the old adage that there is nothing more dangerous than a 2nd Lt with a compass and a map. Despite their small number the Cubans seemed to be everywhere, and our Recon platoon alone was ambushed twice albeit with no casualties. My jeep took a bullet during one of these ambushes, and given the huge numbers of medals they handed out afterwards, I'm surprised I didn't get a Purple Heart or Bronze Star for my jeep's ordeal, even though I wasn't there. As it was, they gave Bronze Stars to all the company kiss-asses who showed up for the party, and some other medal for everyone else. I heard a lot of stories of objectionable behavior and outright war crimes just from my company alone. In one case, a Cuban prisoner was stripped bare-chested and tied face down to the hood of a jeep and driven around like a hunter's trophy. The hood of a jeep can get pretty hot even in winter let alone in the hot Caribbean sun. I heard reports of soldiers shooting cattle and stealing cars for sport, as well as blowing up houses with LAW rockets and killing fish with grenades—though some of these attacks were by request of locals hoping for compensation. In my opinion, the 82nd at that time was just a dog and pony show where incompetent and disinterested careerist officers stopped to get their tickets punched with the necessary Airborne experience needed for future promotions to field grade officer positions. We spent most of our time cleaning the barracks and picking up cigarette butts rather than training for war, and most of our officers and NCOs were utterly clueless and incompetent. That there were always cigarette butts to pick up showed the general attitude of officers and NCOs to the men, as we never dropped our own butts knowng someone else would have to pick them up. 07 November, 2010 19:23 Anonymous Sean said... Typical of this breed was one of my captains who was a West Point grad and remarkable ass-kisser even by 82nd Airborne standards (or "cheesedog" as we called them, from the practice of eating the "fromunder cheese" from under their superior's foreskins). This clown would have us run by the commanding general's headquarters during our morning PT and demand we let the general know we were there by shouting with bogus enthusiasm. We finally broke him of the habit by laughing uproariously instead. The captain was with the unit for 6 months when he requested a display of our weapons for inspection. I was a TOW anti-tank gunner in Combat Support Company which included the TOWs, 4.2 inch mortars and the Recon platoon. We lined up our TOWs "dress right dress" or in a neat row and this putz walks over to my TOW and asks his XO, "is this a TOW?" Of course, let me not spare our Air Force friends, who routinely dropped us in the trees on jumps, or Marine Corps Anglico which called in a barrage of 155mm artillery fire during a training exercise just 300 yards from their position on the very edge of a fire zone just as we were driving by in our jeeps, How none of us were killed or injured is a mystery as the explosions were close enough and loud enough to cause me ear pain for a few weeks afterwards. Based on my experience in an allegedly "elite" unit I'd have to say the US military is an overrated farce. Thank God we didn't have to say "Hooah" back in those days as I think I'd have gone postal if they forced me to mouth such a bloody moronic, mealy-mouthed affirmative. As it was our required "All the Way, Sir!" was bad enough. https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4046811478707691837&postID=5869354487024270591 07 November, 2010 https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4046811478707691837&postID=5869354487024270591
And you want to talk about other peoples arrogance. LOL! I hate to tell you this but it happens quite often. Anytime someone puts you in a corner or questions your supposed/self-proclaimed wisdom. One thing for sure is that you lost this one. You lost it the minute you threw up your red herring on post 89 in order to deflect from your inability to address the supported facts I laid before you. Those facts completely contradicted the unsubstantiated bullshit that you likely made up out of thin air or took from your remembrance of a piss poor Martin Sheen movie. Once again, the information I presented to you came straight from a member of the Court Martial board. Deal with it. Get back with me when you have something other than preconceived notions and uninformed bullshit to offer.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
What? You have no sense of humor either. Son, we may have to order a saliva test ASAP for you. Remember now, whenever you post, the olde man will be sitting there, just waiting to pounce on you. I will read your posts as always.
As I have often written on this site before, most participants here have NO clue who they read. Unfortunately, too many will identify a person's writing as exceptional in their own mind and then attack that person to bring him/her down a notch. They don't acknowledge there is something to learn in the content of that person's words. They only go for the throat to lessen the chance others don't or won't identify their shortcomings. Instead of accusing you of "posting red herrings" when you are "loosing [sic] a debate", I have chosen to read and learn from your posts. Thank you, Cyni, for all you have shared with me by way of your postings. I am a far better informed homosapien than those who choose to attack you for your superior knowledge.
Son, we may have to order a saliva test ASAP for you. Remember now, whenever you post, the olde man will be sitting there, just waiting to pounce on you. I will read your posts as always. I graciously accept your concession.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Such drivel will get you little more than ignorance. It is obvious that your response is ego-driven and void of intellectual content.
Instead of accusing you of "posting red herrings" when you are "loosing [sic] a debate", I have chosen to read and learn from your posts. Thank you, Cyni, for all you have shared with me by way of your postings. I am a far better informed homosapien than those who choose to attack you for your superior knowledge. He's better informed that a person who sat on the Court martial board is? LOL!.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Comments (108 - 121) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#68. To: Cynicom (#63)
One may avail themselves of books written by those on the court martial board that were horrified that an example was to be made of one that was from the bottom step of society.
#69. To: F.A. Hayek Fan, All (#68)
Just because I do not agree with your portrayal of Slovak as a poor victim does not mean that I have no knowledge of the matter.
#70. To: Cynicom (#58)
From the tone set here by quite a few, it is easily recognized that regardless of how we got there, our service is to be demeaned, we were truly expendable.
Lord Acton
OsamaBinGoldstein posted on 2010-05-25 9:39:59 ET (2 images) Reply Trace
#71. To: Ada (#62)
"Might as well draw our troops out of South Korea. Not enough of them to stop the Yellow Horde from crossing the 38th parallel. The South Koreans may or may not be able handle them but its their problem and not ours."
#72. To: James Deffenbach (#70)
#73. To: ndcorup (#71)
Because we had about 15 min. to live.
#74. To: Original_Intent (#67)
I am, rather than an advocate of "free trade", an advocate for fair trade i.e., what is fair to the people of the United States. Of course fairness is a matter of perspective too. The American Steel Industry collapsed because of two things:
WTO rules against tariffs: Steel measures violate global trade, panel says
#75. To: buckeroo (#64)
"in fact, US military forces in South Korea are under UN jurisdiction."
#76. To: Cynicom (#73)
They finally spiked their guns and ran for their lives.
#77. To: Cynicom, ADA, buckeroo (#73)
#78. To: tom007 (#76)
How do you spike guns? in the field.
#79. To: ndcorup, ada, cynicom (#75)
Repatriation Ceremony
#80. To: buckeroo (#79)
#81. To: ndcorup (#77)
#82. To: Cynicom (#78)
"Put a charge in them and blow them up so they are unserviceable."
#83. To: buckeroo (#81)
"We need a few of those on the US border with Mexico."
#84. To: ndcorup (#83)
#85. To: ndcorup (#82)
(Edited)
We also understood that the tube was shot after we fired our Nuke Rd. Don't know.
#86. To: Cynicom (#80)
It never ends.
#87. To: buckeroo (#86)
#88. To: Cynicom (#69)
Sorry to disagree but your knowledge of that affair and how the military works is abysmal. Especially for someone that was once a part of the system.
#89. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#88)
If I am so ignorant about the Slovik matter and "how the military works" then please educate me,
#90. To: Cynicom (#89)
ducation seems to be out of the question.
#91. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#90)
#92. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#90)
Begone old man and quit wasting my time.
#93. To: Cynicom (#91)
It is too late to withdraw what we have all seen. The portrait has been readily available. It could use a lot of work. That is advice, take it or leave it.
#94. To: Cynicom (#92)
I hope you stay and add something, of which you are capable. A little polish here and there and we mite see something different.
#95. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#94)
I never said I was going anywhere. Since you refuse to back up your words with anything resembling proof and throw out red herrings in order to deflect from that fact you are wasting my time.
#96. To: Ada (#0)
(Edited)
hands and say "thanks for your
honorable intentions when you signed up
but, why did you follow all those illegal orders?"
into battle when no war was "declared" by Congress.
That was a violation of your oath of office
and consequently you can be charged
with war crimes and maybe even treason."
Best Movie Monologue
#97. To: Cynicom (#95)
Wasting your time??
#98. To: Ada, cynicom, original_intent (#0)
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him"
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
#99. To: F.A. Hayek Fan, All (#97)
One thing I've noticed about you is that when you begin loosing a debate you change the subject and start posting red herrings like the above. It's too bad you aren't man enough to admit when you are wrong. It's a pattern.
#100. To: Artisan (#98)
you know, i really liked this article & its sentiments-
#101. To: Ada (#16)
(Edited)
#102. To: Cynicom (#99)
Good heavens. Please fill me in on any debate I have ever lost. I would like an unblemished record.
#103. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#102)
And you want to talk about other peoples arrogance.
#104. To: Cynicom (#99)
Seriously...To me winning means little, I would rather learn something. And if you have ever paid attention to my postings, in an unbiased fashion, you will find that quite often I compliment posters with the grade of A+ or better.
#105. To: Cynicom (#103)
What? You have no sense of humor either.
#106. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#102)
And you want to talk about other peoples arrogance. LOL! I hate to tell you this but it happens quite often. Anytime someone puts you in a corner or questions your supposed/self-proclaimed wisdom. One thing for sure is that you lost this one. You lost it the minute you threw up your red herring on post 89 in order to deflect from your inability to address the supported facts I laid before you. Those facts completely contradicted the unsubstantiated bullshit that you likely made up out of thin air or took from your remembrance of a piss poor Martin Sheen movie.
#107. To: Phant2000 (#104)
As I have often written on this site before, most participants here have NO clue who they read. Unfortunately, too many will identify a person's writing as exceptional in their own mind and then attack that person to bring him/her down a notch. They don't acknowledge there is something to learn in the content of that person's words. They only go for the throat to lessen the chance others don't or won't identify their shortcomings.
.
.
.