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Title: There Are Too Many Veterans
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance126.html
Published: Nov 12, 2007
Author: Laurence Vance
Post Date: 2007-11-12 06:41:23 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 2424
Comments: 251
We have too many veterans. We have too many living veterans. We have too many dead veterans. We have too many wounded veterans. We have too many disabled veterans. We have too many veterans who have fought in wars. We have too many veterans who have never fired a shot. Any way you look at it, we have too many veterans. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day – a day to commemorate the signing of the armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that ended fighting on the Western Front in World War I, "the war to end all wars." A few years after World War II, the holiday was changed to Veterans Day as a tribute to all soldiers who fought for their country. Veterans Day has now become a day to honor, not just those who have served in the military during wartime, but those who have served during peacetime or are serving now. It has also become a day – even though we have Armed Forces Day – to recognize all things military. Why? Why do most Americans hold veterans and current members of the U.S. military in such high esteem? Why is there such a military mindset in the United States? One reason people feel this way is because they falsely believe that those who serve in the military are somehow defending our freedoms. They are convinced that it is the military that stands between a free society and subjugation by some foreign power. They think that it is because of the military that we still have our First Amendment rights. It is inevitable that whenever I write about the military I receive an e-mail or two from a current or former member of the military who closes his rebuke (which usually argues that I have the freedom to write the "trash" that I write because of the U.S. military) with this simplistic cliché: "If you can read this e-mail, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a Marine." Has anyone ever thought this through? Are we are supposed to believe that the German army that couldn’t cross the English Channel to invade Great Britain and make its population speak German was going to cross the Atlantic Ocean to invade the United States and make us all speak German if it wasn’t for the Marines? Or was it Japanese that the Marines kept us from speaking? Or perhaps it was Spanish because of the tremendous threat we faced from Spain during the Spanish-American War? Were we in danger of having to speak Russian during the Cold War? Looking at the history of U.S. military interventions, there is one thing we can thank the Marines for: We can thank the Marines for helping to carry out an evil, interventionist U.S. foreign policy. Thanks a lot, jarheads. Semper Fi and all that jazz. Our freedoms, our liberties, and our Constitution that all Marines swear to uphold are under attack by our government. The state is a greater enemy than any foreign country or ruler. If the Marines are to really defend our freedoms, then they should be deployed to Washington D.C. After they oversee the closure of most federal agencies and expel the bureaucrats from the city, they can protect the Constitution (with fixed bayonets) from its daily assault by the members of Congress. In that case I would even say with you: "The few, the proud, the Marines." Another reason the military is held in such high esteem is that most Americans wrongfully assume that the military is actually engaged in defending the country. They don’t know about the hundreds of U.S. military bases on foreign soil. They don’t realize that there are thousands of U.S. troops stationed abroad to defend other countries. They have no idea that the United States has troops in 150 different regions of the world. Instead, they think that it is because of the military fighting terrorists "over there" that we don’t have to fight them "over here." The threat of a conquest of America by foreign invasion is nonexistent. And if we were attacked with nuclear weapons, even the Marines would be helpless to defend us. Although the purpose of the U.S. military should only be to defend the United States from genuine attacks and credible enemies, it has primarily been used to intervene in the affairs of other countries. When all of the troops come home and start guarding our borders and patrolling our coasts then, and only then, can we say that the military is defending the country. Even the Coast Guard, which actually patrols our coasts, is tainted – thanks to another unconstitutional, unwinnable war that the government is engaged in that is more destructive than the "enemy" we are fighting: the war on drugs. Still another reason for the military mindset is that members of the military are viewed as "public servants." Members of Congress like to brag about how they have been in public service their whole life. Some policemen and firemen have jumped on the "public service" bandwagon as well. But if you want to be a policeman or a fireman, fine, just don’t expect us get excited about the fact that you have a job. And plenty of jobs are just as dangerous. Veterans are looked upon as special because they "served" in the military. It didn’t take any special education, experience, or accomplishments to land a job in the military – they just signed on the dotted line. We don’t bestow any special honors on bricklayers, mechanics, and accountants; yet, we see plenty of bumper stickers that say things like: "My son is in the Air Force." We never see "My son is a plumber" or "My son is a garbage collector" or "My son is a waiter"? And why not? The people in those occupations don’t drop bombs on anyone. They "serve" some important needs of society. Shouldn’t we honor them as least as much as soldiers? It is unfortunate that some of the most vocal defenders of today’s military are Christians. It is even worse that churches fawn over current and former members of the military on Veterans Day. In response to my recent article "Should Anyone Join the Military," I was chastised by two detractors. The first asked if I could read the Old Testament and still say that no one should serve in the military. I was also told that God instructed the Jews and others to destroy people. It is not hard for me to read the Old Testament and still say that no one should serve in the military. America is not Israel, and the U.S. military is not God’s army. And telling me that God instructed the Jews and others to destroy people is like telling George Bush that he is the decider. There is no denying that God instructed the Jews and others to destroy people. But George Bush is not God, America is not the nation of Israel, and God didn’t command the U.S. military to kill anyone. My other detractor appealed to Alphonsus Liguori and maintained that as the sword maker has no control over the product, so "the soldier does not commit an actual sin unless he chooses to break a moral law while in the military." It is "the leaders or military officers who sin when they issue immoral orders." Military service is "morally neutral." But what kind of morality is this? It certainly isn’t Christian. What kind of morality says that it would be okay to kill someone in an unjust war in his own country who was no threat to you or your country because you are wearing a military uniform? Oh, I forgot: Just don’t break a moral law while you are killing him. It is high time that Americans stop elevating members of the military to a position of honor. It is long past the time when veterans have done anything honorable. We should abolish Veterans Day. And because of our shameful foreign policy and militarism during the twentieth century, we should abolish any Armistice Day celebration as well.
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#97. To: FormerLurker (#40)
As there would be no airforce or artillery to call in airstrikes from a mile away I doubt the veterans would be of much use fighting an occupation. Experience shooting guys in sandals and track suits armed with AK 47's with gattling guns mounted on C-140 gunships circling overhead at 3000 feet wouldn't be much help. US Veterans haven't fought a peer enemy in 50 years. US troops in stand up fights with equals have a rather mixed record. Ask the Germans- who played their B and C teams on the Western front what they thought of the American fighting man?
Well, at least those that START 'em.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
I'm not following you here, could you clarify this statement?
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You will never hear me demeaning veterans. Worst case, they went to hell, and if they were lucky they returned. Best case they wasted a hunk of their life. I think what these people are calling out against is the drumbeat of FALSE FEAR perpetrated on us. They view Veterans Day as a jingoistic, opportunistic appeal that ingenuously honors veterans and promotes more waste of lives.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
The admiral of the Mongol fleet had a bad time of it - ran into a typhoon, fleet wrecked etc. His retirement was a short. The Arabic Emir gives us the English word Admiral, BTW.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" Of course they/we do. But they are misdirecting their rage for yet another unnecessary war once again brought down upon us by a tribe of plutocrats. My heart goes out to you.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
War has become a spectator sport Remember all the press conferences during Gulf War I with generals showing us video of how we could drop a bomb down an air shaft of fly a cruise missile in a window? You could almost hear the home viewing audience cheer the death and destruction. We are a shameful shadow of the nation we once were and have been slouching toward this situation for a long time.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Tragically, an assault on the common man by another untouched, "high-minded", wrong-headed politician.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
It's the wars that DIDN'T happen that I was referring to. In other words, I was speaking of the DETERRENCE against wars, rather than actual recent conflicts. Oh, you mean like the current debacle Bush involved us in? the Axis powers could have launched invasions of South America. From there, they could have pushed northwards up through Mexico, and carried out an invasion of the US from both coasts and from the south. And right about then, accoding to the lights of a feller called Monroe, they'd have gotten on our fightin' side.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
The "war" is not going well for us. See anybody coming to our assistance?
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
You're a propagandist's wet dream.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
You know what prevents the US from siding with Iran and bullying Israel? An Iran lobby and a few million partisan Iranian Americans at the ear of the emporer. That's all. I'm not following you here, could you clarify this statement? LOL Surely you /sarc.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
1) I thought we prevailed in WWII quite well without one? 2) Whatever made Eisenhower warn of the military/industrial complex?
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Actually- the Typhoon wasn't that bad. Recent studies and dives suggest Chinese ship builders may have deliberately sabotaged the ships they built for the Mongols as they were none to jazzed about their overlords.
Did you watch Ken Burns' "The War"? Yes Ike warned us, but it takes two to tango. Now they are privatizing the military. For whom? The corporations.
Ron Paul for President - Join a Ron Paul Meetup group today!
No, I am not being sarcastic, I do not understand what he is trying to say.
Ron Paul for President - Join a Ron Paul Meetup group today!
Intresting. I remember going to a movie house in Taiwan when I was about ten (1965) and watching a overly long terribly dramatic big budget (for Japan, I guess) about the heroic event. I didn't know Japanese or Chinese to understand the script, but it really didn't matter. Mongols = Evil, Japanese = Good.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" The fact of the matter is this- if the US elite in 1914 were Pennsylvanian Germans instead of Wasp Yankees World War One would have ended in a stalemate or England and France would have lost. And then what? The Germans would have forced them to eat hausenfeffer instead of chicken co au vin and blood pudding? Every war of DC's doing since 1898 has done absolutley nothing for 99.9 percent of Americans. Worse than nothing- has robbed them of treausre, grown the power of government over their lives in each successive war- or worst of all- taken one of their sons' lives.
Come to think of it the ships all did come apart in the typhoon, according to the movie, that is. Was terribly dramatic, not too far off from those early Japanese Si Fi movies we all love.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" Nonsense. Perle, Wolfowitz, Feith, et al were just gofers? Podhoretz, a phone call away from Bush/Cheny, is just a journalist? It would have been bombs away in Iran yesterday if the cakewalk hadn't fallen flat and left the two geniuses scratching their heads and licking their wounds.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Sorta like Chinese Kung Fu movies today- Japs are generally single dimensional evil figures when portrayed. Watching old American World War Two movies is a funny time. So stupid and overtly racist as to be hilarious. The Japs in these movies are always squinting real tight so that they have only slits for eyes- have buckteeth- and or bottle thick glasses. LOL. And the Germans are invariably beefy apemen who yell everything when they talk (which is generally limited to "halt" or "vear r ur papers?") Not much has changed. Now the Ragheads are single dimensional figures of evil in every idiotic movie- or - if they are "good"- traitors and suck ups completely deracinated of any Arabic or Muslim cultural trace.
If we would have not blockaded the Japanese we wouldn't have been attacked. Our blockade was an act of war in itself. The Japanese had to do something or they would have starved to death. There was absolutely no need for American involvement in WW2. Germans were growing tired of Hitler and were ready to revolt and the Russians weren't just going to roll over and die if Germany happened to take Moscow. Taking territory is one thing, holding it is something else entirely. The same with the Japanese. They could have never held their reign of terror over China and Korea for too long, they didn't have the manpower or the weapons to do so. We made a mistake entering both WW1 and WW2. Now it appears we are going to start WW3 just to have something to do. Unbelievable. Of course the elite are really responsible for our involvement in these wars, only they are powerful enough to get a superpower to fight for them.
God is always good!
That partisans for Israel have the ear of DC and are influential is not debatable. That they are the cause for why DC is running amok in the world and the ME is what is not true. If not Israel- the US would be in the ME championing some other state or siding with someone else. It doesn't matter who. That is the point. If Iranian Americans were richer, more numerous, and better connected to DC than Jewish Americans things would be different in the ME but do you doubt the US would still be waging elective wars there? Of course Israel is going to try to get the empire to fight its wars. That is only natural. But the empire doesn't care who they fight for- as long as they fight. War is the point- not the who or the what or the where.
As usual you are eager to denounce the US at every turn but shy away from the controlling interests. From Edward House on we have been led into unwanted wars and no manner of your word parsing can deny history.
Jews are an integral part of the empire of the USA. I know they are only about 2% of the population, but their power over the media can easily get another 49% to think like them, hence their wishes become the majority's wishes. Brainwashing works, if it didn't then it wouldn't be used so extensively.
God is always good!
Did you watch Ken Burns' "The War"? Nope, I'm 71 and had a feeling it would turn out the same as the versions I've been watching for the last 50+ years. I've concluded that their main purpose is to refresh the sheeple's image of Hitler so we can slap his moniker on the next tin-pot dictator we wanna pick a fight with. Yes Ike warned us, but it takes two to tango. I don't remember his putting any conditions on it. You kinda lost me there, Pard. Now they are privatizing the military. For whom? The corporations. For their own sorry asses. They've run outta soldiers and the draft is presently the new third rail. Course it does add another layer to the M/I complex we were talkin about.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
I believe his implication was, not to put too fine a point on it, that if a couple of circumstances were reversed we'd have a fleet at the eastern most point of the Mediterranean and be making very nasty threats and charges against the nuclear nation in that neighborhood.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
i've really enjoyed your posts today, iconoclast.
Japan made a big budget movie recently that was controversial because it portrayed Hideki Tojo in what some consider to be an overly sympathetic light. The Germans and Japs are both beginning to take cultural steps to cast WWII in a different light. Movies portraying their fighting men as heroic victims is the first step in this process. The German made films "Das Boot" and later "Stalingrad"- are both along these lines (and Stalingrad was very much a white wash of the German armies actions in that city.) Rather- they are portrayed as simps being used by evil governments and a few radicals- while most were apathetic or hostile to their governments and the wars they were being made to fight. This is of course- bullshit. They were, for the most part, happy willing participants. We saw the same process with Vietnam. It wasn't the two million Vietnamese killed by Americans that were the victims- nope- it was the Vietnam Vet. He is the victim in our culture. Either a victim of his government or a victim of "cowardly traitors" at home. No personal responsibility for their actions whatsoever. Which is pretty much the reigning notion in America- no one is responsible for anything they do ever. Always someone or something else is to blame.
Thank you, dear. You caught me right before I toddled off to bed with my still employed nursie. Night night ... see you tomorrow, God willing and errands allowing.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
Once again, why should I "thank" somebody for siding with one Somali warlord over another, bombing Serbia or occupying Iraq? How did any of that nonsense "protect our freedoms?" It didn't. Actually- all those ridiculous engagements and wars are directly responsible for destroying our freedoms . . . because that is what standing militaries do to republics. They are used abroad to make enemies that then are cited to justify police powers at home. This isn't new. Madison, Jefferson wrote about this at length 200 years ago. Hell- Tacitus wrote about it 2000 years ago. And why should be people who did this be entitled to some kind of special standing in society? They shouldn't be. But they are give uncritical almost saint like status so that any criticism of the warfare state can be easily construed as criticizing the sainted holy veterans who are numerous. The armed wing of the state is given honor and status in every culture- in America it is more nauseating than most- because otherwise they would just be armed thugs. And that is all a standing military really is- the armed thugs of the state. Take away the medals, the parades, and their often cited but rarely if ever followed "codes of honor" and that is what you have- thugs. Blow away the cultural shit mist that surrounds standing militaries and all you have left is a bunch of young men with guns ready and willing to kill for the state. By the way- the only "code" that the US military seems to have is not "death before dishonor", not any chivalric code of combat that holds them to certain rules that they would rather die for than violate . . . nope- it seems to be little more than "Do anything it takes to come home alive in one piece".
Gee, that should be a smash hit in Nanking.
you have left is a bunch of young "ignorant" men with guns ready and willing to kill for the state. I must be pointed out you left out the adjectivialy important ignorant. Not a perjoritive, just a fact.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" Given that mass media was a pretty new thing in the early 20th century and people all over the world were falling for the great big stupid simplifications of history - like communism and various specious national fascist movements- I can forgive most Americans for being taken in by the scaremongering of a few Newspaper and Radio barons and their DC buddies. But now? Americans should be the most media savy people on the planet. And yet- Iraq- effing Iraq, even an Iraq with WMDs, was sold to them as a threat? Islam? Islam is coming to get them? Give me a break. Americans deep down all know these are lies. They don't care or they want these wars. They like it! They like DC "kicking ass". Nope. It ain't just the "elites" who are to blame. Americans share in the blame.
That might be my motto if in the hell of war.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" In the case of the American standing military- yes- "ignorant" does indeed apply. Which makes it an even more dangerous institution. Which army do you think was better educated? The Wermacht circa 1941 or the US military circa 2007? Think about that. Think about what some kid raised on rap, Grand Theft Auto, and porn is doing in Iraq right now compared to a German raised on American westerns and big band music and what we know they did in Russia and Poland. I shudder.
Don't just blame the military, the corporations are what make it possible. Privatization shows that the corporations don't need the military to continue their evil machinations.
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Except that doesn't jive with his other posts.
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BTW, "The War" is very much worth watching, just as his Civil War documentary was. We were not ready for WWII, but we got ready in a hurry. A future enemy would not give us that kind of time. And now that we've given away all our manufacturing, we really would have to start from scratch.
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That has been the motto of every soldier in every modern war. There is no higher code than that. Bomb goes off near you- shoot everyone and ask questions later- or not- as is the case most of the time. Do anything- kill anyone- to stay alive or unharmed. That was the reasoning behind the "heros of Haditha" as they are called on Newsmax. Bomb went of- kill everyone nearby. Sniper in a house somewhere? Don't risk your ass by moving in on him on the ground and trying to take just him out- nope- just bomb the neighborhood and kill 50 people. That is "honorable"? There is no honor in these wars. None. The rationale behind the burning to death of infants at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was that it saved the lives of American troops. Well- that is fine and all- but it ain't honorable.
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThe best one could hope for would be a strong insurgancy against an occupation force. However, I'm not sure many in this country could wage such an insurgancy, EXCEPT for the VETERANS.
#98. To: robnoel (#19)
those that support wars have by and large never been there.
#99. To: Burkeman1 (#94)
You know what prevents the US from siding with Iran and bullying Israel? An Iran lobby and a few million partisan Iranian Americans at the ear of the emporer. That's all.
#100. To: Cynicom (#20)
Damned riff raff "jack off" veterans anyway, why should we even recognize tham.
#101. To: Burkeman1 (#89)
Their last attempt at a sea invasion of another country was in 1281 against Japan- (and China was under Mongol rule then) and it failed miserably.
#102. To: Cynicom (#26)
Do these people share any blame??? Of course not, they ride on the high moral plane.
#103. To: Arete (#17)
#104. To: Cynicom (#23)
The Civil War?
#105. To: FormerLurker (#36)
#106. To: FormerLurker (#43)
The war was not going well for Britain until we came to their assistance.
#107. To: FormerLurker (#45)
In the real world, the US fought against the Axis powers in WWII. In your world, we shouldn't have. Looking at the possibilities and probabilities of your world takes more than just a glancing utiopian afterthought, it requires a serious look at various factors.
#108. To: robin (#99)
#109. To: robin (#70)
WWII made it clear that a ready military is part of surviving the future.
#110. To: tom007 (#101)
#111. To: iconoclast (#109)
#112. To: iconoclast (#108)
#113. To: Burkeman1 (#110)
Actually- the Typhoon wasn't that bad. Recent studies and dives suggest Chinese ship builders may have deliberately sabotaged the ships they built for the Mongols as they were none to jazzed about their overlords.
#114. To: iconoclast (#107)
#115. To: All (#113)
#116. To: Burkeman1 (#91)
This idea that Israel is "controlling" US policy is rather naive and quite simplistic. Israel is not getting the DC warfare state to do anything it isn't already more than willing and ready to do.
#117. To: tom007 (#113)
#118. To: robin (#70)
WWII made it clear that a ready military is part of surviving the future.
#119. To: iconoclast (#116)
#120. To: Burkeman1 (#119)
That they are the cause for why DC is running amok in the world and the ME is what is not true. If not Israel- the US would be in the ME championing some other state or siding with someone else
#121. To: Burkeman1 (#119)
Of course Israel is going to try to get the empire to fight its wars. That is only natural. But the empire doesn't care who they fight for- as long as they fight. War is the point- not the who or the what or the where.
#122. To: robin (#111)
#123. To: robin (#112)
No, I am not being sarcastic, I do not understand what he is trying to say.
#124. To: iconoclast (#122)
#125. To: tom007 (#113)
#126. To: christine (#124)
i've really enjoyed your posts today, iconoclast.
#127. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#96)
#128. To: Burkeman1 (#125)
The Germans and Japs are both beginning to take cultural steps to cast WWII in a different light. Movies portraying their fighting men as heroic victims is the first step in this process.
#129. To: Burkeman1 (#127)
you have left is a bunch of young men with guns ready and willing to kill for the state.
#130. To: RickyJ (#118)
Of course the elite are really responsible for our involvement in these wars, only they are powerful enough to get a superpower to fight for them.
#131. To: Burkeman1 (#127)
nope- it seems to be little more than "Do anything it takes to come home alive in one piece".
#132. To: tom007 (#129)
#133. To: iconoclast (#122)
#134. To: iconoclast (#123)
#135. To: iconoclast (#122)
#136. To: tom007 (#131)
That might be my motto if in the hell of war.
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