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“I'm suggesting, Senator, there hasn't been a single piece of paper written in the history of mankind that could serve as a deterrent to a Pearl Harbor. I sometimes wonder why we haven't learned that lesson by now. Every twenty years or so we have to pick ourselves up off the floor bleeding, and have to pay for that mistake. And I might add, Senator, those mistakes are delivered to us C.O.D. by peace-loving men. And bought and paid for with the lives of other men. Men in uniform.” General Scott, "Seven Days In May"
"I think the signing of a nuclear disarmament pact with the Soviet Union is at best an act of naivete, and at worst an unsupportable negligence. We've stayed alive because we've built up an arsenal, and we've kept the peace because we've dealt with an enemy who knew we would use that arsenal. And now we're asked to believe that a piece of paper will take the place of missile sites and Polaris submarines, and that an enemy who hasn't honored one solemn treaty in the history of its existence will now, for our convenience, do precisely that. I have strong doubts, gentlemen." General Scott, "Seven Days In May"
There is a psychology to fighting a war, and men have a certain way of thinking separate from that of women. The Israelis found out the hard way that when women are introduced as war fighters, wars became even MORE brutal than they already are! Men are ingrained to protect women, when "their women" get injured or killed, the Israeli soldiers would lose their minds!
Women in a war zone A: Have to worry about getting raped, and not necessarily just by the enemy... and B: Have to worry about getting pregnant! Both are a problem in the modern era! When I was in Kuwait, an incoming unit that was reliving a unit that was already there came into theater with both STDs and like half of the females in the unit had positive results for being pregnant!
The problem is people again want to be politically correct rather than confront warfare on the terms of what true reality is! Humanism and "progressivism" minded people try to fight wars using idealism and social engineering, rather than just going with what has worked for thousands of years! Men do the fighting, women do the worrying and keep the home fires lit!
I would be surprised to find the same thing to one degree or another is not still occurring.
Other women are just the opposite. But given the Israel experience which was a back against the wall driven policy I'm wondering if an all woman Amazon Corps might not be suitable. Women over the year have a records of bearing up in combat conditions and worse. I'll remind you of the Jedburgh teams that dropped into Europe and worked with the underground.
Women have to fight against the role of baby factories just as men should be fighting against the role of simple cannon fodder. Being treated like one or the other should be a court martial offense. Sexism, racism and bigotry in any form should not be tolerated in any form. That statement starts with the government being the foremost proponent of sexism, racism, and bigotry and that is where the change needs to be made initially. So long as the government is in a do what I say not as I do mode we are stuck with the isms. I'm wondering how many of the higher brass that exist today are guilty of covering up such activities. If it's still the same.
I rather think so when I hear terms such as ethnic exception meaning some fat asses are more equal than other fat asses.
We must recognize that there are many who have no problems coercing others into doing what they want - both foreign and domestic. The only way to resist tyranny is to be willing and able to defend freedom.
'The Government and it's cronies are war addicted' is much better ditches the left right BS and places the onus squarely where it belongs. DNC whoops Socialist Party HQ.
Since both of the halves voted for cronyism this time with a huge majority and the RINOs work for the DINOs. Thanks I like your idea. It's sounds familiar..
Left = Government OVER people and citizens and the GOP is nothing of not Republican In Name Only and that is DNC controlled territory.
But it's an acceptable apology in a round about way. So I'll provide a point.
Hard to tell the players without a score card...
In fact two points up. -:)
I am mixed on Stockman. He argued for raising taxes under Reagan. His analysis is usually no better than what I call the simple accountants mentality and ultimately he is not for freedom, he is a true conservative.
What happens when a drone system gets hacked by the enemy and the drone is used against us? An autonomous drone, which is where the military is heading, would be a nightmare! Pilots, for the better or for the worst, can make moral decisions, like choosing not to hit a target because it's too close to a religious building! A mindless drone wouldn't care!
"Not needing" a piloted fighter is NOT looking at the bigger broader picture! Just because we have the technology does NOT mean we should automatically use it! Should we be using depleted uranium shells? Should we be using MOABS or should we be using tactical nukes?
And if is downed and captured? That already happened.
I'm wondering how much combat time you have. I just love chairborne rangers. The trouble is you 'think' and that's the fatal cop-out word. Had you said 'I believe and stated facts instead of conjecture it would sound a lot more convincing.
that takes a few years....but it's on the right track sooooooooo whens the rest of the government going to follow the leaders?
Don't get me wrong, I am professional with the ladies, or women, I've worked with and am subordinate to. I do not disagree that some women can be equal to the task, but it would be HORRIBLE to force ALL women to sign up and be eligible for the draft! Most women are not built for combat!
Interestingly enough, the reason why we have so many food programs in this country was to ensure that we had enough strapping and healthy young men to fight wars! When we fought the Vietnamese and they looked at the bodies of the American soldiers they had killed, they were surprised at how big our people were!
The problem is, "progressives", so called, have been in charge of the school system in a lot of ways demeaning or down playing the exceptionalism of this country. Why are we surprised then that we have a nation of wimps that more often than not grab a camera instead of a gun when they see a crime unfolding?
As for the draft itself, is again, a horrible idea! Only about 1 or 2% of the population is really bent on killing their fellow man (for better or worse). Only about 1 to 3% of the population ever serves in the military. With an all volunteer military, you are likely to catch those willing to fight and kill (if the need arises) for their country! Those who are not willing to fight, to kill, or to die for their country, do not belong in the military!
We already have troubles as it is with liberals picking up guns and going on killing sprees! (All these shooting sprees, if they are not inspired by Islam, are nut job democrats!) Why give them more training on killing people?
Like it or not, most of the war fighters that have served (voluntarily) in the military have been conservatives or Republicans!
Secondly I dispute your one and two percent figure unless you are speaking of criminals where as it happens that number applies.
Third ....hey dude it's the 21st century what makes women so special besides being baby factories which is what you are saying under the rest of verbiage. But if they cannot serve equal to men they deserve no equal rights such as student loan program.
Fourth there is nothing in the Constitution to protect them from being drafted. Al it states is the age requirements for men. Nowhere does it say women are exempt. But a step further most of the draft system is not authorized either and the answer are found 9th and 10th Amendments. Useful if we still had a Constitution.
So let's do as you say and keep women as second class citizens....come to think of it given the despicable response women showed during the Clinton years perhaps it's where they should be found.
The rule is what they say is not what they are going to do. Was it ever different? No. Besides the Democrats hold first place when it comes to war mongering that stuff was just the Rinos supporting the Dinos.
rose is a rose is a rose and a politician is a skunk is a skunk is a skunk. Like reporters not to be trusted.
And let's admit, but if all the other nations in the world adopted the principles of freedom and equality contained in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, there would be a lot more world-wide peace.
No. I'm just observing that the world itself isn't exactly rainbows and unicorns. I would also point out that there is a difference between inciting war and getting pulled into a war as a result of alliances and allegiances. Bellicosity results in the instigation of conflict; many of the wars we have been involved in have been to protect interests and allies. Now I'm not trying to justify every involvement in conflict we've been associated with, but I do point out that to state that the United States has historically been instigating wars isn't justified IMHO. In the last twenty years or so? Perhaps one can make a stronger case for that.
And I agree with George Washington. He was probably the best President we have ever had.
That phrase was started by soldiers. Hey Hey LBJ how many kids did you kill today?"
Let's hear it for the War Monger Party...now the Socialist Party previously Democrats. Barf!
24 years Infantry. I earned the right.
As for the debates? What are you talking about They have less value than State of the Union or a Democrat voting for war. Five second life span. Less now the republicans aree a branch of the DNC.
On schedule it marked the beginning of negative campaigning.
Seven podiums? Each and their own stage. One stands on a podium or platform or stage and behind a lectern or similar Wish these reporters would invest in a dictionary.
As for the verbiage ....worthless It will change five or six times as they play to whichever segment of the population is watching or listening or attending and in the end it's only a question of how far to the left they will move the center of the left this time.
I am in agree ment with David McNab (posted further down the thread) of not using left and right but just Government and Citizens. Makes more sense as does dumping conservative and liberal Too many definitions by too many factions and too damn many illiterate reporters.
Is anything a solution, short of secession?
Those guys get the research and dev stuff on ten and twenty year terms, they do fine war or peace, and we don't lose ships/planes/tanks to combat action, mostly to age or maintenance issues.
Congress earmarks procurement to district areas to get a vote here and there, the Joint Strike Fighter seems to have pieces made in all 50 states for example.
The downstream echo effect of defense spending is about the best thing we can do anyway, pave a road and you create a few jobs for a few months... Design a new fighter jet and you are talking 10s of thousands of jobs for decades, overseas sales, and technology spinoff and royalty revenue from the civilian sector.
Those workers all spend money and pay taxes, the businesses in the towns they live in employ people and pay taxes.
We also train a high tech and very capable future workforce through military service, I used to wonder where all the money for my paycheck came from when I was in the military, now I pretty much pay for a soldier every year on my own tax return, those skills and the income came from 6 years of service (and college).
I'd be surprised if the government doesn't collect $2 in future taxes for every dollar it spends on defense.
I am familiar with all the preferences given to special groups in federal contracts - I was a contracting officer for the USAF during a large part of my 25 years of service. In reality those small business/minority preferences make more money for the major defense contractors then they do for the 'disadvantaged' businesses they are supposed to help. For every gimmick the govmt dreams up, somebody figures a way to play it to his advantage.
I agree that the Joint Strike Fighter is made of pieces from just about every state (maybe even every state) and that is to buy votes. You local congressman can tell his constituents that HE brought all those good jobs to the district.
What needs to be considered is that if those bright people were not employed building weapons, what would they be building? I mean no sarcasm here - defense contractors employ a lot of highly skilled and intelligent people. Defense contractors like govmt work because profits are guaranteed! If they were in a competitive market they might have to fight for profits. In my opinion a lot of defense money is wasted and the opportunity cost of all the things not being done because efforts are being expended on bombs instead of more useful things is just plain tragic.
I work in Solutions/BD for a larger company, we do a lot for the Dept of Energy (hydro), we have to partner on everything but the prime has to do 51% of the work,no they really do. Normally it's one cycle though, too big the second time so we find a new partner.
I understand the thought, but it doesn't work in practice, once they are too big they usually struggle to find business to replace that govie customer. We were a $100 million company before we did business with the government so it doesn't affect us much, maybe 25% of our revenue.
We have been transitioning from fed to local and education for the same reason though, no set asides.
Friend of mine works there, they had a new internal slogan for a while after that.. What does Accenture Do? A: We unfck your sht.
You don't use F22s to bounce off a carrier deck in 30 foot seas, or close air support for ground troops, you use something a lot cheaper, he had no idea what he was talking about with it.
Why has congress spent billions on 3 new generation fighter aircraft when an F-15 has never been lost in combat?
You come down talking Republican vs democrats when it comes to wars make sure there are no soldiers and survivors of those belonging to the War Monger Party which now includes Republicans. We have very long memories. One of the reasons I doubt the military would follow it's oath of office. Most of us believe by bitter experience you weren't worth the effort. We have to remind ourselves our oath was to something worthwhile called the Constitution something the Democrats have long forgotten. Kilo Mike Alpha
Objectively speaking we considered Democrats to be on the other side - where they invariably could be found . And still do.
Remember; WW1 and WW2 we had progressives in the WH, however...we didn't have much choice in WW2. ever since...we were fighting communism...not realizing it was already here in our own country and government. Korea and V Nam were those kind of battles, however Korea...started via black flag. Demo's screwed a victory in Nam and we've been (you know what-"ed") ever since. islam? had always been a pain, Nix/Kiss never shoulda tolled them they had oil under their tents and camels.
I think that up to 10/15 years ago, most republican representatives got pull into these things, these black flag/swan events just like the rest of us...these days there is not many that represent us nor the interests of the country.
Herb, you might be able to do it if you could control everyone else, but you can't. Power corrupts and military power corrupts worse than most.
Using the resources we have to improve technology would be a much better defense than invading other coutries, killing civilians, and enriching the "military industrial complex.).
But, I like it. If we could get the majority of the power brokers in Washington to think objectively you'd be completely right. The country is broken and while a vast minority of people think rationally most do not An old rusty broken down car that runs is still better than walking if you need to go a distance. You can wish it to be nice, new and shiny, but it's not. Not the best metaphor but I'm sure you get the point.
And.....that's no bullshit.
First, I didn't say "America has been stealing for centuries." I said this was an excuse to wage war that had been used for centuries to wage war, murder innocent people, and steal resources.
The neocons are one group in the US that are using the excuse to wage war and kill innocent people. The current administration has continued using the excuse as well. Neither represents the best interests of the American people.
Cutbacks is anther word for get ready to spend a ton of money a few years later. As for large enough Arizona asked for 3,000 federal troops to protect NOT the border but the interior of the state where federal land has been ceded to the cartels. they were turned down but they also do not respond to call within federal property boundaries anymore.
Consider the outcome if FDR had waited a bit longer to enter WW-II, if Japan had held off on attacking Pearl Harbor until they and Germany had completed a jet airforce, long range bombers, better V2 rockets, and made more headway in their atomic bomb projects...
WWI- Wilson (D)- 116k
WWII- Roosevelt (D)- 405k
Korea- Truman (D)- 36k
Vietnam- Johnson (Kennedy) (D)- 59k
About 620K- price of appeasement
Obama/Dems starting in 2016?
(R’s)- (I’m counting T Roosevelt as a (R) Phillipines, Guatamala/Honduras, Panama, Beruit, Grenada, Dominican, Iraq 1 and 2 and a few others
About 14k-price of pre-emptive strategy
http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/american...
http://drones.pitchinteractive.com/