Colin Powell - "you break it you bought it"

BTW - A request for more troops sat on the Dippic's desk for 6 months and they did not get the requested increase...

You know what "truthiness" means? Look it up...

"Just as obscene is Cheney's Reaganesque amnesia. It was during the last year of the Bush-Cheney administration that Gen. David McKiernan, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan at the time, submitted a request for more troops. Bush ignored it. Obama partly granted it one month after taking office by sending an additional 21,000 troops."

http://middleeast.about.com/b/2009/10/23/dick-cheney-goes-taliban-on-obamas-afpak.htm

You got that right. Not just the rich. Everyone is real quick to send others to sacrifice, but talk draft and suddenly it's not such a good idea.

I call them gravy-train riders.
They are willing to enjoy the benefits of being American. Benefits won by blood.
But unwilling to give anything back.
They are quite content to ride along free their entire life.

I know I've said it before, but we do have a volunteer military. it's not like anyone makes these people join. it was their decision and I respect them for it. But forcing someone to fight never turns out well. you need the people that want to do it in there. i would not want some kid that is some uber-hippie refuse to take up a rifle while I'm getting shot at.

I've not been in here since I first posted.. I will find time to read through this thread over the weekend. Thanks for all the input from all of you.

Oh trust me, they'll pick up their rifles when the shooting starts.
If they're a little more angry when they do, so much the better.
The US military isn't a Boy Scout troop. By the time the transcripts graduate AIT they'll be men. Whether they want to be or not.
They call it discipline.


Volunteers.
Most of those volunteers really don't have another choice to build a future for themselves. Most come from poor families and can't afford a college education.
They aren't born with a silver spoon and are required to build a future the good ole American way. From the bottom up.
They know and appreciate the cost it took to build this country and like true Patriots they don't flinch to follow in the proud traditions to keep it that way.
Do they want to go to war? NO! No one wants to go. Drafts are for those who need the extra push.
Just because our volunteers demonstrate that they are the most Patriotic of us all, does not mean in challenging times like now that we should require them and their families to shoulder all the sacrifice.
If that means we must draft then so be it! We wouldn't need a draft if all Americans were as brave and Patriotic as our volunteers.
Keeping this country free and maintaining our lifestyles should be every Americans sacrifice.
If they aren't willing to fight for it, then they shouldn't be allowed to enjoy it.
It ain't free you know!

I quite agree with RH.

If you want to be a voting citizen you should show worth to be so.

and sorry to bust your bubble but obviously congress thinks it should be free to all but the taxpayers. Which they are fixing to screw - hard - continuesly and without mercy... Oh but as a sop they will have sorry *** health care that congress itself has no faith in. (else why so opposed to using what the rest of us will get).

This thread has certainly drawn some passionate opinions. I happen to like Michael Moore, which is how I was able to have this letter..
I think his views here, whether agree or disagree are the sentiments of many who voted Obama into office.

Who is RH?

hey fanta
"You got that right. Not just the rich. Everyone is real quick to send others to sacrifice, but talk draft and suddenly it's not such a good idea. "

As long as the military is volunteer I respect this.

When they draft is the point where I as an american could not support it...

I ain't willing to send someone that is being FORCED... Such a thing in my opinion is UN-american.

But the draft is American.

Well, sometimes it is necessary. That would be a better way to put it.
Esp. when Americans have become complacent and have began to take the life they enjoy for granted.

Can't agree with you there.

Most the americans I know work hard for very little, pay WAY to much in taxes, play hard whenever they get a chance to play and generally live life as well as they can.

Jumping in here in the middle of this conversation...no, the draft is NOT american. Not everyone wants to go be a soldier. I have raised 3 sons to be peacemakers and pacifists..should they be forced to go fight and kill..I would say not. Americans became arrogant and complacent a very long time ago...

Here's another reason.
A military made up of all volunteers can eventually become a danger to the society they serve.

A military which includes conscripts better reflects the society it serves. Not being made up entirely of loyal subjects at the direction of a military leadership, it is less likely to become a mercenary force. Made up only of professional and willing soldiers who may become disillusioned with the civilian society.

An Army which includes conscripts is a better mirror of the society they serve and less likely to become a danger to it.
While such an Army is harder to train,
it also tends to produce more appreciative and a better society of citizens.

America has existed for most of its history with an Army made up of conscripts. There has only been a few short periods in which it was all volunteer. The longest since 1972.

Peace makers and pacifists during war used to be called UNAmerican. Even worse at times.
If you aren't willing to fight for it then it isnt yours.
Ask any parent.

The men less eager to send others to die in a war were once soldiers themselves.

I am a parent...a mother. And I will not see my sons die in a war such as this..over what? Arrogance, oil and lies. Call me un american if you choose, or call me worse. Your opinion of me matters not..I have my own opinion on those who enjoy war. I am a parent first! I have payed taxes since I was a teenager, my parents were born here..like it or not I am as american as you.

I agree about Iraq, but Afghanistan has no oil and we are there because they attacked us.
If ever there is a reason to fight it is for survival.

Look Ladylid, I was a volunteer. Willing to lay my life down to protect the country I love. Voluntarily!
By being a pacifist you are declaring you aren't.
Do you think I would not defend my country if I thought the threat was domestic?
What is a domestic threat could be a lot of things to a lot of different people.
A volunteer has already shown there willingness to fight a threat to their country, and die if necessary. In the Army a soldier pledges to defend the constitution from all threats. Both foreign and domestic.
To some a threat might constitute allowing their country to become one filled with pacifist, others when its filled with illegal immigrants, etc.

Armies are already lead by gung ho, career officers.
An all volunteer Army under their command can very quickly become a danger to the very society they serve.

Show me a country filled with pacifists and I'll show you an occupied country ruled by a military dictatorship.

I am a parent. That works for individual goals but not with the lives of strangers one doesnt even know. A majority chooses what issues to die for and then sends those who choose to do the work for them.I choose neither to send or have my son sent and that should be my choice as American. Not everyone is cut out for battle and sending those who arent to die for dying sake is nonsense.