CHANGE!

[Cain]

Oh, one thing about the current soldiers/politicians discussion:

The Pentagon has more say over foreign policy in the United States than the State Department.  In areas of key interest, the regional commander is almost always consulted over and above any ambassadors or diplomatic personnel.  Top level Pentagon officials and commanders have conflicted interests, as the more resources they control, the more power they have relative to their rivals in the bureaucratic structure.  One of the best ways to acquire and control resources is through a counterinsurgency program or three.*

As such, the United States will be uniquely predisposed to military solutions to foreign policy problems so long as the Pentagon can circumvent civilian control of international affairs.



*Put this into perspective with the NSA and DIA power grab from the CIA and FBI over recent years and a very disturbing picture of US internal politics in the National Security State begins to emerge.  It appears the Pentagon is trying to absorb the entire weight of responsibility for all US security concerns, and trying to push its remit in those areas as far as it can, like with the NSA's assertion it can basically spy on anyone, for any reason, and the laws of the land can go get fucked.

[Cain]

I see your point, but these soldiers are not drafted.  They go in on their own choosing. 

Oh, well, then, we can just toss them away willy-nilly.

Just because I'm not for your side means I'm against it is what I'm getting from you.

I don't have a side, because none of these bastards are on *my* side.

WE have no say in it.  THEY are going to do what THEY want to do.  If some 18 year old boy has a fantasy about being a Marine Patriot yadda yadda I'm not going to tell him he can't.  I'll shake my head when something goes wrong, but I'm not responsible for him.  Government spending on military is pathetic, but spending in LOTS of aspects is.

In what sense?  America spends more than the rest of NATO, plus China, plus Russia put together.  In fact, I believe it would take the next 51 countries on the list below the United States to beat it's current military budget, which is misleading anyway, as much military spending done by the US is being kept off the books.  There has never been such a relative spending disparity in all military history.

I thought it was more in the sense that killing a kitten and bragging about it is pathetic, or Weltvager is pathetic.

Which still doesn't make much sense.

It could be pathetic in the sense that "this is how much is being spent, and the US is still losing wars against orphans with no shoes".  I just wanted clarification, because the idea that US military spending is pathetic in that not enough is being spent clearly doesn't make much sense.

[Freeky]

I see your point, but these soldiers are not drafted.  They go in on their own choosing. 

Oh, well, then, we can just toss them away willy-nilly.

Just because I'm not for your side means I'm against it is what I'm getting from you.

I don't have a side, because none of these bastards are on *my* side.

WE have no say in it.  THEY are going to do what THEY want to do.  If some 18 year old boy has a fantasy about being a Marine Patriot yadda yadda I'm not going to tell him he can't.  I'll shake my head when something goes wrong, but I'm not responsible for him.  Government spending on military is pathetic, but spending in LOTS of aspects is.

In what sense?  America spends more than the rest of NATO, plus China, plus Russia put together.  In fact, I believe it would take the next 51 countries on the list below the United States to beat it's current military budget, which is misleading anyway, as much military spending done by the US is being kept off the books.  There has never been such a relative spending disparity in all military history.

I thought it was more in the sense that killing a kitten and bragging about it is pathetic, or Weltvager is pathetic.

Which still doesn't make much sense.

It could be pathetic in the sense that "this is how much is being spent, and the US is still losing wars against orphans with no shoes".  I just wanted clarification, because the idea that US military spending is pathetic in that not enough is being spent clearly doesn't make much sense.

1. Ah, I didn't think of that one.

2. Yeah, even I agree with that, and I am totally ignorant of just about every factoid about America, in proper American fashion.

Derp.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Besides, Obama's more of the "hide the beer, the Pastor's here" type of Xtian anyway.

He is... Or he promotes the perception that he is? I don't know the answer.

[Jenne]

Besides, Obama's more of the "hide the beer, the Pastor's here" type of Xtian anyway.

He is... Or he promotes the perception that he is? I don't know the answer.

Welp, I don't know a lot of hardcore Bible thumpers who drink and smoke...but then that may be a function of the particular location of the Bible belt I grew up in.

[Pope Lecherous]

TGRR,
Coincidentally has a 17 son who is a Marine recruit, and thinks you aren't capable of being responsible for him.

good luck to you and your son. if he's nearly as intellectual as you are he'll be miserable hahaha. in all seriousness though, despite how some people of this site regard the military, his willingness to serve and/or fight reaches me and i am grateful. it's a small Marine Corps TGRR

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Besides, Obama's more of the "hide the beer, the Pastor's here" type of Xtian anyway.

He is... Or he promotes the perception that he is? I don't know the answer.

Welp, I don't know a lot of hardcore Bible thumpers who drink and smoke...but then that may be a function of the particular location of the Bible belt I grew up in.

In the area I grew up in drinking and smoking and beating the bible weren't particularly separate unless they were 7th day, apostolic or generally Nazerene though some  seemed pretty hypocritical on the subject.