HiTech said:
Is this directed at me? If so I don't follow you completely. Besides, it's a volunteer military here in the states. Given the situation of world affairs over the past decade and a half, one should've weighed the risks of battle engagement before joining the military.
Yes, it is. You should try to follow me, as completely as possible. You obviously don't have the capacity for reasoning things of this complexity and sensitivity yourself. If people only joined the army based on your reasoning (e.g. when they're not needed), only cowards would join the army.
Also, current methods of recruitment in the U.S. betray your theory that your military is voluntary. As I've already alluded, the U.S. recruitment process for soldiers is one that preys on indigent, under-educated, young people. To outsiders (i.e. non-U.S. nations), it appears as if your nation's organized to keep a certain percentage of its population poor and incapable specifically for the purpose of taking advantage of those people as cheap labour or to do the jobs no one else would want to do (e.g. die in Iraq).
This isn't a slam towards any soldier battling in the fields or air regardless of what nation they are from.
To the contrary, it is a slam, but I'm sure this isn't your intention, but rather just a result of your own ignorance regarding the details of your opinion. Your attitude is also grossly disrespectful to brave veterans who have volunteered to risk their lives in the interest of ending global suffering. Many of these volunteers, such as Canadian soldiers in WWII as well as Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan today, volunteered not because there was an immediate threat to themselves, their community, or their nation, but rather they volunteered in the interest of ending suffering for people who are least capable of defending themselves.
As for Canada, the same goes-- we didn't throw a rope around you and drag you along. Somewhere in the mix, your gov. signed on... My point is to clarify that if anyone (Thunderchild in this case) should look to their own gov. offiicials first for getting involved before placing the whole blame on one man (Pres. Bush).
Unlike the U.S., in Canada the military carries out missions based on the directives and intentions of the Canadian public. Our government decides to involve our nation in conflicts based on the expectation that each conflict will be resolved in a timely manner, and with the best possible outcome for all parties.
Contrarily, the U.S. carries out military missions for the primary purpose of fueling the American economy. They do this through old-school imperialism (i.e. invading a nation to take its resources) and through design of their domestic economy (i.e. creating jobs in industries dedicated to military production).
I'm constantly surprised at the extent to which the U.S. and Americans erroneously believe they are above reprimand for the actions/inactions of their nation. If it makes you feel better, I've never exclusively blamed one president for the shortcomings of your nation - you're all at fault. You can't claim to be a democracy
and hide behind your military dictator as an excuse for when your nation goes astray.