General Discussion

onenote

(42,531 posts)

20. What is the point of this pointless speculation?

Wed Jan 11, 2012, 03:26 PM

Jan 2012

You might just as well ask what if the maximum age for military service was four years old. Would the USA have invaded Iraq with an army of toddlers? No.

But military service isn't going to be limited to retirees or infants for the US or for any other country and thus the premise of this thread is blatantly ridiculous.

Oh, and by the way, the folks making the decision to go to war: usually they're over 55.

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What if the minimum age for military service was 55? [View all] hunter Jan 2012 OP

They'd be able to fight really early in the mornings. n/t Ian David Jan 2012 #1

"We're gonna take that hill! Ow...my sciatica! Can someone read this map?" Atman Jan 2012 #2

Plenty of fifty year olds who can kick anyone's ass... hunter Jan 2012 #16

Actually, I'm pushing 53, and I snowboard and play beach volleyball. Atman Jan 2012 #17

Given the fact that that's literally impossible, I'm not sure of the point of this thread. TheWraith Jan 2012 #3

I agree. Absurd premise. Jean V. Dubois Jan 2012 #7

"An army marches on its stomach" would take on a whole new meaning. Gidney N Cloyd Jan 2012 #8

It seems you have missed the point Angry Dragon Jan 2012 #9

No, I got it. The point has no worth. TheWraith Jan 2012 #15

It's not within your power to decide what has worth DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #32

I'm not the OP, but I think I get the point DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #31

The point is pointless onenote Jan 2012 #38

I cannot answer your final question, because to me, the point is not pointless, but metaphorical DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #43

Grayhairs are notoriously reluctant to taking orders. (n/t) Iggo Jan 2012 #4

Exactly. "How about 'no'? Does 'no' work for you?" n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2012 #44

We're ok with sending 18 year olds fresh out of high school. NYC Liberal Jan 2012 #5

Older people wouldn't assume their superiors knew what they were doing. hunter Jan 2012 #14

The world would be a much safer place. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #6

Or if those authorizing military force had to fight on the front lines Hugabear Jan 2012 #10

*cough*libya*cough* Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #19

Ah, "The Walker Brigade" - Monty Python reference. HopeHoops Jan 2012 #11

I want the contract to equip these with machine guns DJ13 Jan 2012 #12

No more and no less that if it were LanternWaste Jan 2012 #13

They wouldn't hold terrain, they'd just yell at the enemy to get off their lawn n/t Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2012 #18

My little old lady grandma made her berserker ancestors proud. hunter Jan 2012 #24

What is the point of this pointless speculation? onenote Jan 2012 #20

It's a thought experiment. hunter Jan 2012 #22

What is the nature of our militaristic society? onenote Jan 2012 #26

They'd walk onto the battlefield.. ohheckyeah Jan 2012 #21

This message was self-deleted by its author HereSince1628 Jan 2012 #23

The mess halls would have to be converted to buffets. n/t RZM Jan 2012 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author HereSince1628 Jan 2012 #27

I don't know. I bet it varies from base to base RZM Jan 2012 #28

Food is roughly the same across bases JonLP24 Jan 2012 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author HereSince1628 Jan 2012 #36

Who would we sell Viagra to? leeroysphitz Jan 2012 #29

Have you looked at our military? Skidmore Jan 2012 #30

Of course there are older people in the military. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2012 #34

Actually I've got a disproportionate number of friends and acquaintences who are military.. hunter Jan 2012 #39

The government would be more liberal and less prone to wage war. Uncle Joe Jan 2012 #33

Have you considered the age of the architects of the Iraq war? onenote Jan 2012 #37

Because the people that put them in power were primarily of the older generation. Uncle Joe Jan 2012 #40

Our army would be tough, but slow Yo_Mama Jan 2012 #41

The walker brigade pintobean Jan 2012 #42

That would solve the social security solvency problem. HubertHeaver Jan 2012 #45

First day of basic training: Using the Automated external defibrillator... hunter Jan 2012 #46

what if the maximum age was three? spanone Jan 2012 #47