The military is in trouble

[margotb822]

I don't see why we can't have a better, more advanced military. The forces, as they stand, are not the most capable fighting force. Shouldn't the President and Congress be advocating for the best military possible.

I am all for force draw down, if the advanced technology means that our forces will be able to handle any threat (and I don't mean fighting in Iraq).

Our military is supposed to be for US defense, not available at the President's will. This war is absurd and Congress should end it immediately.

[izzie]

1. It is hard to call a war silly when young men died and have legs

cut off but I still can not figure out why we are fighting in that country. If we want we can say we won over their army and just come home. The people in Iraq are putting people alike in the same place and that is making them self safer. Lets leave it at that and get back to our own country and work here. We can not run their country. Even with an army we can not run their country. Maybe we can run our own if he get home and spend our money here.

[lligrd]

2. The Military Has Been In Trouble Ever Since

we put an imbecile in charge of them.

[margotb822]

3. I don't recognize him as my leader

and I never will!

[Angela Shelley]

4. Maybe you don´t need a leader.

Maybe you just need people in responsible positions who do their job well.

[margotb822]

5. Good point.

I would rather work for someone who cares.

[Orsino]

6. "War" is supposed to mean something different when America wages it.

Whether or not there is any just cause at all underlying a push to war, it's never supposed to be hatched by a cabal meeting in the White House. The Constitution still requires that Congress have the wisdom/guts/gall to declare war--so they can end it, too.

[flashl]

7. As the planners draw down humans ... increasingly robots are deployed ...

US plans 'robot troops' for Iraq

The US military is planning to deploy robots armed with machine-guns to wage war against insurgents in Iraq.

Eighteen of the 1m-high robots, equipped with cameras and operated by remote control, are going to Iraq this spring, the Associated Press reports.

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New Model Army Soldier Rolls Closer to Battle

The American military is working on a new generation of soldiers, far different from the army it has.

"They don't get hungry," said Gordon Johnson of the Joint Forces Command at the Pentagon. "They're not afraid. They don't forget their orders. They don't care if the guy next to them has just been shot. Will they do a better job than humans? Yes."

The robot soldier is coming.

---

U.S. Strike Kills Six in Al Qaeda

Missile Fired by Predator Drone; Key Figure in Yemen Among Dead

Now, the jocks in the basement of the Pentagon can use their joysticks to direct wars.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Recognizing What A True Threat Is...

Since the end of WWII, the military has been played like a Stratego game...moving from one "crisis" to another and has dragged us into entanglements and alliances Washington feared. It became a political pawn...primarily for the repugnican party, to "show the flag" or wave a sabre as the answer to all our problems...and with it enabled a military-industrial complex that made wars or the "on-going preparations" a government welfare system of unprecedented magnitude. As we've poured billions into whiz bang toys, the focus on the human personal has stressed an all volunteer force of un-emotional robots who carry out the orders without question. Those who embrace this system rise...those who enter and don't understand how the system work become a victim.

This country needs to so some solid soul-searching...who are we and what's our place in the world. We need to redefine what the real basic defense and security needs of this country is and define the priorities. What's more important? Squandering lives in an endless occupation or rebuilding a major American city? There's a crumbling infrastructure and lots of other problems that will require us to devote man and woman power and resources...foreign wars for profit will not be a luxuary we can afford.

We'll also have a new generation of veterans who will need our comfort and assistance as they try to move forward while battling the pains and memories of a failed war...not their failure, but that is how it will be portrayed.

[Thothmes]

10. I disagree to some extent.

It was a Democrat that dumped 400,000 Americans into Viet Nam. It was also a Democrat that had a over 200,000 men in Korea. While the repubs can be blamed for more military adventures than Democrats. The two big ones of the post WWII 20th century are in the Dem colume. Both political parties have and continue to misuse the armed forces of the United States. JMO.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Recent Political Manipulation

Yes, Democratic Presidents sent millions into battle during the 20th century...some justified, others not, but the party also transformed and many within learned valuable lessons about the use of power. I'm refering primarily to the post-Vietnam era where the repugnican party has attempted to portray itself as the party of the military and how Democrats were defeatists or "spat on the soldiers". It worked its way into the public discourse as well as the party was endlessly framed from the late 70's through today as "weak on defense"...a box that we see the party thrown into reguarly by the booosh regime. Also, it wasn't long ago that the GOOP would proudly proclaim the overwhelming members of the military voted repugnican...and how we needed to count even fraudulent absentee balots in the '00 elections.

The issue is not who launches wars, but what we've learned from them. Right now I see a very fatigued military...tired of partisanship and, as you say, let down by both parties. However, one party stands for continuing wars and even adding more...stressing out our resources even further while borrowing billions that end up primarily in the pockets of defense contractors.


BTW...we dumped far more than 400,000 in Vietnam. At its peak in '68 there were 500,000 involved and several million were dumped over its long 8 years. But it must be said that this war and many casualties could have been avoided had Nixon not played 4 years of politics with that war.


Cheers...

[Thothmes]

13. Political Manipulation

37,000 men were killed in Viet Nam during the tenure of LBJ's Presidency. This war and many casualties could have been avoided had Johnson not played 5 years of politics with that war.

[Demagitator]

14. Well I agree

If we ever get back to a liberal democratic political system, I think we should create a government mandated "great deal" plan. The politicians (whom really are de facto militarists, without a uniform), should be fired -- and we should eliminate the one dollar one vote system, and the alliance between the various institutions, which has killed our great liberal democracy.

It -- ironically can be done quite simply. How? Because the "powers that be" are in reality not in power.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Don't worry. The Pentagon will whine and the congress will give them more money.

As both always do.

See the former Soviet Union and the former British Empire on how bankrupting the country to provide "security" works out.

[KG]

12. the US military creates its own threats. end US imperialism and

the need for a giant military evaporates. problem solved.