Army Strong?

The government propagandists portray joining the military as one of the ultimate "rites of passage", when in reality it is anything but a "rite of passage". The only thing the modern military has going for it (all branches) is its ties to tradition. Tradition to a time when serving meant serving to preserve ideals and democracy and above all the security of our country.

Now it is serving of those in U.S. leadership who are pursuing obscure ideologies; or as I wrote previously, the new religion called "Democracy". Invading Iraq was an attempt at planting Democracy smack dab in the middle of Islam, much in the fashion the Crusaders tried to rescue the Holy Land from the heathens. Iraq was to be the shining example for all of Islam to follow. At least that is what appears to be the case after listening the Bush and Chaney.

Joining the military is the path to becoming a hero, a savior of the U.S. and the world. We are fighting "them" over there so we don't have to fight them here. No one has defined what that means, though everyone seems to make sense of that statement. Since the military is trained and designed to fight conventional armies, not terrorists and guerrillas, I have to ask who is strong enough to fight us on our soil--conventionally or otherwise?

Actually the risks are rather low fighting in Iraq. In four years we've only had about 25,000 casualties and only 3200 killed. I expect we'll be fighting insurgents for 50 years or more, if we stay there that long,judging by Israel's war with the Arabs. We aren't any more popular than they are and we are as much usurpers as they are.

But getting back to the "Army Strong" thing. When you join the military you give up your civil rights. If some yahoo of higher rank than you wants you to put yourself in harm's way you don't have a right to appeal. You do it, and if you live through it, then you can appeal.

You are at the mercy of any tom, dick, and harry of higher rank than you. There is only the military way--common sense and logic is not the military way. There might be the illusion of "brotherhood"; but that is all propaganda. The enemy is the least of your worries. Stupidity is your biggest threat. "Friendly fire" isn't so friendly. The Brass is really not on your side--they'll bust you in a second if you inadvertently or otherwise break one of their rules.

So don't be fooled by government propaganda. They will tell you, or anybody, anything to fill their quotas.