Actually my gripe is with bought and paid for politicians, the money men who pay them and the ignorant masses who "back our boys" in illegal and unjustified wars. Perhaps we should look at the actions of those who fight in our name as the reason "many would love to see me and my family dead". The fact is the US and the UK in particular trot around the world dealing death to any who won't go along with their plans for central government.
Military forces are necessary for defence but when was the last time we were in a defensive war? Now "we" are in Irag, Afghanistan, Libya, the US are drone-bombing Pakistan (killing civilians mostly), we are headed into the Ivory Coast and the best part is that the UN is now calling the shots. We don't even need incompetent politicians to rape our own, and other countries, now all it takes in a UN mandate and hey presto! NATO and the US are bombing whomever doesn't follow the script. So please, spare me the "evil men in turbans" routine. I've had enough of it.
I agree with some of that.
I had 2 tours in Iraq, I seen so much death, waste, corruption and destruction I could write a book, and in fact I probably will.
Some positive things too, but all in all I didn't have a very good sense about why the fuck I was there risking my ass every day.
Moral among the troops was not all that good. So I'm one of the guys you deride as the mindless killing drones following orders.
To a degree, thats true. Is true of any military in any time frame. The purpose of a combat soldier is to kill when ordered to kill, and theres very little wiggle room for personal feelings.
I don't agree though, you seem to propose these "men in turbans" are just innocent darlings, bravely defending their homelands, only wishing to be left in peace.
Ain't nearly that simply. These are some truly evil characters, whos only purpose in life is slaughtering infidels, the more the better.
They are religiously motivated zealots of a variety that is worse than the world has ever known - And while you may accuse someone like me of being mindless killing machine, the same would apply 100X to these fanatics.
Soldiers have limits, and are not bound to follow orders they consider illegal. If someone told me to toss a grenade in a room full of kids, I probably would have shot the guy giving an order like that - And would likely have been held blameless in the following court marshal.
Not so for your cherished turbaned zealots - They thrive on carnage and innocent blood, and fly into a murderous rage at the slightest provocation.
The Predator strikes in Pakistan, as long as we are there, are necessary.
These guys hiding out there are the ones planning massacres, homicide bombings and international outrages. They are out of reach, and this is the only way they can be taken out.
They are declared enemies, and legitimate targets ,, Though its easy to see how some have a problem with it.
After all, we are talking about killing people that are presumed guilty, without presenting a shred of evidence.
You sure don't have to agree with it, but to declare outright that they are illegal, and killing innocent people ect, without having the slightest clue if what you are saying is correct, is out of line.
The problem as I see it is, we have allowed so many of them to infiltrate our societies.
How can a bearded zealot sitting in some cave in Afghanistan possibly be a threat to us, 1,000's of miles away ?
Because that guy can hatch his plans, and give the orders to one of his zealots who is already pre positioned in our lands.
So you ask me, the main threat, and really the only threat, to our societies is this so-called "multiculturalism".
It is that, and only that, which allows them to hold us hostage in our own lands, and compels us to try to subdue and occupy lands around the world in an effort to stop them from harming us.
Libya, by the way, I agree is a complete unnecessary adventure we have no business at all interfering in an internal struggle. I never have, and never will, agree to the concept of using military force in pursuance of a so-called humanitarian doctrine.
Primarily driven by Europeans, I was very discouraged when the USA caved in and agreed to this sordid affair, after showing good judgment for weeks.
I have many good friends who, as I speak, have been floating around in assault ships for weeks, waiting for any order to intervene.
I will be hugely outraged if a single America life is lost in this sandpit, and those responsible for involving us in this fiasco should be held to account.
