Four-star officers and high level DOD civilians built careers made of undeclared/unwon wars. Now they must mastermind ways to recruit a new generation.
Sorry, no time for the press to ask if decades of undeclared/unwon wars fail to stimulate an urge to enlist:
Video above: Comments are turned off.
At 9:00 below:
The Troops are defending the constitution and allowing families back home to enjoy freedom.
Many comments follow the video above. Sample those comments to see that the thousands of American veterans who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan going back to Operation Desert Shield, may not be inclined to recommend and enlistment to the young people in their lives.
From comments:
“A big turn off are the forever wars we get ourselves involved in. Who wants to go fight a war that were likely to not win and that will cost unimaginable blood and treasure?”
“…We haven’t been in a war to protect our OWN national security since WW2!!”
“Listening to these 2 old guys epitomizes exactly what I was thinking it would be.
Totally out of touch. Completely unaware of the problems and just thinking that if they make it look cool people will come back lol
Absolutely hilarious. A perfect display of just how out of touch the leadership is.”
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces. Authorities need to be honest in order to figure out why young Americans are not interested in showing up.
Commander Lippold,
Honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion. Undeclared/unwon wars are not about American freedoms.
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
Commander Lippold,
Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?
Did these forces constantly brag about freedoms while mandating what kind of showerhead must be installed in the bathroom of private homes, and what type of gas can must be purchased for a lawnmower? Did these hostile forces spend $6.3 million in federal cash on a used Ocean Shores hotel and prompt the press to ask no questions?
Was it Saddam Hussein who made a move to sign off on federal law prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20?
Did foreign terrorists set up a land of the free holding pattern where alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults?
Did foreign terrorists mandate what sort of toilet you must install in your home?
Did Saddam Hussein take over small town papers and turn them into propaganda outlets?
From 2017:
Here, in this military town, the local paper seems to go with family friendly and patriotic themes.
About a year ago, their hometown pride was running high when they posted:
“For the past couple of years, the Whidbey News-Times paid the insurance for the Veterans Day Parade, about $200, because it was a small way of saying thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so that we may have our liberties, including our Freedom of Speech.”
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Why do we pretend that the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
More here: Military Town – Hometown Pride
Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their generator.
American culture is good with lies about freedoms.
“From the first day that children enter the government’s public (i.e., government) school system to which their parents are forced to send them, their minds are molded to believe that they live in a free society. Every day, for 12 long years, that’s what they are taught to believe. By the time they graduate high school, there is no doubt in the minds of 18-year-olds that they live in a genuinely free society.”
“As adults at public events, most all of them eagerly stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (“with liberty and justice for all”), which, of course, they know by heart given that they were required to recite it every morning before the start of classes. They love singing to themselves, “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.”
“Moreover, the government molds their minds to conform to whatever the government says about freedom. When the Pentagon invades countries like Vietnam, Syria, Grenada, Afghanistan, Iraq, and so many others in the name of “freedom,” most everyone immediately embraces the freedom concept. ”
Americans are told that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
Again, the US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
President Biden says different:
It’s all about freedom folks.
Biden honors Americans who ‘stood on the front lines of freedom’ in Veterans Day remarks
CNN Nov 11, 2023
Sorry, no newspeople available to ask:
Mr President,
How would American freedoms today be any different if US troops were never sent to Iraq?
Some Americans may be asking:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Recruiting Crisis/Reality Check
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
US Army
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up:
US Navy
Vice Adm. Cheeseman says:
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up. Trouble is, maybe those family members expect more from a commitment to enlist than decades of undeclared/unwon wars. The press, four-star officers, and elected officials will avoid owning up to this.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and the press will avoid being honest about how DOD has been used over the past 30 years. They tend to avoid discussing a track record that is not attractive to the parents, grandparents, young people and veterans of America.
Related:
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
Random Thoughts – Recruiting Crisis
Recruiting Crisis – A Million Meals for Military Families In Need
Late 2023 US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
A Draft? – DOD Brand Has Been Wrecked
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
Hostile Forces in Distant Lands
The country struggles with: