The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Does the US Dept. of Defense contribute to a free and honest society?
A few random thoughts here:
The US Dept. of Defense was established after WWII, in the late 1940s.
DOD then began a decades long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands.
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.
Recruiting Crisis
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
Things are slow over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office.
A few years back, the US Army brought back WWII uniforms to remind us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up and to stimulate a wave of new enlistments.
Thousands of American families have now had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces or National Guard who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
That’s a lot of parents, grandparents, young people and veterans who have some idea about what it’s like to do time in uniform since the catastrophic military failure of 911.
Look for newspeople, four-star officers, high level DOD civilians and think tanks everywhere to ask zero questions Re: marketing the US Dept. of Defense track record with decades of undeclared/unwon wars.
Will an older generation encourage a younger generation to do time in the US Armed Forces?
Some will say it is time to bring back a draft.
They tried that during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
A Draft? – DOD Brand Has Been Wrecked
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.
Made For TV
Various big companies will remind us that they support veterans and The Troops. Always wonder if any of those companies advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars. Do traditional veterans organizations advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars? Would a move in this direction attract more new members? Have any newspeople ever asked about this?
The All Volunteer Force era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy. Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:
Freedom
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.
A Free & Honest Society?
Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
In a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking questions related to public policy all of the time.
Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Newspeople asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Today, the mainstream media will function like paid actors reading a script:
Would any newsperson ever ask:
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?
Would any newsperson ever ask:
US Troops sent to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., are somehow defending the constitution?
If US Troops were never sent to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., what would have become of American rights and freedoms and the US constitution?
Liberty And Justice For All?
In addition to freedoms possibly enjoyed by all adults, those adults who are 18-20 years old are placed in a land of the free holding pattern.
Both major political parties are good with alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions that are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Land Of The Free Holding Pattern
Don’t look for newspeople or school teachers at Veterans Day assemblies to question any of this. Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better. Ask the speakers at your Veterans Day assembly.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, federal toilet regulations, sports betting, federal gas can regulations/free enterprise system,
voting rights, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.
American freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
1967
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
Be sure to ask the speakers and teachers at your elementary school Veterans Day assembly.
The formal congressional declaration of war would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
Whatever Happened To Armistice Day?
Veterans Day
One of the very most meaningful holidays for some. Stolen from Armistice Day in the 1950s. At that time, the US Dept. of Defense had started a decades long tradition of not being able to stay out of or win undeclared wars in distant lands.
Today, Armistice Day is free chow day.
Now seeing comments on the web that will say the goal of sending US troops to distant lands is not to win, fix or solve problems. The goal is to use up military budgets, so more money can be requested for DOD. The goal is to maintain a climate of concern and fear so more money can be requested for the Pentagon.
Related:
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
1980s Army College Fund – Dad Shows Support
Respect for The National Guard
America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis
Late 2023 US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
DOD Careers Made of Undeclared/Unwon Wars – Honesty Is Lacking
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
Hostile Forces in Distant Lands
Dept. of Defense Lies About Freedom
The country struggles with:
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Possibly of interest:
Podcast 9 Defending The Constitution?
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.