Bad timing for a draft because The Joint Chiefs of Staff spent past years squandering credibility and prestige with undeclared/unwon wars and military operations for your freedoms.
They tried a draft during the Vietnam War. They ended up finding out they had to stop.
Don’t lie to people and maybe they would be more patriotic.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
What makes elected officials believe we have some sort of 1950s crop of citizens now who would comply with a draft?
Has the US ever won an undeclared war using a draft?
From 2004
“Today, however, the Congress has relinquished its delegated powers, giving the President license to do whatever he and his office determine that they can get away with. Consequentially, the presidential and legislative oaths to the Constitution have just turned into a great photo op on inauguration day.”
“It is a sad and hard realization for a grunt who loves the Marine Corps to admit that the organization is not used in the preservation of liberty, and has not been used toward that end for a very long time.”
Both major parties have taken turns in power over the past 40 years or so. For sure, there is a chunk of public policy that has become worse, not better.
Video below: I like the way Valhalla VFT speaks on the subject:
Many comments are posted with the video above. These people will not be interviewed by TV news reporters.
The Oak Bay Starfish take:
Bad timing for a draft because The Joint Chiefs of Staff spent the past 45 years squandering credibility and prestige with undeclared/unwon wars and military operations for your freedoms.
The US press has a long history of not asking questions Re: undeclared/unwon DOD wars and military operations for your freedoms.
They tried a draft during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
2024
Positive on the campaign trail:
Big money donations, polling numbers and crowd estimates. High energy political rallies, big celebrity enthusiasm, big TV news and social media coverage. Support from people who made it to the very highest levels of government and politics.
What makes elected officials believe we have some sort of 1950s crop of citizens who would comply with a draft?
For sure, the ongoing breakdown of society does not encourage new enlistments.
The drug addicts camping on the sidewalk aren’t going to sign up. The people who are able are not wanting to serve a country that spends $51.6 billion (every 12 months) on US Dept. of Homeland Security that fails to create any shortage of opioids in the Puget Sound area, then yields the right of way to the sidewalk campers and those who want to protest on an interstate highway.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis.
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist.
Zero questions from newspeople.
US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
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.
There is no WWII generation to encourage new enlistments like there was back in the Cold War era of the 1980s.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Candidate ____________,
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
What would be your role in all this?
Would any newsperson ever ask any POTUS/VP candidate:
What happens when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft?
Unfortunately, DOD spent the past 30 years or so, squandering credibility in distant lands and here at home.
During the last century, there was a tradition among American families where one generation after another would do time in uniform. This chain appears to be broken now.
Newspeople avoid asking: Why?
A few ideas:
Never Forget-
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
The aftermath of the catastrophic military failure of 911.
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.
Both major parties are OK with federal prohibition of alcohol and tobacco for adults age 18-20.
No such thing the day I graduated from high school.
That was before decades of military operations for your freedoms.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
Ask any supporters of any political party if they are sending young family members down to the US Armed Forces recruiting office to sign up. If people are feeling campaign rally-good about their country, wouldn’t this cross over to supporting new enlistments in the US Armed Forces?
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.
They tried a draft during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
Positive on the campaign trail:
Big money donations, polling numbers and crowd estimates. High energy political rallies, big celebrity enthusiasm, big TV news and social media coverage. Support from people who made it to the very highest levels of government and politics.
What makes elected officials believe we have some sort of 1950s crop of citizens who would comply with a draft?
For sure, the ongoing breakdown of society does not encourage new enlistments.
The drug addicts camping on the sidewalk aren’t going to sign up. The people who are able are not wanting to serve a country that spends $51.6 billion (every 12 months) on US Dept. of Homeland Security that fails to create any shortage of opioids in the Puget Sound area, then yields the right of way to the sidewalk campers and those who want to protest on an interstate highway.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis.
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist.
Zero questions from newspeople.
US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
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.
There is no WWII generation to encourage new enlistments like there was back in the Cold War era of the 1980s.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Candidate ____________,
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
What would be your role in all this?
Would any newsperson ever ask any POTUS/VP candidate:
What happens when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft?
Unfortunately, DOD spent the past 30 years or so, squandering credibility in distant lands and here at home.
During the last century, there was a tradition among American families where one generation after another would do time in uniform. This chain appears to be broken now.
Newspeople avoid asking: Why?
A few ideas:
Never Forget-
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
The aftermath of the catastrophic military failure of 911.
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.
Both major parties are OK with federal prohibition of alcohol and tobacco for adults age 18-20.
No such thing the day I graduated from high school.
That was before decades of military operations for your freedoms.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
Ask any supporters of any political party if they are sending young family members down to the US Armed Forces recruiting office to sign up. If people are feeling campaign rally-good about their country, wouldn’t this cross over to supporting new enlistments in the US Armed Forces?
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.
Big money donations, and big polling numbers, big crowd estimates and high energy political rallies, big celebrity enthusiasm, big TV news and social media coverage, and big support from people who made it to the very highest levels of government and politics.
What makes elected officials believe we have some sort of 1950s crop of citizens who would comply with a draft?
For sure, the ongoing breakdown of society does not encourage new enlistments.
The drug addicts camping on the sidewalk aren’t going to sign up. The people who are able are not wanting to serve a country that spends $51.6 billion (every 12 months) on US Dept. of Homeland Security that fails to create any shortage of opioids in the Puget Sound area, then yields the right of way to the sidewalk campers and those who want to protest on an interstate highway.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis.
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist.
Zero questions from newspeople.
US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
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.
“No one has been forced to join the military in the United States since the draft ended more than 50 years ago, and each branch’s ability to fill out its ranks has depended on convincing enough people to enlist.”
They tried that during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations. Things are slow over at the recruiting office.
Prediction:
The breaking point will come at the US Armed Forces recruiting office.
There is no WWII generation to encourage new enlistments like there was back in the Cold War era of the 1980s.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Candidate ____________,
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
What would be your role in all this?
Would any newsperson ever ask any POTUS/VP candidate:
What happens when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft?
Unfortunately, DOD spent the past 30 years or so, squandering credibility in distant lands and here at home.
During the last century, there was a tradition among American families where one generation after another would do time in uniform. This chain appears to be broken now.
Newspeople avoid asking: Why?
A few ideas:
Never Forget-
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
The aftermath of the catastrophic military failure of 911.
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.
Both major parties are OK with federal prohibition of alcohol and tobacco for adults age 18-20.
No such thing the day I graduated from high school.
That was before decades of military operations for your freedoms.
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.
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.
Again- The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
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?
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.
Again- Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
Ask any supporters of any political party if they are sending young family members down to the US Armed Forces recruiting office to sign up. If people are feeling campaign rally-good about their country, wouldn’t this cross over to supporting new enlistments in the US Armed Forces?
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.
Validate big polling numbers and crowd estimates by taking a look at traffic over at the US Armed Forces recruiting office.
Newspeople refuse to ask:
What happens when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft?
Bad timing for a draft, because The US Dept. of Defense has been squandering prestige credibility at home and in distant lands over the past 40 years or so.
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Will they encourage new enlistments?
We were told we needed to send troops to Vietnam.
Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Some may have become skeptical along the way.
Prediction:
Americans will not support a draft.
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.
The DOD brand has been wrecked.
A Draft?
Decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars is now the norm. Look and see if the new military aid packages create any wave of enthusiasm to sign up.
Some may say it is time to bring back a draft.
They tried that during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations. Things are slow over at the recruiting office.
Prediction:
The breaking point will come at the US Armed Forces recruiting office.
They tried that during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations. Things are slow over at the recruiting office.
Prediction:
The breaking point will come at the US Armed Forces recruiting office.
There is no WWII generation to encourage new enlistments like there was back in the Cold War era of the 1980s.
A Fighting Spirit?
Sending The Troops to Iraq to keep the US safe – Now this:
A $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security.
Twenty years of big US Dept. of Homeland Security spending and more cartel product in Hometown, USA than ever before? What a scam.
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for doing time/risking your ass in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to keep a post 911 USA safe & secure.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Newspeople avoid these questions:
Would the DEA be out of work if a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states?
Have opioid lawsuits played any role in improving the situation?
How do cartels react to opioid lawsuits?
Has local CBP created any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area?
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.
As time goes on, American freedoms and the consumer choices we have are becoming more restricted by a combination of government and big business policies, not Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden or the next bad guy DOD will be going after in distant lands.
If The Troops defend American rights and freedoms, what becomes of those freedoms when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
President Biden,
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?
The US Dept. of Defense was established after WWII, in the late 1940s. DOD has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars.
The Dept. of Defense has made use of a draft in what wars won by the US?
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft.
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Will they encourage new enlistments?
A nation that can’t get a handle on cartel drug use in public, camping on the sidewalk, random gunfire in public & staying out of decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars may be looking at a draft.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
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.
There is no WWII generation to encourage new enlistments like there was back in the Cold War era of the 1980s.
Prediction:
Americans will not support a draft.
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.
The USA is a society where honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion, but the questioning and discussion rarely takes place.
Concerns here are not specific to any political party, personality or group identity.
Whatever seemed to work in the modern society of the last century was ditched to experiment with new ways of doing things some years ago. Incentives to maintain the modern society were removed.
This post is brought to you by the Old Man Blog category:
Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s.
People can choose to take or reject drug rehab, Salvation Army shelters, etc.
As in the last century, camping on the sidewalk will not be permitted. Unfortunate that moves to legalize marijuana came along around the same time that camping on the sidewalk took off.
Instead of waiting for school teachers to teach about individual rights and limited government authority, waiting on the press to ask questions, or courts to handle cases, these guys go out and update us with a quick reality check.
Lived all over the USA in the 80s and 90s. Was a renter for years. Never had a problem renting. Payed on time, maintained good credit, followed property rules, left the place clean, always got my damage deposit back. Could get a good reference for renting the next place.
WA during COVID:
Governor says you may not be evicted for failure to pay rent.
Killing incentives to maintain apartment complexes and homes for rent. Killing incentives to pay rent on time. Killing incentives to be a good tenant.
Love to see newspeople ask:
Have any arrangements been made to cover property owner’s costs for mortgages, taxes, repairs, maintenance, water, trash pickup, sewer, insurance, etc.
Who pays to have the apartment complex dumpster emptied if the property manager cannot collect rent?
The way I grew up, (started driving in the 70s) there were incentives related to following the rules.
Maintain current registration and insurance. Have valid registration sticker on license plate, no broken tail lights, bulbs out, etc. Avoid speeding tailgating, etc. Park legally. Pay parking/traffic tickets on time so that fines are not multiplied, etc. Get a better rate on insurance by being a good driver.
Today, enforcement on the roads has been cut back.
During the last century, there was a tradition among American families where one generation after another would do time in uniform. I went into the Marines in 1979. No controversy. No war. No thanks for your service (a good thing). The US Armed Forces were on the back burner, right where they are meant to be. Some signed up out of high school, some did not. Both choices were good. The parental generation would support doing an enlistment.
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.
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Will they encourage new enlistments?
The Oak Bay Starfish Take
The US Dept. of Defense was established after WWII, in the late 1940s. DOD has a truly poor track record with undeclared wars.
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.
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft.
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.
Long-term closure? No chance for a quick cleanup, ongoing State Patrol enforcement, maintenance & volunteer groups to keep rest stops cleaned up and ready to go?
49 other states operate highway rest stops. If I was Governor, I would insist on picking the top 3 states that are best at running rest stops and running WA rest stops in a similar manner until further improvements could be made.
These are federal highways. Publicly funded highway safety facilities will be shut down because of misbehavior? WTF?
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.
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.
Symbol of a culture that was once strong (Man On The Moon in ’69). A culture that is now weak. A culture that will yield the right of way to violators while pushing good citizens to the side & collecting big tax money all along the way.
“For a small business owner and businesses in general, Memorial Day presents an excellent opportunity to promote your products and services while also showing respect to fallen soldiers.”
“Honor Military Personnel with Freebies and Discounts
One way to show respect for our military personnel is by offering them freebies or discounts on your products or services.
You can run a Memorial Day promotion that offers a percentage off for active military personnel, veterans, or their families.
You can also offer free items like a meal, a drink, or a dessert to military personnel as a token of appreciation.”
“Every year, 36 PepsiCo military veteran drivers transport the American flag across the country and pass it to each other at various relay points.
Pepsi doesn’t market specific products anywhere in this campaign.
But it proves helpful in building up its brand image and portrays its awareness and appreciation towards the heroes and the country.”
“Brands get that many of their audience look forward to the long weekend.
Reese’s, for example, shared a recipe for the perfect treat you can easily whip up to make your Memorial Day sweeter.
Get on down to the dealership to pay your respects to those we have lost:
Get Ready To Celebrate
Those who never made it back from the war won’t be headed out with family and friends to be making any purchases. Because of this reality, here’s how it was set up last year:
Image above: We are at a hospital that was built in 1959. A plaque out front tells us so.
This is the check in area for routine services such as blood draws and X-rays. Was any sign like this in place in 1959?
Was there any US Armed Forces recruiting crisis in 1959?
Was there much in the way of undeclared/unwon DOD wars in 1959?
Would the folks who need a sign like the one above react well to being told they must show up to participate in another military draft?
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations. Things are slow over at the recruiting office.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
WWII – Most were drafted
“Over 16 million Americans served in World War II, the majority being members of this generation. 38.8% were volunteers, 61.2% were draftees, the average length of their service was 33 months, and total approximate casualties were 671,278 (killed and wounded).[18] Tom Brokaw and others extol this generation for supporting and fighting World War II.”
It may be awkward for currently serving elected officials, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians to be honest about what they have done with the all volunteer US Armed Forces over the past 40 years or so.
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.
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.
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
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.
Look for newspeople to avoid tough/honest questions in this area.
Many comments are posted with the video above.
From comments:
“The wars of the past 25 years, perpetrated by both parties, have soured many good citizens on the idea of military service.”
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
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?
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.
Lies About Freedoms
American culture is good with lies about freedoms.
Americans are told that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms.
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.
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.
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
It feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
Will elected officials look to a draft after American families stop sending a new generation to enlist in the US Armed Forces?
A recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, & high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so.
The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended in the early 90s.
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.
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.
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
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.
Like A Giant Civil Rights Organization?
Acting Secretary of Defense:
“The Department of Defense continues to be one of our nation’s bedrock institutions,” Shanahan said, and “our foundational strength lies in the remarkable men and women who volunteer to serve our country and protect our freedoms, while making immense personal sacrifice.”
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.
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.
From comments posted with video above:
“If the draft is reinstated, standby for a backlash that will make Kent State and the 1968 National Democratic Convention in Chicago look like a birthday party with Barny the Purple dinosaur… These kids aren’t stupid and they will lash out, violently, to any form of military conscription regardless of who institutes it (Democrat/Republican).”
“…surely a sign of an empire in decline that these nations can no longer attract people willing to take up arms on their behalf. If that is the case, the US and UK are facing an acute crisis of decline.”
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
A recruiting crisis was earned by the politicians, generals, & high ranking civilians who have been running the Pentagon over the past 30 years or so.
The crisis is also upon us due to newspeople not asking questions going back to the time the Cold War ended in the early 90s.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
As always-
Zero questions from the press on how American families react to decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars.
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.
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.
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
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.
The prosperous, homogeneous, and high-trust America of the 1960s—one where most of the families had two parents, and the dads were World War II veterans—nearly tore itself apart over the Vietnam-era draft. That cultural conflict cast a long shadow and discouraged military adventurism for many years. It is impossible to believe that the disunited, fragmented, and multicultural America of today would support a draft to pursue a high-casualty war of attrition for some abstract goal like “the balance of power in Europe” or “open shipping lanes in the South China Sea.”
“If a draft is required to maintain the American Empire, we should consider other modes of coexistence with the rest of the world that do not depend on oversized American military power, because a draft is impossible in today’s America.”
Reality Check
The US Dept of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home. Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
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?
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.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
Fake GWOT?
The US Dept. of Homeland Security was invented after the catastrophic military failure of 911. The idea was to keep bad people from coming to the US to do bad things/attempt another 911, etc.
Wouldn’t the giant War on Terror be a cartel drug trafficker’s worst nightmare?
We got our ass kicked on 911.The federal government has been squandering credibility ever since. If the US Armed Forces were keeping us safe– first responders would have had a routine day at work on 911. The giant government and “Dept of Defense” were nowhere to be found on 911. For federal government convenience, take the day, follow along, pledge your allegiance and behave as that government sees fit. Do as you are told. Fly your flag as you are told. Think and behave as that government tells you. Divert your attention away from federal government failure and stay busy with federal suggestions for the day.
Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we will observe the day by avoiding network TV. At the bottom of this page, we will offer up some readings featuring voices of dissent and alternative media.
Aftermath
Let’s say the federal government did everything right before and on the day of Sept. 11th, 2001. The uniparty press avoids questions on how things have come together since.
Big Homeland Security spending
The US Dept of Homeland Security was established on November 25, 2002. Plenty of time for lessons learned, and more cartel drugs entering Hometown, USA than ever before?
Lessons Learned?
Anytime there is a plane crash, a loss at sea, or an industrial accident, a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents. A major aircraft manufacturer grounds certain airplanes after mishaps. Time is required to investigate and find out what went wrong.
Any similar effort after a big cartel drug bust inside the US?
The folks who show up and investigate the plane crash don’t spend time congratulating each other. Their work is designed to try and prevent similar future incidents, not promote themselves.
Preventing drugs from entering local communities would kill the chance for various agencies to get publicity for the occasional big drug bust happening in those communities.
Wonder what was happening at border crossing/port of entry inspections during the 12 months Operation P-22 (to take down just one branch of the cartel activity) took place. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?
Did the cartel traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?
If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?
Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for months. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.
This time next year- will there be any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area? Has any city, county or state jurisdiction been able to cleanup their drug problem using these methods?
Snohomish 2015
Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US:
Newspeople are good about posting a drug bust press release. Newspeople remain silent when it comes to asking questions about Homeland Security funding and performance.
Big DOD spending on undeclared/unwon wars for our freedoms.
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 lawn mower.
Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
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?
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.
Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better.
Why do we speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Both major parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Both major parties are good with a land of the free holding pattern where alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18? Are The Joint Chiefs of Staff working to change any of this?
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.
Has it become harder to find blogs, videos and alternative media that ask questions or point to the failures of 911 and its aftermath? How about COVID? How about a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security?
“Nearly 1,800 victims’ relatives, first responders and survivors are calling on Biden to refrain from attending any memorials over his refusal to release Sept. 11 documents.”
“The administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also declined to declassify supporting documents, citing national security concerns.”
22 Years Later
Part of the reaction was to send The Troops into undeclared wars.
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.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
Fake GWOT?
The US Dept. of Homeland Security was invented after the catastrophic military failure of 911. The idea was to keep bad people from coming to the US to do bad things/attempt another 911, etc.
Wouldn’t the giant War on Terror be a cartel drug trafficker’s worst nightmare?
If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?
The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911 – May 7, 2025
If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?
Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?
Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?
“What goes on at airports is not security. It is Security Theater. When the government’s own agents try to smuggle “weapons” aboard airliners to test the system, they succeed ninety-five percent of the time.”
“Further, a terrorist doesn’t need to get aboard an airliner to blow up spectacularly. At many airports, hundreds of people line up at ticket counters during peak hours. A carry-on bag of explosive would easily create enough slaughter to shut down air travel and to make international headlines for weeks.”
Will sending the National Guard, active, reserve and IRR forces to support NATO/Ukraine stimulate new enlistments over at the recruiting office?
National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
These families have stories to tell and they’re not all positive. Will their stories support a draft?
Looks like the Big Uniparty Debate Night revealed some support for the US/Ukraine effort. Looks like Trump wants to shut down war over there.
Over the past year or so, the US Armed Forces recruiting crisis has been in the news and the occasional comment advising a return to the draft will appear.
Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we believe that a return to the draft is total political fantasy. Below, we will go into some of the reasons why, but not much is new if you’re one of the many readers who have been closely following the blog at any time since the catastrophic military failure of 911. Still wondering if anyone was fired over that.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
It is understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
The press supports the uniparty, so newspeople go easy on asking any questions here.
The US Army brought back WWII uniforms a few years back. Was this an effort to boost recruiting? Looks like it didn’t work. The WWII uniform reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?
Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?
Newspeople remain silent.
April 1, 2020 C-SPAN
WWII costume again- a look from a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
Talk of the draft is a response to recruiting struggles and more wars on the table.
Never Forget-
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
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.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
This is what Americans will support with a draft?
Fake GWOT?
The US Dept. of Homeland Security was invented after the catastrophic military failure of 911. The idea was to keep bad people from coming to the US to do bad things/attempt another 911, etc.
Wouldn’t the giant War on Terror be a cartel drug trafficker’s worst nightmare?
If Americans lived in a free and honest society, newspeople would be asking public policy related questions all of the time. This is not the case.
Wonder what was happening at border crossing/port of entry inspections during the 12 months Operation P-22 (to take down just one branch of the cartel activity) took place. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?
Did the cartel traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?
If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?
Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for months. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.
This time next year- will there be any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area? Has any city, county or state jurisdiction been able to cleanup their drug problem using these methods?
Thanks for doing time/risking your ass in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to keep a post 911 USA safe & secure.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
These families have stories to tell and they’re not all positive. Will their stories support a draft?
Random Questions For The Uniparty:
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
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?
“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”
Back during the Cold War era of the 1980s, the US Armed Forces seemed to be in good shape. Today, DOD struggles with recruiting difficulties. I have my own attitudes about all this.
“During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the services met their quotas, and that was with people dying and coming home missing limbs. What has changed? Young people see what a failure those wars were. Why fight for a govt that views them as pawns for their political whims and cuts out when all the Generals have been promoted and the companies made billions. Add in the cultural politicization of the military (changing base names and pronouns to name a few) and the pool of eligible people (which is still large) see the military not as honorable service but something to be avoided. Young people see a made up war in Ukraine coming soon as the administration keeps poking the Russians. The left has spent decades demonizing military service, now it is ok? People are smarter than that. A draft is way to avoid fixing the decline in our military and the politicization of its mission/people. Stop the cultural attack on the military ethos, hold accountable someone besides a Marine Major for the failure of the Iran/Iraq wars and stop promoting a war with Russia so Raytheon and Lockeed can make more money. You would see people join. I am a Naval Academy Graduate and served my country for 20 years in various jobs. I would sooner my sons work at a gas station than join today’s military.”
& see where savings are available to pay fees for healthcare earned by people who volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.
“The total amount of funds unaccounted for has now reached a staggering $7 billion, officials say — and they warn that the Iraqi government is likely to demand at least some of that money back.”
Elected officials preside over waste & decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas- then tell us there is no more money for the traditional DOD military healthcare benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
No union rep. No grandfather clause.
Many Americans may associate free medical care with people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.
Recommendation-
Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.
Stop spending federal money on meaningless support the troops promotions, campaigns and VIP photo ops that are not connected in any way with public policy.
Instant, non-experimental jobs program/revenue generator requiring zero tax dollars-
Allow U.S. farmers to answer the global demand for Industrial Hemp.
It is unfortunate that the American people seem to want to support the troops, but lack a basic understanding of public policy related to the troops.
To be fair- public policy in this area can be confusing- even to people who did time in uniform.
This confusing article seems to indicate that people in highly respected and specialized units, or people involved in high-profile operations would be eligible for a different benefit package than the average people who were in average units over the years. Investigative reporters may not have had a clear understanding of public policy in this case.
This very popular marketing device for a US auto manufacturer is not connected in any way to public policy:
Take a look at comments below the video and you will see that people truly feel connected to supporting the troops by watching a made for TV car commercial.
The First Lady has made an effort to support military families. Unfortunately- these efforts appear to be completely unrelated to public policy.
Here is a hand selected lady who was surprised (1:12) to get a phone call of support from The First Lady- even though cameras were rolling in her home when the phone rang:
No definite benefit package is offered for people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.
Honest management of public information could improve the situation.
Many Americans may associate free medical care with people who stay for 20 years in the US Armed Forces.
Recommendation-
Insert language into recruiting literature and enlistment documents stating that rules concerning benefits may change at any time & that no definite benefit package will be provided in exchange for 20 years of unrestricted worldwide service. No grandfather clause will apply. Have unit leaders refer to this disclaimer when promoting retention drives, giving re-enlistment speeches, etc.
Stop spending federal money on meaningless support the troops promotions, campaigns and VIP photo ops that are not connected in any way with public policy.
“State ferries officials say they had no choice but to fairly enforce security policies that were stepped up in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the East Coast on Sept. 11, 2001.”
Security policies?
The Washington State Patrol uses dogs to check vehicles at some ferry terminals on some days. Walk-on passengers are not checked at any terminal- at any time.
A free and independent press plays no role here in questioning public policy- simply passing down dictates from above.
So, if this guy is arrested it might be done in secret if the one page report is already full, the arrest is not selected by the agency for public release or is an apprehension that results in an ongoing investigation?
Suspicionless checkpoints on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula- away from border crossings and ports of entry-
We are told the #1 US Border Patrol objective is to stop terrorists.
The US Border Patrol explains this objective at a local public forum- this YouTube video covers Border Patrol objectives at 3:50
At that same forum a lady asked:
“What is the penalty for not identifying oneself to federal agents at an internal, suspicionless checkpoint?”
US Border Patrol said they would call in the Sheriff when a person refused to identify themselves.
Sheriff says they will not respond to a non-emergency situation involving a person peaceably refusing to interact with federal agents.
Question about providing ID is at 0:35
Checkpoints ended here in 2008- possibly due to well-informed citizens and local protests. Looks like they weren’t vital to national security after all.
& see where savings are available to pay fees for healthcare earned by people who volunteered to go to far away places and maybe never come back again.
“The total amount of funds unaccounted for has now reached a staggering $7 billion, officials say — and they warn that the Iraqi government is likely to demand at least some of that money back.”
Elected officials preside over waste & decades of ongoing, undeclared wars overseas- then tell us there is no more money for the traditional DOD military healthcare benefits that were used to entice people to stay for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Senator McCain speaks about military healthcare benefits-
There was a time when Moms & Dads, friends, relatives, folks at church and school- and people with years of military experience- encouraged a younger generation to take a favorable look at making a career of the US Armed Forces.
Even if there was another draft- people would be drafted for an enlistment- not a career.
Talks about legalizing marijuana while including restrictions that leave prohibition and the drug war in place for adults age 18-20, those who want to grow a plant at home, possess more than an ounce, or possess marijuana from non-state sanctioned outlets.
Talks about placing high taxes on legal marijuana.
Dealers, traffickers and cartels are good with this idea.
Think terrorists are smart enough to pose as drug traffickers- then cross into the US free of screening, scanning, pat downs, special IDs, inspection of personal items, etc.
Domestic heroin busts are reported as some sort of law & order success-
Each one is evidence that- 11 years after 911– the US Dept. of Homeland Security is unable to prevent criminal traffic from entering the US.
Conspiracy Theory-
More information is better- this is how science and medicine works. Over the years some people have been freed from prison based on new DNA evidence becoming available.
Are the people who took steps to discover that new evidence conspiracy theorists?
Apply this same curiosity and desire for knowledge to some controversial topics and you’ll be labeled a conspiracy theorist.
Today- most Americans can repeat the “Thanks for your service” slogan and move on without having to involve themselves or family members in decades of undeclared wars in distant lands. This is just the way politicians want it.
If there is any quiet sense of guilt among politicians or people who never did time in uniform about all that- it can be cleared up by thanking The Troops for protecting American rights and freedoms, supporting The Troops, giving them discounts, being cool with them wearing field uniforms in public, not questioning wars that aren’t won, etc.
Spending just a few moments at major sporting events honoring the troops covers for cutting benefits for those who hung in for multiple tours in Iraq.
Troop suicides are less of a big deal if everyone is a volunteer.
Above: Approved Flag Images
