Hello from the Middle East

Hello from the Middle East [+ favourites]

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"I may disagree with what you say, but i'll defend to the death your right to say it"
[  Edited by bmxbiker16 at   ]

Glad you made it over there! Besides being hot what do you think of it?

Em

""Live life to the fullest!""

Sure does, baby killer.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

I'm confused - boats don't float in sand?

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

Glad to hear that you are there and still safe. I hope that the good Lord keeps you safe so you can return home safely. I also want to thank you for being over there and keeping us here at home safe. I don't think that you military folks hear enough praise for what you are doing over there from folks here. If it weren't for you guys who knows where we would be. Keep up the good work and stay safe. Hope to hear from you again soon.

"Life is like a box of chocolate you never know what you will get!"

Choosing to walk in the middle of a crowded highway because some jackass tells me to because it's good for the country doesn't mean that I am doing anything pious.

Any threats to your life in a situation you should not have put yourself in to begin with is your own problem.

And us civilians are funding your career, so show a little more respect. I may be canadian, but I pay lots of US taxes.

Every soldier in the world has a responsibility to question his or her's superior's motives. If he or she does not, he or she is a threat to everyone.

I hope you return safely and do not do anythign that you will regret for the rest of your life.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

Scary - be safe - be careful. Stay in touch and share what you can.

Decius - I know that you only meant it as a joke to begin with, but you don't know.

If BMX says no he may never ever get to ever vote again and a whole slew of other benifits that you and I look forward to, but he'll always have to pay taxes. Its not fair. No one ever explains it all to you until after you sign those papers, even if they did you wouldn't believe it.

This is starting to look more and more like Vietnam every day.

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

Are you saying the contract doesn't stipulate everything legally?

I doubt that okcitykid.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

On the one hand BMX wasnt conscripted so if its shit, well you signed on bucko.

On the other, thanks for doing your duty, your defending our ideals. You are out there to prove we're good decent people, don't disapoint the Iraqis.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

quote:

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Are you saying the contract doesn't stipulate everything legally?

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"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

Well said kid. Never blame the men in the field, they need all the support we can give them.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

If a soldier does not question his superiors, he is nothing more than a hired hitman.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

A low-rank soldier is not made to think (out of the military context). The army is meant to be apolitical, this is obviously difficult for the high-ranking generals, but I see no reason to taint the rest of the army.

Of course there will be Abu-Ghraib type fuckups, but that's not the grunt's job to question. The grunt obeys, the general goes to the war-crimes tribunal. Discipline and obedience is a fundamental and essential part of the army, removing it will remove the army's ability to fight effectively.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

Thanks for stating the obvious.

The point still remains that an unquestioning soldier is a hired killer, and should be regarded as such.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

When I was on our local fire dept. I was always told that if you feel that doing something is going to put you and/or someone else in danger to question it. I don't see where the military would be much different no matter what branch you are in or dealing with. Yes to a point a lower ranked person has to obey what their superiors tell them but there is still a line where that lower ranked person should be able to say "hey wait a minute. this is going to put us in harms way and I see this as a way of getting what needs to be done done and keep up out of harms way." If I am wrong in my thinking then I am very glad that I never joined the military and feel for those who have/will.

Em

""Live life to the fullest!""