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Seem's as though the election of President McCain will mean the military will be our national identity. This would be consistant with his utterings and personal sense of identity. Instead of the State Department and Foreign Policy it will be the regional commander working with world leaders. Wow oh wow what a future for our nation and you know we will have more of when disagreements arise! McCain, Obama spar over Europe trip - Decision '08 - MSNBC.com
WASHINGTON - Republican John McCain's campaign on Saturday sharply criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for canceling a visit to wounded troops in Germany, contending Obama chose foreign leaders and cheering Europeans over "injured American heroes."
Perhaps he should have visited the base but to say he chose foreign leaders, what kind of mind set by McCain is that?
Deteriorating?
The mind of a militarist?
His own self identity speaking?
His need for a war to be able to compartmentalize thinking and activities?
His frustrated political yapping?
His ishing he hadn't told Obama to go?
His world view that the planet is for our military to explore and develop?
His just McCain being McCain?
Indication of a tick tock moment about to occur
Or the many adapatations of possibilities that readers might present both pro and con?
Since Reagan, the neoconservatives (and those that still continue to support American intervention whenever our "interests" are "threatened") have regarded the US military as the only force for "good" in this world. Anyone that disagrees with us is "evil" and should be dealt with. That's McCain's world. He's more interested in sending more troops to deal with things that should be handled through diplomatic means. It's the one thing I agree with Obama on.
The military stands to benefit the most in a totalitarian society, whether it be fascist or socialist. The government can easily "buy" the military's obedience, even in the event of an economy catastrophe. For example, as gold becomes illegal to own (again), the government can simply allocate to its soldiers the gold taken by those stupid enough to surrender it. The government can also provide prioritized housing for them and their immediate family, priority on receiving food rations in the event of an emergency, and allow soldiers to be the only people legally allowed to possess firearms.
I have absolutely no problem with this idea. I'd rather the US have a strong military and not have to use it, work all the diplomacy routes, sanctions, whatever first. However, if the US does not have a strong and viable military community, all the diplomacy, sanctions, pleadings and appeasements won't amount to even a fart in the wind.
I have absolutely no problem with this idea. I'd rather the US have a strong military and not have to use it, work all the diplomacy routes, sanctions, whatever first. However, if the US does not have a strong and viable military community, all the diplomacy, sanctions, pleadings and appeasements won't amount to even a fart in the wind.
You can have a strong military without having to glorify it. The UK is an example of this. Even modern Germany with their superior tank technology can afford to have a decent military without worship.
However, unbridled glorification of the military has ALWAYS led down the path towards a totalitarian government.
Really the idea of military veterans as a political group didn't form until after World War I, when German vets decided to band together and act as an influential group within the Weimar Republic.
The whole idea that veterans somehow are owed any respect at all is relatively new. Indeed glorification of the military is a toxic one. They are a tool, a necessary one, and no better or worse than any US citizen.
DeltaPlanter, you need to brush up on your history.
Third Reich, the British Empire, French Army under Napoleon, Roman Empire, Spartans.
The list is endless.
Ah, good, glad to read you didn't include the US in your smallish, infantile, and impudent list. So, now you want to equate the pride most of us have with our own military to that least and smallest bastion of freedom, the presumed upholders of the Aryan race - the Third Reich? Say it ain't so, VFTP. Be a man, stand UP for your country instead of beating it down in the name of TMN, the messiah, the one, the only B. HUSSEIN Obama.
Delta Planter: As I just mentioned, the effects of Germany's defeat in WWI and a strong nationalistic and militaristic sentiment flowed directly into WWII.
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