-Caveat Lector- >> The naiveté and simple mindedness of the above is disheartening.
I cannot accurately respond to an accusation of "naiveté and simple mindedness" with logic and facts because such an accusation is a very subjective thing. Such an accusation is base entirely on the accusers view, and therefore cannot be objective. But let's assume for a moment that such an accusation is true, and I am in fact "naive and simple minded". As a result, if my comments are "naive and simple minded", then yours must be labeled equally close-minded and arrogant. It is close-minded and arrogant to base an evaluation of every situation facing our nation on a single rule of experience, especially when that situation results in the US using military force. If everyone employed such a rule, then the WWII lesson to ending an international crisis would be to just drop a couple of nukes and then invade. I am not of the Vietnam generation, and as a result I have the luxury of looking at that conflict as a historical lesson rather than a personal experience. I agree that Vietnam was a poorly conceptualized, poorly executed, and poorly finished military campaign that had dubious origins to begin with. I also know that our experience in Vietnam generally ensures that we will not make a mistake like it for a long time to come. That is why I find it to be so close-minded and arrogant that someone of that era would automatically assume that, just because a current conflict is not totally popular or is difficult, it will automatically be 'like Vietnam'. I can understand that you are disheartened if you truly have this view. It must be disheartening to think that your entire government and military is populated with people like me. >> It is incomphrehensible that any rational person could actually believe that >> broken down, 4th rate disintegrating sand dune AKA Iraq could ever be a threat >> to the awesome might of the US. Anyone so clueless and ill informed to actually >> believe we invaded Iraq because of WMD should be barred for life from any voting >> booth. So, basically anyone who disagrees with you should be barred for participating in the democratic process? The problem is that I do disagree. I have been there and have served, and I still disagree. What makes your point of view more enlightened? >> Anyone who truly believes the Iraq Misadventure will somehow free us from our >> never ending immense worldwide commitment of 100's of BBBillions and thousands >> of soldiers is too lacking in judgment to be permitted to cross the street >> unescorted. I never said that it would free us from our commitment. I said it will free us from the commitment of maintaining UN commitments that were failing and were never designed to succeed. I also believe it freed us to act as we see fit, rather than waiting for the inevitably slow mechanizations of a world community that will never agree on how to handle major problems that affect the world before they become so overwhelming that someone must act (cite NATO and Kosovo). >> We have lost many more killed and wounded in the Iraq Debacle then at this stage >> of the Viet Nam War. Compared to what stage? We waged a twelve year long containment campaign without a single combat casualty caused by the Iraqis. Vietnam suffered an average of 15 KIAs per day during the combat proper from 1965-1973. The combat proper for Iraq (I will be generous and include both before and after major combat actions) is right around 2 per day. It will take us 80 years to equal the combat deaths in Vietnam. If we are still in Iraq 80 years from now, then I will be forced to agree with you. >> The D.C. Armchair Commandos will abandon Iraq because the American people will >> not trade their monthly social security checks for a twisted Wilsonian >> internationalist neo-con pipe dream. How is that reality any better than the one you insinuate? Instead of acting on conscience, we will stand by and watch our position as one of the world's most powerful nations be eroded by our unwillingness to act decisively in a time of crisis? Beside the fact that, if Washington was really running Iraq, it really would be the debacle you envision. Thank God it is not. >> I spent hard time in Viet Nam as an officer and rarely a gentlemen. I foolishly >> thought at least we would learn hard lessons from that wasted, tragic event and >> never again permit our country to go war under false pretenses. Fortunately, for this generation, you did serve. For that, you have my gratitude. You also have my assurance, whatever you may think, that the disaster you envision has not, is not, and will not happen in this generation of military service. I can make this assurance with good conscience because the military I serve in is nothing like the one you were forced to endure. We are an all-volunteer military force. Every member is here because he or she wants to be. Most of us are dedicated to our mission and would go into harms way at a moments notice to defend and protect our nation and its interests. We are the best equipped and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. We have the knowledge and the ability to handle whatever situation we are faced with. It is a tragedy that some of us must die to defend our nation and its interests, but it is a tragedy we are willing to bear. If you question the intelligence, loyalty, integrity, and patriotism of these fine men and women, that is your right, a right we serve to defend, but I assure you that you are sadly mistaken about a lot more than you realize. Dennis L Hitzeman www.ctrl.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
