What to Tell A Young Man Who Wants to Enlist-Fred

[haha]

http://www.fredoneverything.net/FOE_Frame_Column.htm

I have great respect for combat soldiers; very little to none for the military and political bureaucracy that takes advantage of young men's youth and ignorance and idealism to get them to fight their stupid wars. Since I can't think of anything the government has ever done for me, other than put impediments in the way of my pursuit of happiness, I would personally be unwilling to fight over anything at all other than immediate obvious threats to me. In fact most things that would threaten me in a public disorder sense would be made harder to defend against by the government, not easier.

Fred's piece is good; I plan to forward it to my youngest son. Dalton Trumbo's book, Johhny Got His Gun, did the necessary attitude adjustment for me during the Viet-nam War.

Ha

 

[retire@40]

...I would personally be unwilling to fight over anything at all other than immediate obvious threats to me...

Sometimes a threat is neither immediate nor obvious.

History has taught us that in order to prevent a lethal threat in the future, it may be better to remove that threat before it actually occurs.

 

[Nords]

Fred's piece is good

Well, there doesn't seem to be anything wishy-washy about his stance and he certainly has his facts straight, although he spelled "commie" wrong...

 

[Marshac]

Sometimes a threat is neither immediate nor obvious.

History has taught us that in order to prevent a lethal threat in the future, it may be better to remove that threat before it actually occurs.

And for those who would compromise the founding principals of a country for a little bit of security? What does history say of them? The whole concept of preemptive war gives me the willies.

 

[Eagle43]

I read Fred every week. I think he's brilliant and would love to go have a beer with him. He is wrong about National Review. The founder, William F. Buckley, did combat duty in WWII. Just a nit. His take on getting your limbs shot off is right on the mark. I knew a friend who served in Korea who lost a leg. Nobody cared(s) now.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

I read Fred every week.  I think he's brilliant and would love to go have a beer with him.  He is wrong about National Review.  The founder, William F. Buckley, did combat duty in WWII.  Just a nit.  His take on getting your limbs shot off is right on the mark.  I knew a friend who served in Korea who lost a leg.  Nobody cared(s) now. 

Probably Viet Nam is the same. I have a lot of friends who were there, 2 were wounded.
They have fascinating stories but most don't seem to want to talk about it. If I had gone
and survived, I doubt you could shut me up.

JG

 

[dory36]

...I doubt you could shut me up. 

JG

This just cries out for some comment...

 

[Mr._johngalt]

This just cries out for some comment... 

Yeah, I do my best to set you guys up

JG

 

[sgeeeee]

Sometimes a threat is neither immediate nor obvious.

So if there are threats that are neither immediate nor obvious, how do we recognize them? What should we do? Assume everything is a threat that needs to be attacked?

History has taught us that in order to prevent a lethal threat in the future, it may be better to remove that threat before it actually occurs.

In hindsight maybe. History also teaches us that misguided action is often the cause of devestating conflict that could have been avoided.