If you view the question in isolation, perhaps.
But if the US had had a very different foreign policy post WW2 it’s hard to see where the threats are coming from, and all the trillions spent on the military could have been spent on incredible projects around the world.
I actually did that too. I’m sorry that my:
Were not enough for you.
Where’s your sense of humour?
Give me a break. Two posts in this thread, two shots at me. Everyone here knows any form of “write another strongly worded letter” means the actions in question were deemed hilariously inept.
If you insist on that take.
The foreign policy post a shot? Are we not allowed to disagree or point out the bigger picture?
Yeah, I mean if theoretically an army is deemed necessary because of some international “situation” which presents a definite threat someone has to volunteer for it or we’ll be hearing from Paul fucking Hardcastle again.
That was not a shot, and was not one of your first two posts ITT. You know damn well what I’m referring to, I’m not a a moron, so I noticed it. I’m not going to litigate the blow by blow of your shots at me in this thread, here in this thread. If you want to argue over which shots at me were or were not shots, take it elsewhere.
Plenty of people wish to discuss this topic without it devolving into personal insults. So why don’t you pick another thread to be a dick to me in, and keep it on topic here?
?
Post 1: to microbet
Post 2: strongly worded letter
Post 3: foreign policy
Personal insult tally: 0
I’m not going to litigate the blow by blow of your shots at me in this thread, here in this thread. If you want to argue over which shots at me were or were not shots, take it elsewhere.
Plenty of people wish to discuss this topic without it devolving into personal insults. So why don’t you pick another thread to be a dick to me in, and keep it on topic here?
Why don’t you reply to on topic posts then instead of acting like Captain Paranoid Sorearse?
I have, with people I wish to discuss the topic with today who have made points worth engaging on.
Plenty of people wish to discuss this topic without it devolving into personal insults. So why don’t you pick another thread to be a dick to me in, and keep it on topic here? (like with other people)
2nded. It was going petty well.
Isn’t it 5.45am EST atm? Get some sleep Cuse.
Put me in the no army basket assuming all countries equal in thinking/motivation. In present world dramatically reduced size with only overseas deployment as a peacekeeping force.
Someone in the original thread asked “Who is at the top of the military industrial complex?” The answer is You, which is why this question is difficult to tackle.
Are military enlistees morally culpable? No. But they are–as we all are–responsible.
There is a part of me that wants to point to soliders and say “You did this! Without you, there is no war.” But that is such a shallow understanding. I also want to point to the top of the chain, the government and the generals, the ones who make the bombs, the ones who make policies and decisions. But that also seems like a very shallow understanding.
It’s all of us. We all play our role, even through our opposition.
Even when we make possibly the moral choice like voting for Obama over McCain. Are we responsible for Obama’s bombs? Maybe, if this is the way you’re looking at it. But we were doing what we at least thought (and very likely were right) would decrease war.
Do you think that an individual enlisting to the army increases the chances of war?
The most significant watershed moment in the creation of the modern Middle East and biggest catalyst for the never ending violence was Britain reneging on their promises to Arabs after WW1.
You never mention this because it would detract from your anti American narrative.
Sure. I guess Britain was responsible for Vietnam too.
Yes.
I’m not for conscription, but it would almost certainly decrease the wars we send people to.
It’s not the only issue though. Voluntary participation is important. And going out of your way to do something is different than not leaving where you were born or risking your life or freedom to avoid it.
Britain, and British Petroleum, are very responsible for the wars in the ME.
Do you think that France isn’t largely responsible for the Vietnam war?