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View Full Version : Pentagon to Start Awarding Medals for Drone Strikes




itshappening
02-13-2013, 01:17 PM
http://cdn.theatlanticwire.com/img/upload/2013/02/13/RTR2ORX6/large.jpg

The Defense Department is reportedly inventing a new medal designed to reward soliders who fight battles from the safety of their computer consoles. The Associated Press says the Pentagon is creating a new ribbon, called the Distinguished Warfare Medal that will be given for "extra achievement" related to a military operation. That would include drone pilots operating unmanned planes from halfway around the world, or even hackers who launch a successful cyberattack on an enemy. Unlike all other combat-related medals, this would be the first one that you can be awarded without actually putting your life online.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/02/pentagon-start-awarding-medals-drone-strokes-and-cyberattacks/62104/

MRK
02-13-2013, 01:24 PM
Big deal, I won the Counterstrike CAL championships back in '99. These guys only know how to kill unarmed, unaccused 16 year old Americans.

ronpaulfollower999
02-13-2013, 01:25 PM
The Call of Duty generation.

Spikender
02-13-2013, 01:27 PM
Play a cool little "simulation", kill some "terrorists", cause some "collateral damage", and get a cool little medal.

Looks like a win-win situation to me. Let's crack open a casket of cider and celebrate.

kcchiefs6465
02-13-2013, 01:27 PM
http://i.imgur.com/oNDYCEp.jpg?1

HOLLYWOOD
02-13-2013, 01:29 PM
The Call of Duty generation.Yes, I can imagine their training technical schools consist of playing every version of; Call of Duty, HALO, Command and Conquer: RED ALERT, Medal of Honor, and Counterstrike games.

Spikender
02-13-2013, 01:31 PM
Yes, I can imagine their training technical schools consist of playing every version of; Call of Duty, HALO, Command and Conquer: RED ALERT, Medal of Honor, and Counterstrike games.

Play some "games", kill some "enemy combatants", get some shiny medals; sounds like every schoolboy's dream!

itshappening
02-13-2013, 01:35 PM
I miss counterstrike, is it still going? what happened to it?

CyberTootie
02-13-2013, 01:35 PM
Sweet, tangible items for "achievements!" :rolleyes:

Spikender
02-13-2013, 01:37 PM
I miss counterstrike, is it still going? what happened to it?

Yep, Counterstrike is still going strong. Tens of thousands of people still play it. They're all waiting to kill you if you want to come back.

MRK
02-13-2013, 01:37 PM
I miss counterstrike, is it still going? what happened to it?

Yep, it's still going. Counterstrike has no centralized gaming servers, so you can still connect to a long list of independent servers with many customized mods.

itshappening
02-13-2013, 01:42 PM
Yep, it's still going. Counterstrike has no centralized gaming servers, so you can still connect to a long list of independent servers with many customized mods.

The last time I played it (few years ago) it took ages to download all the sounds and stuff they package on those servers :(

I think I got my money's worth out of Half-life 2 though, considering all the free mods and the amount of time I played CS

Pericles
02-13-2013, 03:42 PM
YGBSM Last time I checked, the Army had about 65 medals and ribbons, of which some 25 were for doing something in a war. You would think an AAM or a green hornet would do ....:rolleyes:

sailingaway
02-13-2013, 03:51 PM
Unbelievable.

"Game of Drones -- you have achieve Prestige Status!! Level Up!!"

amonasro
02-13-2013, 03:53 PM
Yep, it's still going. Counterstrike has no centralized gaming servers, so you can still connect to a long list of independent servers with many customized mods.

Nice to know. I used to play in college quite a bit. I should fire it up one of these days.

mad cow
02-13-2013, 03:57 PM
And a Purple Heart for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 04:00 PM
This thread topic is skewed. Plenty of people in various non-combat MOSs/AFSCs/Rates have HUGE impacts on combat operations. There is a combat medal to award those who see combat, but no medal specifically designed for combat impact from non-combat positions. There have always been other catch-all medals for this, such as Air Force/Army/Navy Achievement/Commendation Medals, but nothing this specific. This medal can include so many different career fields... it's really misleading to just pinpoint drone operations.

Also, drone operators have been receiving Aerial Achievement Medals for years now. The concept is nothing new.

awake
02-13-2013, 04:02 PM
Trinkets to keep'em killing. Shiny things really do occupy the shallow mind.

CaptainAmerica
02-13-2013, 04:09 PM
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080915164633/starwars/images/0/0e/Deathstar_gunner.jpg they shall make the empire happy , hey its just a "JOB" ,for lazy fucks who cant go learn a real skill besides killing people.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 04:15 PM
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080915164633/starwars/images/0/0e/Deathstar_gunner.jpg they shall make the empire happy , hey its just a "JOB" ,for lazy fucks who cant go learn a real skill besides killing people.

Come on man.. the hatred and arrogance on this forum toward specific groups of people is getting old.

Lazy fucks? Right. Because you have got to be lazy as hell to through basic training and over half a year of 12 hour training days to earn the 1U0X1 AFSC. No real skill? So because they don't go into a job that you hold in high regard, there's no skill involved? C4ISR requires plenty of skills, high qualifications, and experience. Before I separated I was selected to go into this career field, and it's no damn cake walk. These people are not in harm's way, but they work long ass hours in remote parts of the country on random rotating schedules that make normal life nearly impossible. I looked at doing it because it is the cutting edge of aviation technology, and I thought it would be fun. My political views shifted and I decided to cancel my retraining and separate from the military. Most people that go into this don't go into it because they want to kill people from the safety of an arm chair. I'm sick and tired of people making RPA Sensor Operators and Pilots out to be some kind of sick fucking terrorists. Nobody is signing up to do this job because they're hell bent on murder and destruction. 99.9% of what you do in either of these positions is pure recon, and it is VERY RARE that you will actually be involved with delivery or ordinance.

You all need to get off your moral high horses and quit judging people who you've never even had the slightest damn connection to.

awake
02-13-2013, 04:29 PM
Come on man.. the hatred and arrogance on this forum toward specific groups of people is getting old.

Lazy fucks? Right. Because you have got to be lazy as hell to through basic training and over half a year of 12 hour training days to earn the 1U0X1 AFSC. No real skill? So because they don't go into a job that you hold in high regard, there's no skill involved? C4ISR requires plenty of skills, high qualifications, and experience. Before I separated I was selected to go into this career field, and it's no damn cake walk. These people are not in harm's way, but they work long ass hours in remote parts of the country on random rotating schedules that make normal life nearly impossible. I looked at doing it because it is the cutting edge of aviation technology, and I thought it would be fun. My political views shifted and I decided to cancel my retraining and separate from the military. Most people that go into this don't go into it because they want to kill people from the safety of an arm chair. I'm sick and tired of people making RPA Sensor Operators and Pilots out to be some kind of sick fucking terrorists. Nobody is signing up to do this job because they're hell bent on murder and destruction. 99.9% of what you do in either of these positions is pure recon, and it is VERY RARE that you will actually be involved with delivery or ordinance.

You all need to get off your moral high horses and quit judging people who you've never even had the slightest damn connection to.

Seriously?...

There is a sick mental rot taking over the average American mind: many see their soldiers as high priests of justice and goodness. Fascism and the permanent preemptive war economy requires this mass mental delusion.

ronpaulfollower999
02-13-2013, 04:34 PM
I think the ultimate concern is, that we'll see the people getting medals for drone strikes on American soil.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 04:40 PM
Seriously?...

There is a sick mental rot taking over the average American mind: many see their soldiers as high priests of justice and goodness. Fascism and the permanent preemptive war economy requires this mass mental delusion.

Yes, seriously. I'm not calling these people saints or high priests of justice, but you guys keep referring to them as nothing more than blood thirsty terrorists. Like it or not, most people join the military to defend their country. Most of them do it at a time where they are easily swayed by manipulation. Many will find out how things really operate, and decide it's not for them. People here seem to just make the assumption that they joined because they're some kind of blood lust murderers, when in reality they were doing something that they thought to be honorable. Quit alienating these people and start politely educating instead... veterans and active duty personnel should be some of the easiest people to convince BECAUSE they care about their country.

But whatever.. I'm just spinning my wheels. You're all going to go on thinking they're terrorist bastards who waste their lives away sucking the government tit, and that's your right to think so. All I'm asking is that you consider the fact that you guys haven't even met these people, yet you cast terrible judgement upon them. I don't recall Ron Paul doing such things.

awake
02-13-2013, 04:52 PM
Yes, seriously. I'm not calling these people saints or high priests of justice, but you guys keep referring to them as nothing more than blood thirsty terrorists. Like it or not, most people join the military to defend their country. Most of them do it at a time where they are easily swayed by manipulation. Many will find out how things really operate, and decide it's not for them. People here seem to just make the assumption that they joined because they're some kind of blood lust murderers, when in reality they were doing something that they thought to be honorable. Quit alienating these people and start politely educating instead... veterans and active duty personnel should be some of the easiest people to convince BECAUSE they care about their country.

But whatever.. I'm just spinning my wheels. You're all going to go on thinking they're terrorist bastards who waste their lives away sucking the government tit, and that's your right to think so. All I'm asking is that you consider the fact that you guys haven't even met these people, yet you cast terrible judgement upon them. I don't recall Ron Paul doing such things.


Terrorists? Absolutely not. But the innocent people who are dying everyday due to U.S. manufactured munitions surly aren't killing themselves by stepping in the way of their trajectories. Real soldiers are murdering innocent civilians. But soldiers don't murder in your world. Its "war" or some other nonsensical apology.

Riddle me this: If no person has the right to judge another human being, especially a soldier, with out knowing them, how does a soldier pull the trigger in such the exact same fashion? Is he not judging and executing another human with out knowing them first?

Sure the guy casing a joint for his buddies who are going to rob and kill the property owner isn't a murder, but he ain't innocent.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 05:04 PM
Terrorists? Absolutely not. But the innocent people who are dying everyday due to U.S. manufactured munitions surly aren't killing themselves by stepping in the way of their trajectories. Real soldiers are murdering innocent civilians. But soldiers don't murder in your world. Its "war" or some other nonsensical apology.

Yeah, cause in my world soldiers just have tea parties and play dress-up.

The percentage of military population that actually cause injury or death is so extremely small... especially within the drone community. What I'm getting at is that people here just make all these generalizations that all military members are terrible people who kill. In one form or another, almost all of us support the military operations in one fashion or another (through lack of refusal to pay supporting taxes or lack of real action to stop the operations). There's hypocrisy here. In some threads people preach courteous actions and suggest that we treat others as human beings (I.E. CaptainAmerica in the thread about whether or not to remove an artist's YouTube video) but then in the very next thread they make some rude and insensitive comments.

phill4paul
02-13-2013, 05:12 PM
My position. No medal. They will receive commendation and ribbon enough. There was never a specific "Distinguished Warfare Medal" for guiding in a fighter/bomber to a carrier deck on a dark and stormy night on equipment far more archaic and non-intuitive than that which they use. It was a job. Unless you're getting your ass shot at then you don't deserve the chest candy. Just my 2 cents.

awake
02-13-2013, 05:13 PM
Yeah, cause in my world soldiers just have tea parties and play dress-up.

The percentage of military population that actually cause injury or death is so extremely small... especially within the drone community. What I'm getting at is that people here just make all these generalizations that all military members are terrible people who kill. In one form or another, almost all of us support the military operations in one fashion or another (through lack of refusal to pay supporting taxes or lack of real action to stop the operations). There's hypocrisy here. In some threads people preach courteous actions and suggest that we treat others as human beings (I.E. CaptainAmerica in the thread about whether or not to remove an artist's YouTube video) but then in the very next thread they make some rude and insensitive comments.


No, they are people capable of terrible things. A percentage do the killing...But once the orders are given, they follow with inhuman precision. Almost robotic.

The American military machine has made it their main mission to occupy and make prisons of foreign nations. Karma has a wicked way about it: the prisons and occupation is now making its way to the home front.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 05:22 PM
No, they are people capable of terrible things. A percentage do the killing...But once the orders are given, they follow with inhuman precision. Almost robotic.

I don't know if you've ever served in the military (I'm getting the impression that you haven't) but there's a reason for that. Call it brainwashing, socialization, etc., but when you're in the military you are of the mindset that you follow orders or your world ends. It sort of becomes self preservation. When you face a court-martial for disobeying a direct order, the stakes are EXTREMELY high. It's not just a simple decision that one cake easily make on the spot. "Eh.. I don't like this order.. not gonna do it." The result of following some orders is obviously pretty bad, but frequently the people who receive them are good people that just aren't in the right frame of mind. Your frame of reference to what is ethical, moral, or legal chances significantly when you're in a ditch facing a squad of people firing at you.

With regard to the drones, at least, no operator would intentionally pull the trigger on a known innocent victim. Collateral damage is terrible, but genuinely accidental in nearly all cases. No operator gets an order to kill an innocent person. Typically they perform hours of recon over several weeks/months to generate intelligence profiles on people, and it requires some significant evidence to actually get an order to pull the trigger. At least in the Air Force it does, can't speak for the CIA (I've heard it's quite different in that realm). Some of these people are probably just freedom fighters who want us out of their land, but you do have to acknowledge that a significant number of them are terrorists linked to organizations that would love the opportunity to harm us on our own soil. Is it blowback from our own involvement? Yes. Does that mean the problem will just magically go away through non-intervention? If we gave it enough time, sure, but it wouldn't happen in the short term and the public would not be willing to take it on the chin a few times for the end goal of the long term.

awake
02-13-2013, 05:26 PM
I don't know if you've ever served in the military (I'm getting the impression that you haven't) but there's a reason for that. Call it brainwashing, socialization, etc., but when you're in the military you are of the mindset that you follow orders or your world ends. It sort of becomes self preservation. When you face a court-martial for disobeying a direct order, the stakes are EXTREMELY high. It's not just a simple decision that one cake easily make on the spot. "Eh.. I don't like this order.. not gonna do it." The result of following some orders is obviously pretty bad, but frequently the people who receive them are good people that just aren't in the right frame of mind. Your frame of reference to what is ethical, moral, or legal chances significantly when you're in a ditch facing a squad of people firing at you.

With regard to the drones, at least, no operator would intentionally pull the trigger on a known innocent victim. Collateral damage is terrible, but genuinely accidental in nearly all cases. No operator gets an order to kill an innocent person. Typically they perform hours of recon over several weeks/months to generate intelligence profiles on people, and it requires some significant evidence to actually get an order to pull the trigger. At least in the Air Force it does, can't speak for the CIA (I've heard it's quite different in that realm). Some of these people are probably just freedom fighters who want us out of their land, but you do have to acknowledge that a significant number of them are terrorists linked to organizations that would love the opportunity to harm us on our own soil. Is it blowback from our own involvement? Yes. Does that mean the problem will just magically go away through non-intervention? If we gave it enough time, sure, but it wouldn't happen in the short term and the public would not be willing to take it on the chin a few times for the end goal of the long term.

I have served...I never followed through on my "pledge" to the sociopaths in charge of my country..Thank God. I understand the "military conditioning" and the reasons behind it. It is brainwashing and cultist at its purest.

Military training is designed to alter a man from his moral nature to the new socialist man: mindless order follower. Military training is the culmination and application of the worst that the study of human psychology has revealed.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 05:30 PM
I have served...I never followed through on my "pledge" to the sociopaths in charge of my country..Thank God. I understand the "military conditioning" and the reasons behind it. It is brainwashing and cultist at its purest.

So you can at least see how it could happen, and understand that the people who receive and carry out these orders are not necessarily doing so with malice in mind. That's really the point I'm trying to get across.. it just seems that most on here would never be willing to open their mind to such an idea. Instead they say that military members are just terrible, lazy, government handout recipients.

awake
02-13-2013, 05:36 PM
So you can at least see how it could happen, and understand that the people who receive and carry out these orders are not necessarily doing so with malice in mind. That's really the point I'm trying to get across.. it just seems that most on here would never be willing to open their mind to such an idea. Instead they say that military members are just terrible, lazy, government handout recipients.

When Manson ordered his followers to kill...were they simply following orders? Not all soldiers are murders... some simply draw an income for not much productive.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 05:41 PM
When Manson ordered his followers to kill...were they simply following orders? Not all soldiers are murders... some simply draw an income for not much productive.

I think the surrounding circumstances are quite different. Manson's followers certainly had malice as a motivating factor. I see the connection, but I think the comparison is a bit of a stretch.

schiffheadbaby
02-13-2013, 05:47 PM
I think the surrounding circumstances are quite different. Manson's followers certainly had malice as a motivating factor. I see the connection, but I think the comparison is a bit of a stretch.

They are thiefs and welfare queens. No soldier "earns" money, he is granted an involuntary transfer of another's wealth via the state.

Soldiers implicitly support serfdom, but I'm sure you think many are conservative LOL

kcchiefs6465
02-13-2013, 05:47 PM
Hmm, seems someone has it out against you itshappening. Last few threads I saw of your were rated one star. I'll see if I can't bump it up.

MRK
02-13-2013, 05:52 PM
The last time I played it (few years ago) it took ages to download all the sounds and stuff they package on those servers :(

I think I got my money's worth out of Half-life 2 though, considering all the free mods and the amount of time I played CS

Some servers have faster upload speeds than others, and often it's not a problem. Also, many don't require the annoying 1GB+ of .wavs and mods like some do. Although the ones that do, once you download them, you don't have to redownload them, even for another server that uses the same downloads.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 06:00 PM
They are thiefs and welfare queens. No soldier "earns" money, he is granted an involuntary transfer of another's wealth via the state.

Soldiers implicitly support serfdom, but I'm sure you think many are conservative LOL

Keep pandering to the RPF hive mind. I'm done with this argument.

Spikender
02-13-2013, 06:01 PM
Keep pandering to the RPF hive mind. I'm done with this argument.

I don't want to get in the middle of this argument, but with all the disagreeing that everyone does on this website, I don't think hive mind would be the right descriptor.

jdmyprez_deo_vindice
02-13-2013, 06:02 PM
I beat every version of Call of Duty, Ace Combat and Medal of Honor they made. Can I have a medal?

phill4paul
02-13-2013, 06:05 PM
Keep pandering to the RPF hive mind. I'm done with this argument.

There is no 'hive mind' here. If there was there wouldn't be so much bitchin' and yakkin'. Keep explaining your point. Let others explain theirs. It's just the interwebz.

kcchiefs6465
02-13-2013, 06:08 PM
I beat every version of Call of Duty, Ace Combat and Medal of Honor they made. Can I have a medal?
Post #5 just for you.

jkr
02-13-2013, 06:09 PM
D
HUMANIZING

pathetic
we DESERVE whats coming our way...

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 06:30 PM
There is no 'hive mind' here. If there was there wouldn't be so much bitchin' and yakkin'. Keep explaining your point. Let others explain theirs. It's just the interwebz.

I'm all for civil debate, but when it comes to military discussion all I keep seeing are extreme comments (I.E. soldiers are thieves). I've voiced my opinion and people keep reverting to insults toward military members, so I'll just leave it there. I recognize a lost cause when I see it.

Spikender
02-13-2013, 06:33 PM
I'm all for civil debate, but when it comes to military discussion all I keep seeing are extreme comments (I.E. soldiers are thieves). I've voiced my opinion and people keep reverting to insults toward military members, so I'll just leave it there. I recognize a lost cause when I see it.

Don't give up that easy, Aero. That sort of attitude will seep into other fights that you're fighting. I don't agree with everything that you said, but I do agree that sometimes people can go overboard when it comes to describing public servants.

Aeroneous
02-13-2013, 06:39 PM
Don't give up that easy, Aero. That sort of attitude will seep into other fights that you're fighting. I don't agree with everything that you said, but I do agree that sometimes people can go overboard when it comes to describing public servants.

I don't give up during face-to-face debate, because people are much more reluctant to make extreme comments. I find face-to-face debate to be far more productive. I guess I just hold people on this forum to a higher standard of decency. I consider people here to be well educated, and would hope that they would be receptive to ideas outside of their own. awake made some good points, but then a couple posts later I see someone just throwing insults out. It's just frustrating, although I know it shouldn't matter since it's just the internet.

Spikender
02-13-2013, 06:41 PM
I don't give up during face-to-face debate, because people are much more reluctant to make extreme comments. I find face-to-face debate to be far more productive. I guess I just hold people on this forum to a higher standard of decency. I consider people here to be well educated, and would hope that they would be receptive to ideas outside of their own. awake made some good points, but then a couple posts later I see someone just throwing insults out. It's just frustrating, although I know it shouldn't matter since it's just the internet.

See, now I agree completely with you. Internet debates are literally the pits, you get absolutely nowhere. I have found that most conversions, both in other people and in myself, have mostly come from real life conversations with people instead of internet debating.

Also know that it's easier to make snide quips and come off snappy on the Internet for some people. But I'm sure you're very aware of that.

phill4paul
02-13-2013, 06:48 PM
I'm all for civil debate, but when it comes to military discussion all I keep seeing are extreme comments (I.E. soldiers are thieves). I've voiced my opinion and people keep reverting to insults toward military members, so I'll just leave it there. I recognize a lost cause when I see it.

I understand that. Having been in the military, and a military son, I understand the points you are making. I, having traveled my path, understand Awake and his positions.
Don't let the others distract you. Ignore them if it keeps you from engaging with those you can have a discussion with. That's what truly pisses them off. ;)

phill4paul
02-13-2013, 06:54 PM
They are thiefs and welfare queens. No soldier "earns" money, he is granted an involuntary transfer of another's wealth via the state.

Soldiers implicitly support serfdom, but I'm sure you think many are conservative LOL

You do understand the concept of states bonding together for security. No? While we would both agree that the founders never wished a standing Army they believed that a standing Navy was integral to the defense of this nation. Those that defended and the machinations needed for defense would be paid by the government. No?

kcchiefs6465
02-13-2013, 07:08 PM
You do understand the concept of states bonding together for security. No? While we would both agree that the founders never wished a standing Army they believed that a standing Navy was integral to the defense of this nation. Those that defended and the machinations needed for defense would be paid by the government. No?
Exactly. Some things are necessary and Constitutional. On that same coin though some people/soldiers take it way too far. i.e. John McCain, Chris Kyle. Having come from a military family and knowing friends and family who fought in both World Wars, Vietnam, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan I can say they are not bad people. WRT to the later wars mentioned many are not fully aware what they signed up for. Once you're there, you're there. And most likely you're going to do things you never thought you could have/would have done. I even had thoughts of going into the military for monetary/legal reasons. The Lord saved my soul that I 'grew up' and never did. It is mostly not the soldier's fault. (Though I am not against the idea of personal responsibility) Cut 'em some slack people. They are mostly naive kids. Cowboys and Indians and all that. Anyone see "Born on the Fourth of July?"

John F Kennedy III
02-13-2013, 09:22 PM
This is like getting a medal for playing Call of Duty. Except you're killing real people. The vast majority of which are innocent men, women and children.

GunnyFreedom
02-14-2013, 12:15 AM
Yes, seriously. I'm not calling these people saints or high priests of justice, but you guys keep referring to them as nothing more than blood thirsty terrorists. Like it or not, most people join the military to defend their country. Most of them do it at a time where they are easily swayed by manipulation. Many will find out how things really operate, and decide it's not for them. People here seem to just make the assumption that they joined because they're some kind of blood lust murderers, when in reality they were doing something that they thought to be honorable. Quit alienating these people and start politely educating instead... veterans and active duty personnel should be some of the easiest people to convince BECAUSE they care about their country.

But whatever.. I'm just spinning my wheels. You're all going to go on thinking they're terrorist bastards who waste their lives away sucking the government tit, and that's your right to think so. All I'm asking is that you consider the fact that you guys haven't even met these people, yet you cast terrible judgement upon them. I don't recall Ron Paul doing such things.

Not 'you people.' No group is so monolithic. If drone operators were really monsters without a conscience, then we wouldn't be seeing them leave in horror and trauma as they keep doing. There is a big ongoing struggle right now with lawful and unlawful orders, and I will never put the bottom line soldier to the same standard as the real decision-makers.

I am a former US Marine myself, and proud of my service. I am glad to be a veteran of the branch which above all others takes particular pride in the refusal of unlawful orders. I also have a deeper understanding of the military environment than many do.

bolil
02-14-2013, 12:57 AM
I suppose some drone operators are bloodthirsty, others are not. It don't matter much to the kid that gets blown up. The percentage of drone missions that involve ordinance are also irrelevant to the shrapnel peppered child. I've no issue with members of the military, but I do take issue with their mission. If it were a mission I believed in, I would be on it. Do I blame the enlisted, or lower level officers? No, but Tolstoy does.

Indeed, the Service (Marine Corp, Grunt) remains in my mind as one of the more noble occupations a man can aspire too, but I am aware of my own brainwashing. I almost failed Highschool because I spent four years staying up all night reading books on vietnam, korea, and WWII. I would do anything for an eagle, globe and anchor tattoo earned defending helpless people and I will never be content with myself because I will never have one. The war mongers took that from me just like they take the lives, bodies and/or minds almost every person they touch.

That being said, intellectually I see militias as the best and most principled form of communal defense. Voluntary in service, voluntary in funding, voluntary in fighting.

phill4paul
02-14-2013, 01:00 AM
Not 'you people.' No group is so monolithic. If drone operators were really monsters without a conscience, then we wouldn't be seeing them leave in horror and trauma as they keep doing. There is a big ongoing struggle right now with lawful and unlawful orders, and I will never put the bottom line soldier to the same standard as the real decision-makers.

I am a former US Marine myself, and proud of my service. I am glad to be a veteran of the branch which above all others takes particular pride in the refusal of unlawful orders. I also have a deeper understanding of the military environment than many do.

Pfft...my Navy buddy pointed a .45 in his XO's face for trying to cross his duty post contrary to orders.

Must be why they took the guns away from sailors and put MARDETs on ships. :p

fr33
02-14-2013, 01:32 AM
http://i50.tinypic.com/212ww9y.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2a50rqg.jpg

RonPaulFanInGA
02-14-2013, 01:33 AM
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2300/congressmanbillybob.jpg

"Just one more year of blowing up terrorists and I can retire with pension."