On another thread, mP suggested that the military personnel gunned down deserved to die, for being parasites attached to the US military machine. After all, the US military is responsible for many more deaths, in the hundreds of thousands for their participation in Iraq and Iran.
mP, you tend toward broad generalization and hyperbole. Your opinions expressed in regard to these deaths shows the error of your ways. I'm posting a point by point rebuttal on this thread for you. All your original remarks are in italics.
Can countries survive without a standing military?
The Swiss have remained politically neutral yet have a standing army. Military service is mandatory for all male citizens. I would suggest that Switzerland has made sure it continues to exist both by remaining politically neutral and demonstrating that it is prepared to defend its' way of life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Switzerland%20
Is there a difference between attacks against combatants in the arena of war, and the slaughter of innocents?
The nations of the world have agreed so. We have the Geneva Conventions as a result. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventions
What kinds of jobs are given the military, other than the arena of war?
The military may serve a peacekeeping function, keeping various factions from killing each other. The military also provide swift and competent disaster relief, as one of their strengths is to be prepared at a moment's notice (i.e. New Orleans). Military engineers build infrastructure where there is none like bridges and roads.
When does the United Nations approve military intervention?
At the invitation of the country leadership, or by the UN vote. Sadly, military intervention was too late in coming for the genocide in Rwanda.
The US does not always wait for UN ratification of their actions. I would argue that when they do wait, we see better results. The action in Afghanistan is endorsed by the UN and was by invitation.
What is the US Military's mandate?
The Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders. We do this by:
- Executing Title 10 and Title 32 United States Code directives, to include organizing, equipping, and training forces for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations on land.
- Accomplishing missions assigned by the President, Secretary of Defense and combatant commanders, and Transforming for the future.
http://www.army.mil/info/organization/
What sorts of people work for the military?
People like you and me.
Mp's individual statements, with my reply right after:
The people who work for the military are parasites, they have jobs because there is strife and war somewhere other than their home. They dont seem to mind collecting their paychecks when other people get bombed. - wrong
you might want to check how many countries the US has invaded inthe past 50 years. ... Just ask the people of any of those countries what they think when the US invaded and bombed their homes and killed their family just for oil or to install another corrupt leader who happened to agree with them. - broad and unfounded
You do realise that most of the world doesnt(sic) think the US military is honourable but quite a terrible organisation. - broad and unfounded
We dont call Hitler a mistake, we judge him as a war criminal. - Don't bother with the Hitler card. His crimes are well documented and he was tried by the world court.
The sad thing is GWB was not the first to start a war, its practically an addiction of the US. - broad and unfounded
but the US has been an aggressor and started more wars than nearly all other countries around the world put together. Its hard to be labelled peaceful when you start or support so many wars. - Apples and oranges. The US is a world power. It has a very large standing army. It is invited to support United Nations peacekeeping actions because of this.
When the chips were down in WW2 in 1939 who stood up against Hitler? The British Empire and its friends were the only ones who had the backbone to stand up and fight and help Europe. Sure America eventually joined the fight and earlier on it sent supplies, but E, Australia and Canada and Russia were the ones fighting from the beginning. WW2 was won by mostly Russia not America. - No doubt the British Empire and Russia paid a terrific price to hold back the German juggernaut. They were personally invested. The Germans were invading their countries (save examples like Canada). They may not have succeeded however without the late intervention of the Americans.
Sure America stood up against the Taliban, but considering they got their arms from America in the first place what does that tell you ? - America has to get better at picking their friends?
The Taliban while criminals and terrible people were never a world threat in any form. They were local and locked in their sad corner of the world. - The Taliban also sharpened their teeth fighting Russia.
In terms of fighting for principal(sic), the USA didn’t(sic) stand up when it counted. Most of Americas little wars are just a bully fighting small opponents. You never see America challenging Russia or China, because they cant(sic). – Replace bully with stronger opponent, and you are closer. All countries pick their battles carefully, unless they are led by a madman.
Don’t all people who voluntarily join the military have mental problems ? - Of course not. As the relative of family members with mental problems, I can guarantee that most can barely take care of themselves. If your statement were true, the military would be incompetent.
Who joins an org thats primary purpose is to bomb and kill little countries ? - Obviously this is not the primary purpose of the military.
Surely the covered up actions in afghanistan and iraq show the military is contains its fair share of psycopaths(sic) who want to blow up things and kill. – Mistakes or deliberate action? It seems to me that just as much damage can be done by a small error with a big missle. It is hyperbole to suggest that the military is managed by psychopaths.
Who joins the military knowing they are going to afghanistan where they have the privliege of often dropping bombs on the wrong village ? – Obviously not all the bomb drops are a mistake. Obviously not all military recruits even see action. I noted that pretty well half the military is made up of the support arm.
Look at the actions. Look at the history and think how will history judge all the little wars. – I am grateful that I live in a society that will to all to avoid war. The First World War changed everything. Before then, war was the playground of Kings. No more. I don’t think our generation will be judged so much for our little wars as our rampant consumption.
Anyone who joins an org thats budget has doubled and is spending money like crazy based on bombing poor villagers and making orphans all too often needs to have a hard look at themselves. its blood money. – Hyperbole. Not all military actions are against villagers and orphans.