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Should the U.S. create an American Foreign Legion ? I say YES

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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 08:55 PM
Original message
Should the U.S. create an American Foreign Legion ? I say YES
We need to because we no longer have the volunteers necessary to fill the ranks. The precedents are there throughout history. Learn from what mistakes were made in the past and don`t make them. The French did a good job of this all said and done. It is better than reinstating the draft in my opinion. Done properly I believe it would work out well. Let me have it DUers : FOR OR AGAINST AN AMERICAN FOREIGN LEGION ? ...Oscar
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brainshrub Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 08:57 PM
Response to Original message
1. This should be fun to watch.
:popcorn:
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A-Schwarzenegger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 08:59 PM
Response to Original message
2. oscarguy? wtf?
If it's as good as the one with Laurel & Hardy in it, I say yes to the American Foreign Legion.
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:05 PM
Response to Reply #2
8. Good one ARNY !
It was one of their best movies after all. ...Oscar
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Lars39 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 08:59 PM
Response to Original message
3. We already troll other countries for troops.
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #3
22. This is true and from my experience we get some good ones.
One of the few friends I had in Viet Nam was a Portuguese. A good friend, loyal comrade, AND ALWAYS THERE AND UP FOR IT WHEN IT MATTERED. One of the most courageous fighters I fought with. His name was Andre and I will never forget him. ....Oscar
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oneighty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:01 PM
Response to Original message
4. Cool
We can have camels and sand and convicts. All the bad boys and the really bad guys will have a place to run away to and where they can rape rob murder and pillage and get paid for it.

And we can hire the French to show us how it is to be done.

And movies. We can make movies.

Sarcasm..More or less.

180
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BushOut06 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:23 PM
Response to Reply #4
10. No thanks - I've seen what happens when the French get invaded
The last thing I want to see is the Mexican Army showing up at the Texas border, only to have the French-taught American Foreign Legion rushing to greet them with a white flag.

Sorry, maybe that was in poor taste, but I couldn't resist it.
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oneighty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:35 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. Do you have any experience
with the French forces? Did you see Germany enter France with overwhelming fire power?

No I did not but I have read about it. Germany would likely have done Britain the same way if the channel had not been in the way.

Do not bash the French.

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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:42 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. Right on oneighty ! The Nazis Defeated all of Western Europe.
The French included. They also defeated the English Army as you noted. ...Oscar
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oneighty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:48 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. Dunkirk
Western Europe was poorly prepared for the Germans. The United States was poorly prepared for Germany and Japan.

180
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BushOut06 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:45 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. LOL, don't get so sensitive
I know everyone is being rather sensitive lately, and with all the activity I don't frankly blame you. It was meant as a joke, nothing more - I'm sure that Jay Leno or any comedian worth a damned could have made the same joke.
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oneighty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 10:12 PM
Response to Reply #17
21. Oh OK
I wondered. In Japan around 1953 1954 a large French Ship of the Line stayed in Yokosuka for a couple of weeks. It was a fine ship, cruiser I think. The American sailors were quite impressed with the French sailors.

I did not visit the ship. So I cannot say.

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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 10:32 PM
Response to Reply #21
23. I had the honor of meeting a member of the Free French Navy:WWII
Veteran. It truly was an honor and we are Friends to this day. A great guy who did much for the cause Re: WWII. I am not of that generation. I am a Viet Nam War veteran, U.S.M.C.. ...Oscar
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oneighty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 10:45 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. I was Navy
Korea. Mine Sweepers EOD.

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BushOut06 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 10:48 PM
Response to Reply #21
25. Ah, Yokosuka - very nice place, I lived there for 3 years
My dad was stationed on the USS Midway there for three years back in the mid-80s. I was 14 when I arrived there, 17 when I left. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world.
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democracyindanger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:03 PM
Response to Original message
5. Um, foreign citizens can already join up
and get citizenship after they complete their duty.
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:26 PM
Response to Reply #5
12. I know that, but an American Foreign Legion could be different .
Not knowing any better I would look at the French model. As far as I know it is still in existence and provides them with an able and willing force. Did they not serve in the first Gulf War. Also I served in the U.S.M.C. with a Portuguese Citizen who was a good friend and loyal comrade. ...Oscar
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niyad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:03 PM
Response to Original message
6. don't we already have them? they are called private mercenaries.
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:37 PM
Response to Reply #6
14. They cost too much and are not under direct control of U.S. Cammand.
This would be different and done correctly could solve the troop shortage problem without a draft. ...Oscar
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tabasco Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:05 PM
Response to Original message
7. Yes, the historical precedents are there ...
as signals of the decline of a society.

A society that is unwilling to fight for its own defense will not survive.

A mercenary army would be used willy-nilly in endless wars for corporate profits.

During peacetime, this country must institute strict universal service, as they have in many European countries.

A mercnary army is a terrible idea.
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:16 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. The Romans Did it beginning with Octavian AKA Caesar Augustus
Edited on Wed Feb-01-06 09:17 PM by oscarguy
From the very beginning of the Roman Empire they used foreign troops with the usual incentives with varying degrees of success. Our Country is a little over 200 years old ,Imperial Rome lasted 350-400 years. Learn from their mistakes and do better. At least your Sons won`t be drafted. ...Oscar
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tabasco Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. As I said, a signal of the decline.
The republic became a military dictatorship, more and more mercenaries were used, the empire was constantly at war, patriotism declined.

The Romans' mistake was becoming an empire. The republic could have survived if there had not been unnecessary wars and conquests. Italy probably would be the most powerful nation on Earth. But the destruction of the empire put them back on a level with the "barbarians."

The Roman Republic is considered the height of Roman civilization, not the Empire.
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Cleita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:42 PM
Response to Reply #9
16. Didn't the barbarian mercenaries have a nasty habit of
assassinating Roman emperors when they got pissed off with them and installing new ones that no one had any say in except them?

And didn't the Roman empire in the east lasted until the next millenium known in some history books as the Byzantine empire?
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 09:50 PM
Response to Reply #16
19. Roman Emporers will killed by Romans and Foreigners.
During roughly the last 60 years of the Empire, while it was already seriously in decline some of the Emporers were killed by foreigns. Not many, mostly killed by fellow Romans. ...Oscar
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oscarguy Donating Member (320 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Feb-01-06 10:05 PM
Response to Original message
20. Parthian Shot , Love You All, Goodnight.
I`ll be back. ...Oscar
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