that soldiers in Afghanistan need to stay there so that other soldiers' lives weren't wasted. That was a Junior/RW rationale for Iraq. Afghanistan really is more of a conundrum, and there are legitimate national security concerns.

That's not a dig. I myself wish that I had served, but I was ineligible. It does seem, that a great many people, especially younger people, who have served in the armed forces are quite proud of it, and it's part of their identity. The quest and the risk must be a part of that, since you rarely hear anyone brag about being a supply clerk at a midwestern army base. Which is not to be disrespectful to the rear echelon folks, simply pointing out that there are fewer opportunities when there is no quest.

They aren't being sent in chains to risk death like the slave soldiers of the Roman Empire. They are volunteering to go and risk death. Granted, sometimes they are volunteering in hopes that they will never see anything more exciting than the inside of a classroom, but they are accepting the risk.

But they don't volunteer to be cannon fodder, they don't volunteer to be used as moving targets, they don't volunteer to fight in someone else's civil war.

They only volunteer to serve, after that, the orders they receive are not optional. So the whole "volunteer" concept only lasts until your first day at boot camp.

Though some here enjoy calling them such. After all this time do you not think they know what they are up against, and yet they still serve.

Here's an idea: let's send the rich, privileged kids to do a few tours in hell. Here's another idea: every military lobbyist, every warmongering politician and every arms dealer needs to donate a child to the effort. Suit 'em up and ship 'em out!

War is a good business. Invest a child today!:kick:

And killing more "enemy" doesn't change the reality. It's a hollow victory using the memory of dead soldiers.

Otherwise, I can understand the motivation to succeed at a mission, to minimize failure and loss for those goals for their sake alone.

I oppose the escalation.

Listen to the generals! Volunteer force! Exterminate Al Qaeda! Defeat the bad guys! Surge baby, surge! Light at the end of the tunnel! National security! Support the troops! Greatest country on Earth! Rah, rah, sis-boom-bah!

Unhappycamper has been keeping us up to date on the developments concerning the V-22 Ospreys being sent to Afghanistan.

Part of one of his prior posts:

“This is the first deployment to Afghanistan — and it should be the acid test, given the terrain and climate and the fact that Al Qaeda and the Taliban will surely be gunning for the aircraft if they see it. The Osprey didn’t get shot at much in Iraq because it was flying mainly in Anbar province, which was pretty peaceful at that time. It flew well in Iraq, even in searing heat, but most of that country is barely above sea level. Rotorcraft lose performance at higher altitudes and in hot temperatures, and Afghanistan is pretty high and hot.

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x26464

My nephew is a Marine Pilot and already lost one of his best friends in the Arizona crash in 2000.
http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/08/news/mn-27821
I just hope that these guys aren't being used as guinea pigs and that they make it home safely. The last week sort of makes me wonder.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x26456