On another thread, an e-mail discussion with numerous members of my old TBS class, we have been recently talking about what all Trump can or can’t do vis a vis money. One of the points was that we have always had a citizen-soldery, but now we have a “professional” military, the much vaunted “volunteer military”. There has also been quite a bit of RIF’ing in the services of late, Obama’s legacy to the services.
One of the issues brought up was the desirability of citizens to be the military, to create more of a bond between citizens and the country and to limit the “foreign legion” effect. There was the suggestion of using mercs for our basic ground-pounders as a more economiocal alternative, as Americans have become inured to the very CONCEPT of combat losses.
So I am reading this fascinating book called Tarawa, by Robert Sherrod, a reporter who landed with the regimental command on the beaches of Tarawa. The beginning of the book is spent with “house keeping” about the process of getting to Tarawa.
But one of the really fascinating rants in the early part is a discussion of the American soldier and what makes a soldier fight. ONE of his comments is that he was totally unsure that Americans were at all willing to fight. This from someone observing the onset of WWII.
?So are we really that much different from “the greatest generation” or is this just the usual American distaste for risking of life and limb without real reason to.



It seems to me we have spent years in the middle east and always seem to have soldiers willing to fight.
I expect that question has been asked in every war.
This site is going downhill. They will let anyone in.
Well, this is change for a Dime.
How are ya, 10 Cent?
I will show you no quarter, TKC1101. I have heard about you.
The ante up here is a Susan B, but for you, eleven thins should do.
Good to see ya. I am sure you have heard a lot about me. None of it is real but in their mind all too true.
TKC1101, it has to be true because I saw it on the Internet.
Here’s the good news, Dime. People on this site self-regulate and don’t seem to need editors and contributors and moderators to control the conversation. So far, I’ve enjoyed a very relaxed interaction with the fine posters on this site and best of all, I’ve found there are no purposefully incendiary “bomb throwers” to irritate me and incite a civil war. :)
EThompson,
I know that. I have talked with you and some of the others on the phone. My comment was about myself being able to comment.
Of course knowing BDB he might ban me just to set an example. ;-)
Hey Dime – said hello on the other thread, but again, good to see you.
Liz, both BDB and I would be happy to be bomb-throwers, as long as the target is the Bad Guys. Blowing ourselves up only works for koranic warriors, who seem to do it with at least some regularity. We don’t see self-immolation as a rational goal.
Devereaux, I brought marshmallows and popcorn. All you guys are suppose to be full of venom and hate. I hope we have someone closing down threads and telling intelligent people how incapable they are.
How much does it pay? Could I quit my day job?
Yes, you could quit your job. We will give you an impressive title and business cards. AND something to put under Avatar.
I’ve gotten to rather like M’s avatar. Yours too, centime.
It’s how I got to recognize you; certainly it wasn’t your acerbic and cutting edge insights.
Wait! I thought that was why I left “the other place” – no adult supervision.
My avatar is just from a joke I had with Dash. Someone thought we were really the same person and he put up the Sock Puppet graphic.