I remember, when I was a young Marine exactly 40 years ago, how uncomfortable Butler’s anti-war comments made me. They were kind of hard to square with our interventions - overt and covert - in Lebanon, Grenada, Afghanistan and Central America, all of which I enthusiastically supported at the time.
Young airman exactly 39 years ago. Serving on a missile base targeting Peacekeeper missiles with a dozen nuclear warheads each on individual reentry trajectories. Ready to end the lives of millions of Soviets because their leaders were collectivist authoritarian Communists. Unbeknownst to me my own government leaders were collectivist authoritarian Fascists. And today both types of collectivist authoritarians have joined a Pact like Hitler & Stalin's against individualist freedom Patriots. I now realize I was duped into fighting the wrong enemy. The ones right here at home.
This is one of the hardest pills to swallow for so many ex-military. My husband, a veteran of decades of service with multiple deployments, has often talked to me about his feeling of being manipulated by his country and wonders what it was all for. Like many of the commentators here, he would have given his life on foreign soil for his country. He would still give his life for his country, but on his own soil and not for the government. He holds the ideals of our founding fathers close to his heart and THOSE he would die for…
I once worked with all of the congressionally-chartered veteran service organizations. Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association, E9'ers Association, Special Forces Association, Korean War Vet, Vietnam War Vet, all 50-60 of them. Even with the Adjutant General for the state National Guard. I love these people. Their service. The honor in the community of military members, brothers like no other.
How they've gone along with what's happened in our nation, especially since 2020, and especially, especially what happened in DC after J6 where they deployed with weapons drawn against Americans exercising their right to protest is shameful. The organizations themselves have been just as captured by the authoritarians as the medical organizations, academia, industry, sports, all of them. They had a proud history of standing up for freedom, the US Constitution, going back to the days following the Revolutionary War when they were denied their pay. To the days following WWI when they saw authoritarianism creeping into the US and stood down abusive governments. Today they are tools of our oppressors. And don't even know it. Breaks my heart. Good men and women, who I worked with for the betterment of veterans. Now aligned with those targeting our true Patriots. Heartbreaking. Perilous.
More likely in denial, they can't fathom evil leadership here in our own nation, atop our own military brass. And blinded by the rhetoric of "progress" conjured up by progressive linguistic sorcerers.
Every agency soon degrades into grasping for power and money. Any purpose it may once have had becomes a far distant concern. The one time strength of this country was its local, citizen led organizations; churches and other local civic groups. Anything larger than neighbors rapidly becomes a menace.
Of course not. I know what was done. Why I was defenseless against it. And so many were. I was even a conservative. And trained in propaganda and media deception by some of the best in the world. But I missed it. My weakness was believing in teams. That I was on a good team. I overlooked its flaws and only focused on the flaws of the opposing teams. I was blinded by the very notion of teams. I now know that my own team is where the most dangerous threats are; I trusted my team too much. I now know that only God, Almighty can be fully trusted. All men are fallen. And have their own agendas. That often don't align with mine. Or truth. Never again.
As a young Marine also exactly 40 years ago, my first moments of doubt came when the daughter of the Pakistani Ambassador to Lebanon, speaking through a metal fence, asked me, a young mortarman filling sandbags in Beirut, what was I doing there? I was a bit nonplussed for a moment, but recovered quickly enough to tell her that I, personally, was there because I had orders, and was following them, but as to why “America” was sending military personnel to Lebanon, I had no idea. She got me to thinkin’....
I remember, when I was a young Marine exactly 40 years ago, how uncomfortable Butler’s anti-war comments made me. They were kind of hard to square with our interventions - overt and covert - in Lebanon, Grenada, Afghanistan and Central America, all of which I enthusiastically supported at the time.
Young airman exactly 39 years ago. Serving on a missile base targeting Peacekeeper missiles with a dozen nuclear warheads each on individual reentry trajectories. Ready to end the lives of millions of Soviets because their leaders were collectivist authoritarian Communists. Unbeknownst to me my own government leaders were collectivist authoritarian Fascists. And today both types of collectivist authoritarians have joined a Pact like Hitler & Stalin's against individualist freedom Patriots. I now realize I was duped into fighting the wrong enemy. The ones right here at home.
This is one of the hardest pills to swallow for so many ex-military. My husband, a veteran of decades of service with multiple deployments, has often talked to me about his feeling of being manipulated by his country and wonders what it was all for. Like many of the commentators here, he would have given his life on foreign soil for his country. He would still give his life for his country, but on his own soil and not for the government. He holds the ideals of our founding fathers close to his heart and THOSE he would die for…
I once worked with all of the congressionally-chartered veteran service organizations. Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association, E9'ers Association, Special Forces Association, Korean War Vet, Vietnam War Vet, all 50-60 of them. Even with the Adjutant General for the state National Guard. I love these people. Their service. The honor in the community of military members, brothers like no other.
How they've gone along with what's happened in our nation, especially since 2020, and especially, especially what happened in DC after J6 where they deployed with weapons drawn against Americans exercising their right to protest is shameful. The organizations themselves have been just as captured by the authoritarians as the medical organizations, academia, industry, sports, all of them. They had a proud history of standing up for freedom, the US Constitution, going back to the days following the Revolutionary War when they were denied their pay. To the days following WWI when they saw authoritarianism creeping into the US and stood down abusive governments. Today they are tools of our oppressors. And don't even know it. Breaks my heart. Good men and women, who I worked with for the betterment of veterans. Now aligned with those targeting our true Patriots. Heartbreaking. Perilous.
30 pieces of silver didn't just buy Judas
More likely in denial, they can't fathom evil leadership here in our own nation, atop our own military brass. And blinded by the rhetoric of "progress" conjured up by progressive linguistic sorcerers.
Every agency soon degrades into grasping for power and money. Any purpose it may once have had becomes a far distant concern. The one time strength of this country was its local, citizen led organizations; churches and other local civic groups. Anything larger than neighbors rapidly becomes a menace.
maybe people who kill strangers on command aren't entirely such good people.
Judi, be prepared to have your heart broken when you read the story of Walter at Pearl Harbor - https://www.unz.com/article/walter-at-pearl-harbor/
Looking forward to reading that as soon as I can find a quiet moment. Looks very intriguing. Thanks for sharing it.
To both of you service men: I hope you're not beating yourselves up over the past.
This expression comes to mind:
'If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart. If you're still a liberal at 50, you have no brain'.
You both have a heart and a brain.
Of course not. I know what was done. Why I was defenseless against it. And so many were. I was even a conservative. And trained in propaganda and media deception by some of the best in the world. But I missed it. My weakness was believing in teams. That I was on a good team. I overlooked its flaws and only focused on the flaws of the opposing teams. I was blinded by the very notion of teams. I now know that my own team is where the most dangerous threats are; I trusted my team too much. I now know that only God, Almighty can be fully trusted. All men are fallen. And have their own agendas. That often don't align with mine. Or truth. Never again.
Exactly what I’ve thought for years based on USA history since WW2.
Thank you for your service!
As a young Marine also exactly 40 years ago, my first moments of doubt came when the daughter of the Pakistani Ambassador to Lebanon, speaking through a metal fence, asked me, a young mortarman filling sandbags in Beirut, what was I doing there? I was a bit nonplussed for a moment, but recovered quickly enough to tell her that I, personally, was there because I had orders, and was following them, but as to why “America” was sending military personnel to Lebanon, I had no idea. She got me to thinkin’....
Semper Fi
Joe Marra
Thank you for your service. And a heartfelt thanks to all in this community who have served.
Semper Fi buddy. Awesome comment! I’m glad you made it out alive. Too many didn’t.
Great comment.👍🇦🇺
I remember the late 60s and early 70s. Many very strong feelings.
Thank you for your service, sir.
yes, never any shortage of Good Soldiers who'll kill anyone they're told to. lots of leisure for sorrowing afterwards.