And the fact that you go through weapons handling, military law, military ethics, navigation, tactics, military history, drill, exercises, combat engineering, communications, leadership training, top secret briefings – just a very few required examples from basic training, officer training, pilot training, and military society meant to prepare you to be a useful person in wartime – it doesn’t mean diddly unless you register a kill. Only then will all your experience suddenly come into play to give you some insight into the military. Well, at least he learned how to return a salute.

RBG

That depends… Are they serving actively… Or are their bunks empty while their bodies are in another state working as assistants to Senators?

I don’t care that Bush took flying lessons on the taxpayers dime. I care that his proponents brag about his military experience when there wasn’t any worthwhile military experience to speak of.

In fairness to Bush, I’m not certain I’ve ever heard Bush himself talk about his military experience except to say what we all know, that he served some uncertain period of time flying outmoded jets in Louisiana. It’s his ardent fans and assorted apologists who talk about it, so I don’t even think I should criticize Bush directly for it.

The real point is that he has no background or experience to speak of that helps him in the role of Commander In Chief (really, not that many Presidents were Eisenhower, so its not that uncommon).

RBG

Comment by RBG — 10/2/2006 @ 11:51 am

Saying that Bush flew jets is like saying Paris Hilton was in the hotel industry.

He served, kinda… But he really lacks any real military credibility. Gore and Kerry – the hippy dippy liberal bleeding hearts he beat – have real military credentials. Dole had them. McCain has them. That crazy guy in the park who yells at clouds probably has them.

Bush doesn’t.

Niether did Clinton, and he was the best president this country had since Eisenhower, so I’m not saying Bush needs to have a military background. But if he and his supporters want to claim military experience, it would help if he really had some.

RBG

So only those who serve in war zones serve in the miltary in your world? So there is no military until there’s a war? The military options are open to all who can do the job as far as I know. I believe 40% of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan are Air or Army National Guard or other reserves.

RBG

Its been suggested by others – Robert A Heinlien for one – that society would be better off if those who vote perform an act of “faith” that would minimally qualify them for participation in the Republic. It would not have to be the Military – it could be valuable social service of any sort that requires service and sacrifice.

Let me suggest that only those who are going to die in a proposed war be the ones who can approve it.

What I don’t like about the neo-cowards is that they only believe in the war because they’re not the ones dying in it, but of course they make lots of money or get lots of power from it. I’m talking about the Ann Coultiers, the Bushs, the Cheneys, guys like Wolfiwitz and Bremmer and Santorum. putzes like DeLay and Ney. NONE of them have a dog in the fight yet they all yack “about cutting and running” blah blah blah. What happened to putting your money where your mouth is? Its easy to acuse others of running when you yourself have already secured your place in the rear.

Bush flew jets in Texas, not Nam. If you go out of your way to avoid service – isn’t that cutting and running?

As my question, I’m simply asking if neo-cowards like to stick together because it gives them the illusion of bravery. How about serving if they believe in this war so much – maybe pony up a son or daughter?

Make enough sense yet? Or are you going to “cut and run”?

Is this supposed to make any kind of sense? Besides, Bush flew jets.

RBG

And thank goodness that someone actually scores liberal…

This is just not a fair comparison. Hitler actually fought and saw combat.

Bush was snorting blow and date-raping woman in Houston & when sober was cowering in his momma’s arms. So you can see why its unfair to compare him to Hitler.

He was also a failure in every business he ever started.

Is the fact that he never served in the military like most neocons I’ve meet the reason that this board’s neocons like him? They can then feel something they’re not – which is brave?

I’m just curious.

RBG

>I think it puts our own people in the military or intel agencies outside the >U.S. in deep shit, if they are ever kidnapped or taken prisinor by our >*enemies*.

Could you please identify a war where our prisoners were treated under Geneva Convention rules?

The US has followed these rules for 50+ years, and how did this help the US soldiers?