44 Comments
User's avatar
Honolulu HQ's avatar

Our children need a peaceful home to grow up in.

Honolulu HQ's avatar

Great points... Here is the best, simplest, easiest most glorious and effective solution:

https://vocl.com/profile/324043

We must start afresh with a new Party. Bill, we wish to make you and Kim Iversen immediate 7-Star Generals in the new party. A new, better system with 7 stars instead of 5. Will you accept this leadership role?

Bill Astore's avatar

HA! No ... no general stars for me. I am a humble citizen.

Honolulu HQ's avatar

And another point we wish to make is an end to the Pentagon and secretaries if defence and war. - turkeys based of huge lies . Instead, we should call the new party role, " The Secretary of the Military "

Wdyt?

Honolulu HQ's avatar

In the New Party, top military positions will campaign on video alongside the presidential candidate, in the next case, Congressnan Thomas Massie with TC or MTG. Thomas and Doug need to head up the Constitution 2.0 convention this fall. Or should we act like abject slaves instead?

Honolulu HQ's avatar

We have actually felt this way since when we saw Building 7 fall into a pile of dust exactly as fast as a bowling 🎳 ball dropping - now 25 years ago in Manhattan. Alex Jones pointed it out to us in Austin Cable Access TV right away. We have been deeply researching and doing everything we possibly can to inform the insouciant public since for the past quarter century.

X K's avatar

“Why do many American soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and later returned to their country commit suicide?”

I asked myself that question as well when the staggering numbers of those taking their own lives became somewhat widespread ten, twelve years ago or so? My surmise was that these were servicemen and women who believed that their “deployment” – I recoil at the routine use of that word – was indeed to defend our freedom (just how was anyone’s guess) and for peace and stability (in whatever spot on earth) because the bad guys (ill-defined “enemy combatants”) had to be defeated. So basically a lot of faith in what our political and military leaders were saying.

Once wherever they found themselves, these personnel encountered scenes that didn’t add up. Mostly a lot of people who just wanted to live their lives, care for their families, didn’t have any particular grudge against the United States, and yet they were looked upon with suspicion by U.S. forces suddenly intruding in their country, subject to searches, confiscations, disruptions in their hard scrabble daily lives, in some cases arrests and detainment god knows why or where. I remember one particular video clip, I think it was from Dumbya’s excellent adventure in Iraq, showing an American tank crew rather joyfully crushing an Iraqi’s car, which happened to be his means of income as a taxi driver.

And of course there were the unpredictable “asymmetrical” IED explosions killing and injuring U.S. ground forces from an invisible enemy, with a sense of retribution for their presence where they don’t belong, upending lives that heretofore was of no threat or consequence to them

I figured at some point all this started to work on the psyche of American forces there, that none of this was adding up, certainly not what they were led to believe about “defending our freedoms” and related nonsense. Basically after pointlessly upending the lives of the indigenous population, and seeing their fellow service members getting killed and maimed for no apparent reason, U.S. military personnel began asking, stating, “What the f*** is going on here?”

And they got no answers, no sensible ones anyway. Because there weren’t any. So they had to serve their full “deployment” nonetheless, and for many it was simply psychologically, spiritually too much. Too much death, too much maiming, too much destruction, all for too little, or more accurately all for nothing all except for what they’d been duped into believing, which was a pack of lives. Perhaps for some that translated into nihilism where there used to be identity and purpose; for others a sense of atonement for what they did, or were a part of; for still others a shame at being American.

This is all conjecture on my part, as I said, a “surmise,” but I think it’s plausible. And thus the toll in casualties from Iraq, and Afghanistan, and other “Central Command” venues, and now Iran keeps increasing. And this is the service for which these troops get thanked, to add insult to injury… and death.

Emma's avatar

They didn't have to serve it nonetheless. That was a choice.

X K's avatar

Yes, but for some, just how volitional v. having few other prospects for a job, with benefits. Things might work out passably - "I like to think of the Army as my home," Hot Lips Houlihan to Hawkeye Pierce - if they don't get "deployed" to an area where there are IEDs by the roadside or missiles flying in the air to kill or maim them.

Emma's avatar

Again, that is a choice.

Gregory Laxer's avatar

As a member of Veterans For Peace, and simply as an individual who wholeheartedly and actively opposed the slaughter in Viet Nam from within active duty ranks, my program is: Let us cease "manufacturing" FUTURE veterans!! If anyone still on active duty in any of the US military branches should happen to read this, my message is: Try to understand that your "leaders" couldn't care less about your welfare now or in the future. That's why the Trump administration is shredding benefits for current and future veterans. Wake the hell up, please!!!

TomR's avatar

There have been public discussions and speculation about the Federal government reinstating the draft to feed the military machine in its ongoing and upcoming wars. One hopes if they went that far that the populace, including those not subject to the economic draft that already exists, would rise up to prevent another generation of children being sent off to war.

But with overwhelming surveillance and use of federalized law enforcement, would dissent be violently crushed? And at that point, would everyone surrender to the fascist state? I don't know.

Gregory Laxer's avatar

The quite insane US Ruling Class is hell-bent on having a dandy war with China. This has been a-building for some time now, regardless of whether the POTUS is called a Democrat or Republican. "Coming events oft cast their foreshadows." The Chinese leadership is far more skilled with diplomacy than the US, but is under no illusions about US intentions. Standards for new US military recruits have been softened, but current personnel strength is inadequate to take on China. So yes, I believe Selective Service is going to be resuscitated. And young women will not be exempt, the raging misogyny of the current regime in Washington notwithstanding.

jamenta's avatar
3dEdited

Also, if they did create another draft - there would be plenty of loopholes for the super rich. Reminds me of a scene in Christopher Nolan's latest film "The Odyssey" that I just watched - where just such an event is depicted - a loophole from going to the Trojan war.

TomR's avatar

Yep. That would be built-in to the guarantees that gets it moving. Too bad - I really want to see Jared, Don Jr and Barron in the first V-22 flying into Kharg Island.

Gregory Laxer's avatar

Waiting for THAT "great day in the morning" is like "Waiting For Godot"!!

jamenta's avatar
3dEdited

"Some folks are born silver spoon in hand

Lord, don't they help themselves, no

But when the taxman come to the door

Lord, the house lookin' like a rummage sale, yeah

.

[Chorus]

It ain't me, it ain't me

I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no

It ain't me, it ain't me

I ain't no fortunate one, no"

.

~Creedance Clearwater Revival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFv_yIXxasM

Emma's avatar

Nolan filmed in occupied territory. It is a shame so many support that film.

jamenta's avatar
1dEdited

You're probably wearing something made from forced labor somewhere in the world - not to mention food you've eaten. And if you pay taxes and live in the US or Britain - your taxes have paid for a genocide in GAZA.

Emma's avatar

In my lifetime of course, currently actually no. My taxes absolutely.

jamenta's avatar
1dEdited

The film remarkably enough has an anti-war, moral story to its arc. Unlike many interpretations of the Greek myth. I did not know he had filmed part of it in occupied territory. That's unfortunate.

The film is quite good, although not Nolan's best - for me that would still be "Interstellar". The first two acts were somewhat predictable, and not as emotionally engaging- but the cinematography and scenes were epic. The third act of the film did deliver (I thought).

Apache's avatar

Hello Bill Astore... Another Sign of Trump Crime Syndicate Grift... Per Mary Trump: "Eric Trump’s newest venture illustrates the point perfectly. He became Chief Strategy Advisor for

Foundation Future Industries, a robotics company that, almost immediately afterward, secured twenty four million dollars in Defense Department contracts to develop humanoid robots for potential battlefield use. We are expected to believe this happened because Eric Trump possesses unique expertise in robotics. The company told CNBC that Eric invested before joining as an adviser. If you believe that, I have a bridge I would be to sell to you" || The Terminator is coming, as Bob Dylan once said., "Money Doesn't Talk, It Swears'...

Apache's avatar

Hello Bill Astore... Thanks for the Link to the NYT Article... It is well worth Reading... I can relate... I've have been Counseling Veterans since the Vietnam War...

Alex's avatar

Bill, in case you had any questions, here is some helpful information from Gemini:

Here are several synonyms and alternative phrases for "reaching the goal,"

Achieving the objective

Attaining the goal

Realizing the vision

Accomplishing the mission

Succeeding

Fulfilling the purpose

Crossing the finish line

Completing the objective

Concluding the mission

Wrapping up the target

Hitting the target

Securing the victory

Carrying the day

Triumphing

Breaking through

Bill Astore's avatar

Surging to "mission accomplished"? Again and again? War without end, amen?

Alex's avatar

And the Congress said, "Amen".

TomR's avatar

Springsteen's lyrics can be haunting. Though it was written for a different context, the last lines from Youngstown apply here too: "You tell the me the world's changed. Once, I made you rich enough, rich enough to forget my name."

Emma's avatar
1dEdited

The article was good, thanks for the link. I don't understand vets who let their kids join the military. I have really strong feelings about the family in hawaii creating a go fund me to fund rotc scholarships in their dead son's name. That thinking is beyond me. Years ago, when recruiters were calling my brother, my dad picked up the kitchen phone and told the guy that he would shoot my brother in the leg first. The guy took my dad seriously, not sure if the multi combat or kinda nuts thing came through, but the calls stopped that day. As an adult now I see that moment differently, though at the time I saw it more as welcome to my dad, he is legit intense, to put it way too politely. Now I see it as the sane way to react to those experiences. I think people who let their kids join the military have failed as parents.

John Rachel's avatar

Why all the unnecessary wars? Hardly a mystery . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfH_ku1ExVQ

Fireman1110's avatar

Great Bruce song also "The River" I think its so cool Bruce's Son Sam became a New Jersey Firefighter too... A man ahead of his time, Too bad Society is so lost!

Emma's avatar
21hEdited

I don't think someone else has filmed there. International law is clear on this point. There are clear rulings on this so no dispute.

Daniel Good's avatar

America's war have to do with defending the almghty dollar. There are people who think this strong dollar is an existential issue. But it is so esoteric that only the gnomes of the Deep State and a hand-full of gnomes of Wall Street, understand this. But they do not communicate with the ordinary Americans, much less servicemen.

edb's avatar

"Moral Injury" no justice..no peace..

edb's avatar

"The Price We Pay"

jamenta's avatar

"Born in the U.S.A.​

I was born in the U.S.A. now

Born in the U.S.A.

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now"

~Bruce Springsteen