"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th president of the United States
Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe in World War II
I appreciate your honesty. I have friends whose sons and daughters were sent into these countries and I have never felt free to express my thoughts because I was well aware of their fear and the anxiety they lived with while their children were in harm's way. So, thank you for saying what I never could.
The tragedy is all the killed, wounded, and harmed by these wars. All to keep the money machine running. Such corruption! But at least we all get to pay for it...
Don't tell me the generals and all their line commanders over there (in either Iraq or Afghanistan) didn't know they were lying all the while. They had to in order to retire honorably and so they could get on all the corporate boards of the military industrial complex that supplied them for 20 or more years with all of our hard-earned tax dollars, pissed away in those countries in a miasma of corruption, greed and incompetence.
The spooks (what there were of them) were probably drunk all of the time because nobody was listening to them, or if they were, told to shut up with the truth because it's inconvenient to speak truth in the middle of a fuck-up.
This was Vietnam 2.0 on steroids, and nobody cared. of course our departure was horrible-bugging out never is pretty and that's what we did.
Honor? Dignity? Hell, we were lucky we didn't lose more people there during the evacuation-and the Afghans were laughing all the while.
That's what 20 trillion will get you-to be the butt of a joke.
I clearly remember my Dad; taking his R&R from Vietnam as a military advisor with MAC-V in Bangkok Thailand; ‘where I was stationed up country with the 46th Special Forces Co.
I informed him of my intention to
10-49 (‘request for assignment) to Vietnam for my last year of service.
‘He told me, “absolutely not”; and then briefed me on the incredible degree of bullshit that was happening. “You don’t need this, your mom doesn’t need any of it, I’ve paid all the dues for this family”.
I come from 4 generations of West Point.
I also remember him expressing his complete disgust at the lack of integrity in today’s commanding officers.
I rejoice in the curtain being dropped and all the roaches scurrying.
We must accept responsibility at every level and face ourselves in truth as one Nation.
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th president of the United States
Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe in World War II
Five-Star General of the Army
From his farewell address.
My father went to West Point and always said: “It’s easy to start a war, it’s hard to get out…” (as LT knows).
Great commentary, thank you.
Shades of Vietnam with its ludicrous body counts that ultimately had no meaning. Well done.
Bravo, Lucian! Keep on punching, it’s necessary.
It gives me no pleasure to say this is a perfect summary
I appreciate your honesty. I have friends whose sons and daughters were sent into these countries and I have never felt free to express my thoughts because I was well aware of their fear and the anxiety they lived with while their children were in harm's way. So, thank you for saying what I never could.
The tragedy is all the killed, wounded, and harmed by these wars. All to keep the money machine running. Such corruption! But at least we all get to pay for it...
Bingo!
Don't tell me the generals and all their line commanders over there (in either Iraq or Afghanistan) didn't know they were lying all the while. They had to in order to retire honorably and so they could get on all the corporate boards of the military industrial complex that supplied them for 20 or more years with all of our hard-earned tax dollars, pissed away in those countries in a miasma of corruption, greed and incompetence.
The spooks (what there were of them) were probably drunk all of the time because nobody was listening to them, or if they were, told to shut up with the truth because it's inconvenient to speak truth in the middle of a fuck-up.
This was Vietnam 2.0 on steroids, and nobody cared. of course our departure was horrible-bugging out never is pretty and that's what we did.
Honor? Dignity? Hell, we were lucky we didn't lose more people there during the evacuation-and the Afghans were laughing all the while.
That's what 20 trillion will get you-to be the butt of a joke.
I clearly remember my Dad; taking his R&R from Vietnam as a military advisor with MAC-V in Bangkok Thailand; ‘where I was stationed up country with the 46th Special Forces Co.
I informed him of my intention to
10-49 (‘request for assignment) to Vietnam for my last year of service.
‘He told me, “absolutely not”; and then briefed me on the incredible degree of bullshit that was happening. “You don’t need this, your mom doesn’t need any of it, I’ve paid all the dues for this family”.
I come from 4 generations of West Point.
I also remember him expressing his complete disgust at the lack of integrity in today’s commanding officers.
I rejoice in the curtain being dropped and all the roaches scurrying.
We must accept responsibility at every level and face ourselves in truth as one Nation.
‘Swing away!!!
How I wish OUR generals could be tried as war criminals at the World Court. Or at the very least their assets seized. Thanks for your gift of anger
written with courage.
Truth
brilliant as usual
We never seem to learn, do we? Trying to build nations in our image only results in resentment and hatred. What arrogance.
Sow's ear doesn't make a silk purse.