The problem of the changed face of war

[nytemare]

In WW2, the whole country had something at stake. The factories were working double time to get equipment, food, vehicles out to the troops. Most had a very close relative in the armed services, were in themselves, or worked at one of the factories providing for the troops. Rich, poor, it didn't matter. Every branch of society was a part of the military.

Since probably the Korean War, which I can't speak too much of because I haven't read too much on it, it seems that America has lost its stake in war.

Only the big companies have to gain, and only the families of a few have a vested interest in the success of war. I wonder if that is because there is no draft, or no mandatory conscription.

There is a lack of jobs in America. Perhaps, if they monitored more closely what they were paying out to Halliburton, they could afford to properly equip some of these troops. There should be factories opening up all over to build equipment, proper armor for our troops.

But, the truth is, most of us don't have an interest in this war. Most of us don't have relatives in harms way. Most of us don't have to worry about getting drafted to go over. For this reason, it makes it easier to go into an illegal war. If the majority of the people don't have a perceived stake, and are more interested in watching entertainment tonight's update on the MJ trial, an illegal, immoral war is child's play.

After 9-11, we did have a vested interest, very briefly. We were all Americans, not Dems and Republicans. We were united to fight against Al Queda, and this unity was warped into the fear that led us into Iraq. Now, we are more divided than ever.

What a shame.

[wtmusic]

1. There's no interest because America wasn't threatened nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. there is no interest because there is no cause

Americans are not asked to sacrifice anything. I still recall the "live your lives" ad after 911, and thinking how this was a way of divesting any responsibility or self-examination by the American people. At that point, we could have seriously looked at why we were attacked (it wasn't because they "hate our freedoms" but rather they hated our involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and they hated our having troops in Saudi Arabia, among other things) and what we could do about it (one of the main things would be to turn our backs on oil dependency and go full bore at creating viable renewable energy sources). There isn't a draft, so the majority don't know-or care-about what's going on, beyond buying a yellow ribbon magnet for their gas guzzler.

In WWII, we had a cause-the preservation of our nation, which would likely have ceased to exist except as a Nazi/Japanese puppet had the Axis prevailed. We have no cause now-only the oil companies do.

[nytemare]

4. Yes, and only Halliburton and the like have something to gain

The thing is, we really do have a stake. We did the worst thing we could have done, though. We went into Afghanistan, where Bin Laden was, half-assed. They had a religious extremist government that sponsored terrorism, half because of how we cut and run after the Afghan conflict with the USSR.

So, rather than find Bin Laden, we go into a country with a secular government, which didn't really pose a threat to us, overthrow that government to instill a religious soon-to-become extremist government that will resent us and sponsor terrorists.

It boggles the mind, the stupidity of this administraion.

[wli]

6. Afghanistan offered to extradite bin Laden

Bushler attacked anyway.

[nytemare]

7. Well, Bin Laden has been "marginalized"

And Bush is "not that concerned" about him. That is not "one of those exhaggerations".

Seems the smart thing to do would have been to get Bin Laden extradited, and then determine how we needed to go after Al-Queda.

Thanks for reminding me on that, that is one of the many stupidities of the administration I forgot. There is not much room left in my brain for any more, now!

[wli]

8. I remember a rumor (or something) about Saddam offering to step down

That might also be interesting as far as "regime change" goes.

[nytemare]

9. Yeah, these things don't get too much coverage.

What happened to the DSM??

Hell, Clinton got investigated for possible abuse to the White House Christmas card database. I am hoping the tide will turn and something will happen with the Rove stuff, like some deeper digging. But, really, who knows what will happen? The only thing I know for sure, is the next time Bush tries to say the word "nuclear", he will yet again mispronounce it.

[mcscajun]

3. There was a moment when we were all engaged...before there was

a "war on Iraq". It was in the days and weeks immediately following 9/11.

If the President had called on us to sacrifice, even if it was just to do what was necessary to make us energy-independent, he would have gotten our support. Instead, he called on us to live our lives as usual, and to "go shopping".

Go Shopping??? He lost us right there. The moment passed.

Then he took off after bogus targets. And Lost Us Permanently.

[nytemare]

5. Yes, but it was a conflicted message

Go on shopping, but be scared. The media since then has always bombarded us on how we could be killed by terrorists. You know, if it is our time, it is our time. We are far more likely to have a heart attack than to be killed in a terrorist attack. But people EVERYWHERE were worried.

I agree with your post! There was no shortage of recruits following 9-11. Now, he has pilfered every last ounce of sacrifice from Americans. Even the young Repubs want no part of this war, except to "support it from afar". Sort of like * did in vietnam.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. La plus ca change:

"Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war ... but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."

-Hermann Goering

[nytemare]

11. That is a great bad quote!

There are so many quotes from the Nazi's that fit our current situation, it is pretty frightening.

I like "how fortunate for leaders that men do not think" from Hitler.

[nytemare]

12. Well, what do you know? A guy at the Post's thoughts on the subject

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/31/AR2005073101080.html