FOUND IT: "To those calling for a civil war, this Marine wants you to stop, and think..."

[WilliamPitt]

Food for thought dedicated to those right-wingers calling for "revolution"...

An article I wish I would never have to write - To those calling for a civil war, this Marine wants you to stop, and think...
News Type: Opinion — Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:13 PM EDT

By Sgt C USMC

(snip)

For those of you calling for a civil war, I implore you to stop and think about what you're saying. Look around your neighborhood and your city. Now imagine using that terrain to survive. Imagine dodging semi-automatic rifle fire as you scramble from cover to cover, dragging your wounded child behind you. Imagine the deafening report of a mortar as it strikes the ground a 150 feet in front of you, the overpressure enough to shatter your teeth and perforate an ear drum. Try and envision a Stryker rolling through neighbor's front lawn or a F/A-18 making lazy loops over your head in Close Air Support for the troops in the distance.

Now with that vision in mind, stop by your local Marine Corps base, being they will be the first military units you'd face in an all out 'civil war' . Look at them for a moment, examine their 'work environment' . They're running the track, they're climbing ropes, they're grappelling with each other in mock hand-to-hand combat, and shooting targets while moving in raid lines on a daily basis. Nearly everyone on that base, down to our 'secretaries' has a combat award of one type or another, they've faced some of the most stressful situations on Earth where succumbing to the stress can get you killed, and they flourished.

(snip)

Now I 'd like to disperse a myth here - many of you think that US military would not fight civilians. I can't speak for all, but in my case - the moment you declare civil war, you're no longer civilians. The moment you attack the constitution, you're now enemies of that constitution. And I swore to defend and support and if necessary give my life for that Constitution and utilize every tool, technique, and weapon at my disposal to do so. And trust me, I'm not alone.

I hope some of you heed my words and cool the rhetoric and focus on achieving your goals diplomatically instead of physically. It would never want to receive a frag order to Maryland, or North Dakota, or Texas, but it is an order I will follow no matter how much it pains me to do so.

Whole thing: http://sealaskatimes.blogspot.com/2010/03/article-i-wish-i-would-never-have-to.html

[Hugabear]

1. Almost funny to think that RW militia groups think they could actually take on the US military

I'm pretty sure that most militia groups wouldn't last very long at all against even a company-strength unit, let alone a full-blown assault complete with air and artillery support.

They like to point out examples of how unconventional warfare worked against the US in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, etc. What they don't realize is that in many of these places, fighting has been going on for decades, if not hundreds of years.

[WingDinger]

6. You are not accounting for the Oathkeepers. They are to ignore

any order they decide isnt to their narrow way of thinking legal. And start the insurrection. There is that vague faith, that all those to ignore legal orders will number a huge army.

[guitar man]

53. Shit

Most of them would probably throw their weapons down and come out with their hands up if a half dozen sherrifs deputies showed up....

[Recursion]

54. Yeah, it would be a cakewalk

:eyes:

[Bandit]

64. In Iraq and Afghanistan we are up against people that know their land well

In America both sides have the same advantage with knowledge of geography. Most of those Militias live in a play army world of all make believe...They are basically cowards that need constant reenforcement of how brave they are..

[Bluerthanblue]

2. I remember reading this here at DU- it's pretty excellent. And timely

:hi:

[malaise]

3. I remember this

K & R

[blondeatlast]

4. Chilling and powerful. I read the entire thing--how many of teabaggers truly

have faced those horrors?

[RSillsbee]

5. quite a few of them

Or do you not think teabaggers join the military?

[blondeatlast]

7. No, I really don't. The veterans I know, even the conservatives in my family,

would not wish that horror on their neighbors.

That would be--my father and 7 uncles in his famil--WW2, my grandfather--WW1, uncountable cousins--Viet Nam, and four neices and nephews in Iraq and Afghanistan...

[RSillsbee]

10. You'd be surprised at the turns life takes

I am not a teabagger (obviously) but I am a vet and in 1991 I was ordered (as part of a platoon) to prepare to assist the Tacoma police in putting down an anti war protest.

I had never thought about the prospect of being "deployed" in the US prior to that moment but when faced w/ the decision I told my superiors that I would refuse any order to take up arms against Americans regardless of the consequences.

Luckily, we never recieved the order and I never had to test my resolve but I suspect there would be many similar crisises of conscience should a similar order be issued today.

[bettyellen]

13. not the "militant ones" who sport guns at big meetings. experienced soldiers know better

sorry, they are mostly rejects and armchair warriors. bought their camo at Kmart.

[RSillsbee]

15. Have you ever been in the military?

Are you familiar w/ "Oath Keepers"? edit Are you aware that during katrina entire units of National Guard troops flat refused to confiscate civilian weapons? /edit

Underestimating your enemy is an excellent way to have your ass handed to you

[bluestate10]

23. I agree.

My sense is that the military will split. Soldiers of units will end up fighting soldiers of the unit that they trained and have fought with. Officers will end up fighting against units led by former officers. There is no way to tell the percentage of the military that will go rebel, but my sense is that it is not insignificant.

But. I don't think it matters much. Any modern civil war will be one where guns, armaments and human soldiers will fight against technology, with the side that is the best educated and most sophisticated about advanced math and science and their power to change reality as we know it prevailing.

A larger question would be whether the side that prevails decides to bring the other side back in and reform a union, kill all of the other side and repopulate their states with loyalists, or split up the country into new countries and let the defeated side have it's country.

[sulphurdunn]

24. That is exactly how civil wars are fought.

[RSillsbee]

40. IMO in a real American civil war

I doubt very seriously the rest of the world would sit back and let us fight it out and it is very likely that America would simply cease to exist

[bluestate10]

76. You're are likely right. nt

[donquijoterocket]

63. PROOF

I constantly see winger assertions about this that or the other usually without any credible evidence to support their assertion, as in this case. There's a reason lots of regulars regularly refer to the NG as No Good. I suspect Oath Keepers would find themselves in the minority very quickly. Overestimating your position will get you anatomy lessons too.

[RSillsbee]

70. What planet do you live on?

Since the Clinton draw down of 92 the Army has been moving a sizable portion of it's combat strength into the National Guard. 65% of the Us Army's artillery is in Guard units. Also all Guard units are combat arms, service support units are all US Army Reserve.

The National Guard has been Federalized since 2003 and is part of the rotation to Iraq and Afghanistan.

IME the vast majority of Guard soldiers are prior service who have active duty time as well as combat experience under their belt

[EFerrari]

8. Revolution and civil war are not synonymous terms. n/t

[DainBramaged]

9. Yep, these play time soldiers would do well against the military

If they quit donuts for a year.

[spin]

11. Our opponents in Iraq and Afghanistan ...

rarely engage our military in a fair fight.

They seem to be able to successfully resist our power. Otherwise why are we still there?

Our nation has spent billions of dollars training our military. Many retired soldiers still remember the lessons they learned while fighting in numerous hell holes all around the world. The training that these soldiers received while in the service is far superior to any training terrorists get in Pakistan or Somalia.

The war would be another guerrilla conflict that would tear our country and its economy apart. The military might control the large urban areas, but these areas are very dependent on our transportation system to deliver daily supplies to keep the big cities functioning. Can you imagine the damage an ex seal team could do to our rail lines and freeways if they wanted to? Our power grid is also vulnerable to attack. A civil war or a revolt is something we better pray never happens. Fortunately our country has faced only one such serious war in its existence. The Union came damn close to losing that war with all its economic advantages and manpower. Had Robert E Lee decided to lure the Army of the Potomac to Gettysburg and then to swing around them and attack Washington, we might live in a divided nation today.

Having said that, we are nowhere near the point that a revolution or civil war is required to preserve our freedom. Any revolution that starts today will fail because it will lack the support of the majority of citizens in our nation, not because of the strength of our military.

There are a lot of hot heads running around making noise in the media and on TV, but our political system is functioning just fine. The Republicans got booted out because they ran the country into the ground and the Democrats in office just learned a valuable lesson. They were sent to Washington to implement real change.



So far the real change appears to be more of the same. The midterm elections should have taught our party that we need to at least try to live up to our promises if we want to retain power.

[Robb]

25. I'd point out that SEALs are not magic super heroes.

They are exceptionally skilled and disciplined soldiers, but they rely upon the support of hundreds of others to accomplish missions. Someone has to buy fuel and truck it to the plane, if you follow.

[spin]

34. True, but they don't have to sneak into the U.S. ...

via submarine. They are already here. Makes things a lot simpler.

Again, I don't believe that we need a revolution or civil war at this time and ex-soldiers would not support such activity. To justify such an action, we would need to lose the majority of our rights and be looking forward to a future under a tyrant or dictator.

[DinahMoeHum]

36. AFAIC, our troops are only fighting for a paycheck out there.

The various tribes of Iraqis and Afghans are fighting for their own homes and families.

"Fair fight" my Aunt Fanny.

:nuke:

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RSillsbee]

52. Apparently the mods don't care for the way I addressed you

So, to put it slightly less abrasively. The Majority of our soldiers believe in what they are doing. I draw this conclusion from the fact that several of them are on 2nd and third enlistments and you don't volunteer to put your ass on the line for Army pay. I resent the hell out of your characterization of our troops as mercenaries and suggest that you may not be good enough to carry their boots

[Butch350]

68. I heard that!

[B Calm]

12. I remember this. I sent it to right wing co worker who was bugging

me with stupid e-mails. This one really pissed him off when I forwarded to all his contacts on his last e-mail to me. Afterwords it was truly satisfying when he put my e-mail address on block.

I recommend you send it to every right winger who ever bugged you with their stupid e-mails!

[WillyT]

14. I Remember That... Thank You !!!

:kick: & Rec !!!

[stray cat]

16. There are a smaller number on the left promoting it as well

[proud patriot]

17. Thanks Will

I tried looking with no luck . trying to remember the title was hard

[Generic Other]

18. Much as I respect his unquestioning patriotism it also chills me to the bone

I feel the shadow of his boot on my neck. Everything is not black and white.

Saying you'd frag your own if ordered to do so, that it would only cause you momentary pain, that you'd shoot down your fellow Americans without a second thought because someone had ordered it in the name of defending a piece of paper scares me. I respect the writing on the piece of paper. Make no mistake about that. It is a living document of our ongoing attempt to form a more perfect society. It has been tested before. And people have died to defend it.

But this soldier's letter straddles the very thin line and makes me wonder whether to feel protected or threatened.

[Mariana]

38. I don't think it's fair to say that he'd shoot down fellow Americans

wihtout a second thought. Obviously, he HAS thought about it, long and hard enough to produce this piece of writing. He's thought about it and he's made his decision.

[RSillsbee]

41. He didn't say he'd frag his own

He said he'd hate to get a FRAG order to Maryland

(DOD) An abbreviated form of an operation order (verbal, written or digital) usually issued on a day-to-day basis that eliminates the need for restating information contained in a basic operation order. It may be issued in sections. It is issued after an operation order to change or modify that order or to execute a branch or sequel to that order. Also called FRAG order.

[LuvNewcastle]

19. A couple of my friends and I have been talking about

leaving the country. This country is at a dark place right now and we see no indication of it getting better. There are people who are hell-bent on destroying America and they have a lot of helpers and enablers. It is tempting to leave this country to those who are destroying it, to let the live in the horrible mess they've made and pour our energy and good will into another place where progress is a worthy goal.

[bluestate10]

32. The United States.

Has bouts of idiocy periodically during it's entire existence. But we progress forward to something better. A Michelle Bachmann or Sarah Palin talk in a way that harks of darkness, but Eugene McCarthy did launch investigations against private citizens, with the backing of many in Congress, so some sixty years ago.

Chill out. You and your friends should have a few beers and hot wings and watch football. Ten years from now when you are driving your self powered electric car, Palin and Bachmann will be mere bad memories for you, but completely forgotten and irrelevant.

[bluescribbler]

49. Slight correction

That was Joe McCarthy, not Eugene.

[bluestate10]

77. Thanks. nt.

[Leftist Agitator]

50. "Chill out. You and your friends should have a few beers and hot wings and watch football."

This might be the single most offensive and abjectly stupid thing I have ever read anywhere.

[tavalon]

58. Then, you are incredibly blessed

I'm not saying it wasn't stupid or offensive - it was both. But, the two term appointed President Shrub said something at least that offensive and usually far more than that, almost every time he opened his mouth.

[seabeyond]

61. good luck on finding an utopia. nt

[EnviroBat]

65. I just had that same talk with a good friend of mine just this past weekend.

Usually we laugh a lot and are pretty jovial with one another. But this day was different. He spoke in low, sobering tones of leaving the U.S. He's had enough of the insanity which is being pushed on us as if it's normal to be experiencing the erosion of our freedoms, and the constant threats of an ever-increasing police state. I've had enough as well. I've been thinking seriously about leaving. The process seems overwhelming, and the scary part is that it seems to be getting more difficult by the day to escape this fucked up nation. I will miss my friends and family so much, but I feel no sense of patriotism, or allegiance to this nation of corpora-fascists fucking greed mongers that would kill us in the street like dogs if we threatened their profits.

[reggie the dog]

69. leave while you can

i left in 2003 and LOVE living in FRANCE, most of the time laws made here are based on science, climate change is accepted as caused by humans by all the political parties except the extreme right, about 3 out of 4 people know we caused climate chage, the death penalty is unconstitutional, health insurance is nationalized, you get at least 5 weeks paid holiday, universities for the children are 300 euros a year, high speed trains link the country internally and externally, there is very very little gun crime, hash is de facto depenalized and cheap, our president does not invoke his religion publically EVER!

[EnviroBat]

73. Was it a difficult process?

Are you a citizen of France now? There are so many questions. Are the people friendly over there?

[reggie the dog]

74. yes and no

no in that i fell in love with a french woman doing a year of grad school in the usa

i went back with and married her.... got nationality in 3 and a half years all said and done.... got married here... now the difficult part, divorce... but i get to keep the nationality and have divided custody of my daughter so all and all the trans atlantic jump is still a big +++ in my life

if you have a university diploma (a ba) that will help a lot. if you have an ma even better and a phd is better than that in many places in europe. with a ba you can first move as a graduate student then get a visa so you can "work and study" there are many university degree programs in english in sweden, the netherlands, germany, and finland from what i have been told. also consider looking in to denmark. norway is out of the eu and i believe harder to immigrate to. germany is also a good choice and there are lots of americans already there with all of our military bases around.

if you have a skill such as an engineer or something like urban planning many cities function in english in business settings, i know second hand from friends having worked there anywhere in sweden, switzerland, the netherlands, belgium (to avoid a conflict between dutch and french) to a certain extent in germany, reme

if you speak a language of an eu state that is great,

know that scotland has a better social system than the rest of the uk

remember that malta speaks english as a first language, can you find work there????

prague comes to mind as well as a place where english is widely spoken in business circles.

hell you can try to find work in english in monaco and live in france...

english is an official language of the netherlands, that helps as administrative papers can be handled in english.

some eu countries allow dual nationality others do not, france does....this is important if you want to keep us nationality and be able to get nationality where you move to

if you speak spanish do not hesitate to move to spain, they are a bit poorer than france but have national health service, several weeks paid vacation, and a very low crime rate compared to the states. and in spain you can grow your own weed at your place legally and smoke legally at home and circulate with 50 grams ;)

[bluestate10]

20. With all due respects to the Marine.

Those that declare civil war had better hope they end up fighting an organized union government and military units, the first of which historically would be Marine units.

While the Marine that wrote that piece appears to be a patriot and honorable soldier, the armed services are likely to break up, as will the government. With red states and blue states prevalent today, a modern civil war will most probably again pit northern states against southern and interior western states, with the far west staying with the northern states. Soldiers, except the most patriotic and honorable among them will end up fighting for their region instead of holding up a union, as was done during during the civil war. There will be exceptions where a soldier or officer born and raised in one of the regions will end up fighting for the other side.

AND. The more technologically advanced of the sides will end up defeating the other side with advanced weapons as yet not in existence. So comes the part where the rebels had need pray that they are fighting an organized government with leaders that are accountable to treaties that govern conduct in war. Without the treaties restraining it's actions or concern for life restraining it's actions, the more advanced side can and may choose to exterminate the other side in combat and start over with a new society. Given where talk of rebellion is coming from and the people calling for rebellion, it is doubtful that the more advanced side will be the rebel side.

[quaker bill]

28. Here is the problem with your notion

An armed insurrection will not be allowed last long enough to gain any momentum. If it happens at all, it will be done in 48 to 72 hours.

Very few of the Cheetos warriors will show up, and the few that do will die quickly. The remainder will cower in mom's basement in their soiled underwear, to never be heard from again. The PTB, republican or dem, have no interest in such instability, therefore it will not be allowed to exist.

[bluestate10]

30. I pray that you are right. Modern civil war would be a moral nightmare. nt

[quaker bill]

46. Broken down as simply as possible

War destroys money. Civil war destroys money even faster because both sides are burning the opposite ends of the same pile.

What is money really? Most money that exists is not the green stuff you fold up in your pocket or wallet. It is the reserved value of assets, stocks, bonds, real estate, business facilities and equipment, physical infrastructure. This money exists in that we believe it does, because we believe these assets have real value. In a civil war the asset value of property within and financial instruments tied to this country evaporates. Properties, business facilities and equipment are destroyed, and the speculative value of any such investments vanishes. Actual paper money itself could well become most valuable as a fuel used to stay warm in the winter, hyperinflation is common to economies angaged in active civil strife.

There is nothing about either the Dems or Repugs that would suggest that either would long tolerate a circumstance that destroys money like a civil insurrection would.

It will not happen, and if it attempts to start, the parties will unite for a bit simply to shut it down. There is no point, and more importantly, no money in gaining control of an ash heap.

[kestrel91316]

21. Dear Sgt C: What you describe is the RW's wet dream.

[Old and In the Way]

22. The First Instance of organized, armed insurrection against the US...will be their last.

Not only will they face the power of the US military, but they're going to find their civilian 'base' pretty much non-existent. There may be a few anti-socialists that will take up the futile cause, but many more will not be sympathetic to their plans to overthrow the government. I hope it doesn't come to this, but if the internet warriors think they have the hearts and minds of most Americans...they'll be proven wrong, as usual.

[mmonk]

26. I remember it. Thanks.

[greytdemocrat]

27. Sad

I think the purpose of you posting this again went right over everyones head Will.

[Swamp Rat]

29. Dear Sgt. C: Now, imagine all of the IEDs you will have to walk through.

There would many 'Jean Lafittes', 'Emiliano Zapatas', and Robert E. Lees', plus hordes of armed followers in addition to civilians dragging wounded children.

Now imagine American children running toward you for food and water, and then they whip out a .22 at the very last second, or something is detonated.

Dear Sgt. C. Don't imagine you, and the highly trained soldiers with whom you work, will survive a civil war in America.

[reggie the dog]

71. why do you think the marines would not survive a civil war here?

i know my father was a marine in vietnam and they lost but he was neither fighting in his home country, nor for the future of his own people.

[Swamp Rat]

75. I think about the past, i.e. the last U.S. Civil War, and severe casualties on all sides.

I do not want to go to war against my neighbors and my fellow citizens, let alone anyone.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

-- Dylan Thomas

[Doctor_J]

31. Civil War - fail

counter-terrorism - FTW

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[freshwest]

35. I hadn't read this, but it always seemed logical to me that no militia could resist the military.

There has been, by several reports, infiltration of the military by those who are of certain belief systems that are not secular and do not support of government as we know it. But that must be a minority of them.

For those who say they have thought of leaving, I understand. If I was younger and my family didn't need me, I might try living somewhere else for a while. I personally know people who have left and found happiness elsewhere. Some in what we'd call social democracies but others in places less organized. They have friends in more than one country and could evacuate.

Some years back I read a WSJ report about how the rich needed to buy land, grow crops, stockpile with food, medicine, equipment and ammunition. This is not that different than the 'patriot movement' with their fears of Doomsday. Believe me, they are buying up food and stockpiling.

Other groups less political are forming communities and networking. It's almost like the old hippie commune movement of the past, but with a darker edge to it.

There is a lot of fear around the world, but nowhere as much as here with our intense media environment. Are those fears justified or is the fear itself the real problem?

I meet people from around the world everyday who are new to the USA and love it here, while keeping in touch with their home countries. Most of us here have no family anywhere else. And many are aging and unable to move in any case.

It seems that there are signs of all these things. I can only hope that those who say we create our own reality are correct. When I am having fearful thoughts, more things to fear arise. When I feel loving thoughts and confidence, I meet people who feel the same.

And what we say and do in this political realm certainly affects us all, what we want to have happen, creates those self-fulfilling prophecies. Those who scream about the NWO seem to me, to be the ones, by investing their energy in that fear, will bring it to pass.

Just a few thoughts.

[Recursion]

55. That's why both the Iraq and Afganistan wars ended so quickly? (nt)

[freshwest]

56. Nothing to do with my post.

[Recursion]

57. They're examples of militias resisting the military (nt)

[Bonobo]

37. So he is saying "Don't resist. You would lose." Gotcha.

Asshole. Not much else to add.

[Leftist Agitator]

47. Agreed.

The stupid bastard has no idea ho dangerous and utterly deadly a committed body of intelligent resisters can be. Now I'm not talking about the rightists, because they are by and large idiotic fucks, but if the "marine" who wrote this pabulum thinks that fighting against intelligent Americans would be akin to fighting Iraqis or Afghanis with IEDs and rifles, well, no, not so much.

[seabeyond]

62. you plan on taking up arms against civilians? military? and govt? i dont see

it as a bad thing to think we ought not raise arms in war against our own nation.....

[LanternWaste]

72. Most assuredly this particular American population would lose.

Most assuredly this particular American population would lose. Unlike the Vietnamese or the Afghans who have been in conflict for the better part of this century, the American electorate is for the most part, over-fed, over-pampered and far too entranced with I-pods and Playstations to allow the inconvenience that actual struggle would entail.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

39. I remember this one, my dear Will...

I'm glad it was found and re-posted so we could all absorb its lessons......again.

Recommended.

[NuclearDem]

42. Note to RW militia groups:

Real war is NOT like Call of Duty or Red Dawn.

[A Simple Game]

44. Two things sarge.

One, I hope you would stop and assess which side was actually following the constitution before you took sides. More and more it appears that the government is not the side you would be supporting if you were to defend the constitution.

Two, don't think it would be as easy as you think. I have watched Red Dawn three times!!!

[NuclearDem]

45. WOLVERINES!!!!111 1!!111eleventyoneone

This war's gonna be really really hugh lol

[Last_Stand]

48. A civil war would be bad for profits...

but that's only assuming the corporatists decide they still need a facade of democracy in this country.

[bengalherder]

51. Considering the Militant Christian infiltration of the armed forces

I don't really have much faith that in the event of violent ideological social upheaval the army/marines/whathaveyou will be on MY side.

[Crowman1979]

67. If the militant Christians tried to start a mutiny, they would be fragged.

Trust me, most of these militant Christians are officers, and assholes to boot.

[Bosso 63]

59. "In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons."

Herodotus.

Of course modern war is now an equal opportunity event.

[judesedit]

60. Why did you take out the part about Americans being fat, lazy and out of shape trying to defend them

selves against the Marines....or anybody for that matter? Don't forget this is what the "chosen few" want. A fat, lazy, stupid, drugged-up country full of zombies, so "they" can do whatever they want with us...and the country! Wake the heck up, people! This is reality. You watch all those stupid so-called reality shows???? They are nothing but food for the empty-headed who have already been dumbed-down, drugged up, and fattened up. "They" are counting on us do their bidding and killing for them. THIS IS NO JOKE! Get informed! Find out who "THEY" is!

[davidthegnome]

66. I don't believe that intimidation

is the way to go here. Should it come to a civil war our Country would not survive it, it's entirely possible there would be nothing left of America. All the tough talk and intimidation attempts don't really impress me, regardless of where they come from. Those who would support a military revolution or civil war are in a very small minority.

I find it somewhat disturbing though, that this Marine felt the need to say these things. The sky is not falling, we are far from any sort of true revolution/civil war. Maybe if unemployment reaches a far greater level, maybe if our entire social and economic structure falls apart completely. I've known a number of Marines that I have a great deal of respect for - but they were neither braggarts nor bullies. The implied threats coming from this Marine are absurd. It is far more likely to piss people off than frighten them into "toning down their rhetoric".

That being said - I still long for a time when we will be able to pull together for a peaceful revolution.

Declare civil war? Even the vast majority of wing nuts aren't that crazy. Perhaps this Marine should consider toning down his own ignorant rhetoric.

[Very_Boring_Name]

78. The problem with the premise of this argument is the teabaggers think the miliary would back them up

[Carolina]

79. Powerful message

but I also thought that poster Dresden Scott's response was quite appropriate, too.