De
cannot speak for anyone but me.
A soldier is not a politician. A Marine follows orders to the letter. I suspect same is supposed to be true for other branches like the Army, but I was not in the army.
My unit was highly mobile and we moved often and covered large areas. We were a fighting unit. We did what we were instructed to do by our superiors.
The question you raise, like " did we stop communism from over running south Vietnam, was it worth it" ? is always a catch 22. For those who think NO, it is a great question.
For those who just wanted to serve their country like every single person in Israel is required to do, keep in mind we don't make the policies. We obey orders and in a hot combat zone you better pay attention and react quickly or you will be twice as likely to wind up in a body bag or maimed for life.
Hindsight is always 20/20 but I was proud to serve my country and would have given my life for it. Still would.
DO I as JOE AMERICAN think we should be the world's policeman? No.
DO I think we should be an isolationist country? No.
Should we get rid of a lot of crybabies and actually do the necessary work to VET people, like the Israelis do getting on an airliner, or allowing them into this country? ABSOLUTELY.
SECURITY comes a price and a cost...
To live in peace when an awful lot of others in the world would prefer to see you dead requires either offensive pro-action or you can simply see the stuff continue to happen here..
It's a shame because once upon a time it was not like this....
I am glad I am at the stage of life I am right now and I fear for my grandkids.
I think your questioning from an economic perspective is in large part non-answerable.
Every bro that is still alive in my unit would go back and do it again if we had to.
I don't think that really answers your question De, but I do not think there really can be a correct answer.
Those who live in peace at the cost of someone else should simply learn to words.
THANK YOU. Because the costs that are required all too often but necessarily result in a lot of funerals, and making of single parent homes, or homes where mom and dad have to grieve...
Just my penny's worth. I am sure Ribit will have his own thoughts as well. I defer to Ribit as he is older to me and so I respect his age and experience.
Good day to you sir!
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