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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lazarus_Long who wrote (41319)	11/17/2005 10:18:42 AM
From: Solon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

"It appears you apply or don't apply it arbitrarily as it suits you. OK." You wish to apply the word "arbitrary"--but where and when to station troops is not arbitrary. We have troops all over the world. Every circumstance and case is unique and is evaluated by Government and military on a unique basis. That is no different from the U.S. participation and non participation in struggles and conflicts around the globe. Just because we are allies does NOT mean it is inappropriate to participate in different arenas of action. "Peacekeeping" is just another form of war. Frankly, I'd get off that moral high horse if I were you." I'm not on a horse. You were insinuating a failure of duty. I pointed out that Canada and the U.S. defend the peace in different bailiwicks at times. It does little good to question the absence of one or the other in any one particular arena. The question of where to station troops is a complex one. You are absent in countries where we conduct what you term "another form of war". We are absent in countries where you conduct "another form of war". "There is good reason all nations pick late pubescent boys for combat." The reason is self interest. I think it is disingenuous of you to narrow that self interest to the physical difference between an 18 year old and a 45 year old. Many 18 year olds are fat and weak and dumb. Many 45 year olds can shoot straighter and fight harder than their kids. It would be easy to test the qualifications of mature adults just as youth are tested for military qualifications. In this way--those who qualified for military service could be of any age. But kids don't make the rules. WE DO. And it ain't because I can't kick the ass of most 18 year olds in most anything. Because I CAN. But it would be difficult to convince me that my death ought to serve some suit at a dinner party. Don't even try to sell me apple pie.