russia/ georgia

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by mheisig

The issues gets brought up on a regular basis by, usually by Rep. Rangel or someone else. It always gets defeated and isn't considered a viable option by hardly any military experts.

The modern U.S. military isn't what is was back in WW2. The amount of training and time that goes into a U.S. soldier is astronomical. They don't just grab a few guys, show them which end of the gun to point toward the enemy and send them on their way. These guys are operating complex pieces of technology on a daily basis and require an incredible amount of training.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but reinstating the draft is VERY unlikely. It's usually brought up as a way to strike some fear into people so we don't get into a war or extend ourselves. Kind of along the lines of, "Oh, you want to go to war huh? How about we reinstate...the DRAFT!" And Rangel jumps out of a closet waving his arms...

First off, I am a U.S. Army veteran of nine years. Secondly, my last place of duty was as an intructor for Officer Basic Course... now known as Basic Officer Leaders Course. I am fully aware of the type of training that goes into turning a civilian into a soldier.

These topics (reinstituting the draft) were brought up while I was still in the military. While I felt that the force as a whole was overwhelmed, I never concured with reinstituting the draft. I was a Staff Sergeant in charge of volunteers, I never would want to see what a non volunteer Army looks like. Unfortunately in Vietnam that is what they had to deal with.

Bottom line: I was not defending the idea of the draft. I was just pointing out that it has been taken into consideration during this generation.

Good Day Sir!

[Schneed10]

Wow Dmek, once again putting on display for all the Warpath to see exactly how uneducated you are.

Pathetic attempt at a good topic.

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Wow Dmek, once again putting on display for all the Warpath to see exactly how uneducated you are.

Pathetic attempt at a good topic.

one of these days, im going to pick up a book, or 2, so i can elevate my intelligence to somewhere near the level of someone like you. i know in my wildest dreams i could never achieve this greatness, but maybe i could be somewhere in the same area code. and thanks to saden, and firstdown, for not making it personal

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by dmek25

one of these days, im going to pick up a book, or 2, so i can elevate my intelligence to somewhere near the level of someone like you. i know in my wildest dreams i could never achieve this greatness, but maybe i could be somewhere in the same area code. and thanks to saden, and firstdown, for not making it personal

Your welcome but before you start reading a new book I would like for you to first find that link this administration made of 9/11 to Iraq.

[saden1]

"Cease Fire, Cease Fire!"

I am Mikhail Saakashvili and approve this message.

[FRPLG]

The attacks on Bush in this thread are simply the most obvious reflection of politics we've seen on this board. Rather than understanding what is actually going on the lefties are seeing only what they want to see and quite honestly they're being seriously obtuse. I get that people don't like Bush and disagree with him but it is thinking like the examples shown here that make finding solutions for our problems so difficult. No one ever wants the "other side" to get any credit for anything and they work constantly to discredit them while not focusing on working for solutions. It comes from both sides but the attitude towards Bush is the most flagrant example. I thought the way the right went after Clinton was bad but I think the way the left goes after Bush is somewhat worse.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

The attacks on Bush in this thread are simply the most obvious reflection of politics we've seen on this board. Rather than understanding what is actually going on the lefties are seeing only what they want to see and quite honestly they're being seriously obtuse. I get that people don't like Bush and disagree with him but it is thinking like the examples shown here that make finding solutions for our problems so difficult. No one ever wants the "other side" to get any credit for anything and they work constantly to discredit them while not focusing on working for solutions. It comes from both sides but the attitude towards Bush is the most flagrant example. I thought the way the right went after Clinton was bad but I think the way the left goes after Bush is somewhat worse.

I think it's really only one person in this thread, not the "lefties" as a whole.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's really only one person in this thread, not the "lefties" as a whole.

I agree, I generally don't take part in political threads on this site because of the incorrect statements like the one in the original post and the blanket statement FRPLG just made.

I think what's sad is that it seems that both sides have so polarized politics. I don't understand why every moderate has been basically forced to join the (I'd say) 3% of extremists on the edges of political reason. It makes no sense for parties to be so divisive toward one another.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's really only one person in this thread, not the "lefties" as a whole.

I think everyone does it to some degree and not just on this issue. I was a little rantish there I guess.

[saden1]

No need for personal attacks...they certainly don't elevate and evolve the conversation.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by saden1

No need for personal attacks...they certainly don't elevate and evolve the conversation.

While I agree that Sadens post starting this thread was not based on allot of facts we should not make this personal or attack him personaly. Me and Saden agree on about nothing when it comes to politics but we also never use personal attacks on each other so lets not start now.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by firstdown

While I agree that Sadens post starting this thread was not based on allot of facts we should not make this personal or attack him personaly. Me and Saden agree on about nothing when it comes to politics but we also never use personal attacks on each other so lets not start now.

I think you mean dmek's post starting the thread, not saden's.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think you mean dmek's post starting the thread, not saden's.

Ok I'm all backwards right now.

[mheisig]

I'm not sure if there's anyone left who will argue that Bush has been a great president. I voted for the guy, and I'm more than happy to tell you he's been a disaster.

Unfortunately some people have such a blind hatred of Bush that they simply look past everything else. Bush is bad, therefore he's to blame for everything: your flat tire, your dog that isn't housebroken and your wife who just left you.

Bush has been a miserable president, but to attribute every random crisis to him is just asinine and shows a complete inability to reason through a particular situation.

Like SmootSmack said, it's a complex situation involving a number of countries - simply saying "It's all Bush's fault" is an absurd oversimplification.

[12thMan]

This is actually a good thread. Just skimming the posts, I don't if it's already been mentioned what Russia's true justification is for invading South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

For the past ten years or so Russia has been sending passports to the citzens of both regions. Thereby making both of these regions pro-Russia in many ways. So when Georgia, allegdly, got into a conflict with the citzens of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia felt justified in "protecting" their people. See they don't see this as an invasion, but rather protecting Russian citizens. And the fact that the U.S. needs Russia to help us with the situation in Iran, further ties our hands to act in any meaningful way.

This is a european problem if you ask me. I just don't see how this Administration or the next one, for that matter, can do much about Russia's designs on becoming a world power once again.