Patriot wrote:
"Thus, these kids went and SIGNED UP to go occupy (illegally, as far as I can tell) a foriegn nation, knowing full well that they were placing themselves in great bodily harm and potentially wrecking their loving families who might have to stand over their freshly-dug graves crying the way their child "sacrificed" his life for his country."
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I think there was a standing Army in place long before we went into the ME. So that might cause you to rethink that statement. I'l agree that there are some "cowboys" who signed up after 911 kick some muzzy arse. You can go to youtube or google video and see some evidence of that, and I do agree that most soldiers killed in Iraq are eulogized by their families with the "he died for his country" thing are misguided. I'm sure they believe it and it helps them justify their loved one being senselessly extinguished for a noble cause.
To keep things in perspective, almost all war is fought over religion, power or resources or control of resources. This one is no different.