In the "for-what-it's-worth" department (this relates to the Fuzzypost above...)
As a freshman at USAFA, I remember being briefed by the Powers That Be on how to survive at the University of Colorado campus should I decide to go to the away game there in the Fall of 1972.
Now, for me it was sort of a moot point--I couldn't even wear civilian clothes, much less find a car to drive a couple of hours north to a major civilian university campus. But be that as it may, should we have find ourselves there for the game, we were instructed to travel the campus in groups of no less than 50 and were given techniques on defensive formations if attacked by large groups of students. No shite.
Given the additional fact that at least one of my instructors that year, a recent Vietnam Vet himself, had been chased out of Colorado Springs on foot by a group of, um, citizens when he was a cadet, I'd say things could be worse.
Ah, those were the days.
Depending on our ages and past experiences, perspectives vary. But it makes it no less maddening to watch Code Pink and other assorted freak show attractions (Bill Maher, anyone?) get the press. That said, I think the VAST majority of Americans today revere those who are fighting this war. Of course, those of us who've made a career of the military have an appreciation for these warriors that is orders of magnitude greater--and thus more sensitive to the abuse we see--than your average civilian observer, but that's to be expected.
What's scary to me is what seems to be an increasing likelihood that the man who referred to our operations in Afghanistan as nothing more than an indiscriminate air attack campaign might be elected president.
This is disturbing on a number of levels, not the least of which is it probably means a significant retreat from addressing the threat, a subsequent much higher likelihood of more attacks on America, her citizens, and her interests and a public demand for a response that will generate even more casualties than we would otherwise bear.
In any case, while Chuck’s “rant” is eminently understandable, I think he underestimates the number of people who hold him in the highest regard. I know I do and there are countless millions who do as well, on all points of the political spectrum.
Granted, for those of us who tend to vote conservative, we may be in for a period in the wilderness, but that is the natural order of things. We will survive.
Should Americans throw the dice in a fit of pique and elect a man who’s spent less time in the Senate than his likely opponent spent in a North Vietnamese prison camp, it will be maddening to watch the stumbling naiveté and ineptitude in our national security efforts as unserious people hold the reins of power for awhile. But that’s the price of liberty. And trust me, there are still plenty of people in this great nation who understand and appreciate the sacrifices men like Chuck have made to allow us to buffoon it every once in awhile. -Attila
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