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I think the US army (or maybe modern armies) might be the only army I know of that actually tries not to be evil officially. Compared to armies of the past wher

by cheez 6y ago

I think the US army (or maybe modern armies) might be the only army I know of that actually tries not to be evil officially. Compared to armies of the past where there was no pretense. Not saying it's any different in practice but....

fit2rule 6y ago
In practice, the US military is one of the most dire, evil organisations on the planet. But you'd have to have been one of the 5 million victims of its illegal wars in the last few years to understand that. You will never understand why a majority of the world despises the USA for its military evils, unless you've been on the receiving end of its terrorism - its propaganda is so good, that a majority of American citizens don't understand at all how anyone could consider it the #1 cause of crimes against humanity in the world today. Iraq lost 5% of its population because America loves its military and needs to use it. That's pretty evil.
- atlasunshrugged 6y ago
  I understand the argument and empathize with it but is it really the military or the politicians who sent them who are responsible? Would the military independently initiate something like the Iraq war? Maybe, but I'm not so sure - I mean there are definitely tons of hawks and some people with extremist views, but I think generally they would prefer to fight a different type of war more akin to the traditional "glorious" battles of WWII rather than urban combat fighting hidden enemies and getting blown up by IEDs
  - fit2rule 6y ago
    If you are part of an industry that willingly drops bombs on children using robots piloted by cowards hiding in a strip mall on the other side of the world, and if you propagate war games industries in order to have cannon fodder (your own citizens' children) to recruit from, then you are pretty much evil, yes. If you participate in this heinous activity for 20 years without repercussion, then there is something completely and utterly wrong going on. The evil is systemic.
    - rclayton 6y ago
      Ok radical. I served 9 years in the military and no one I worked with was evil. Service members honestly believed they were doing good in the world and many felt some of the wars they were forced to participate in were unjust. Life is way more nuanced.
    - RhysU 6y ago
      Generally, it was the intended targets of those drones who decided to hide among children. Meaning, usually, in areas with children nearby. The rate at which children are harmed by drones is largely a consequence of strategies outside of American control once you posit that the targets are targeted justly. I am not saying that stupid mistakes and civilian death don't happen.
- cheez 6y ago
  As I said, not that it's any different in practice. But armies of the past would have no problems taking out 20% of a population as a comparison.

by cheez 6y ago

fit2rule 6y ago

In practice, the US military is one of the most dire, evil organisations on the planet. But you'd have to have been one of the 5 million victims of its illegal wars in the last few years to understand that. You will never understand why a majority of the world despises the USA for its military evils, unless you've been on the receiving end of its terrorism - its propaganda is so good, that a majority of American citizens don't understand at all how anyone could consider it the #1 cause of crimes against humanity in the world today. Iraq lost 5% of its population because America loves its military and needs to use it. That's pretty evil.

atlasunshrugged 6y ago
I understand the argument and empathize with it but is it really the military or the politicians who sent them who are responsible? Would the military independently initiate something like the Iraq war? Maybe, but I'm not so sure - I mean there are definitely tons of hawks and some people with extremist views, but I think generally they would prefer to fight a different type of war more akin to the traditional "glorious" battles of WWII rather than urban combat fighting hidden enemies and getting blown up by IEDs
- fit2rule 6y ago
  If you are part of an industry that willingly drops bombs on children using robots piloted by cowards hiding in a strip mall on the other side of the world, and if you propagate war games industries in order to have cannon fodder (your own citizens' children) to recruit from, then you are pretty much evil, yes. If you participate in this heinous activity for 20 years without repercussion, then there is something completely and utterly wrong going on. The evil is systemic.
  - rclayton 6y ago
    Ok radical. I served 9 years in the military and no one I worked with was evil. Service members honestly believed they were doing good in the world and many felt some of the wars they were forced to participate in were unjust. Life is way more nuanced.
  - RhysU 6y ago
    Generally, it was the intended targets of those drones who decided to hide among children. Meaning, usually, in areas with children nearby. The rate at which children are harmed by drones is largely a consequence of strategies outside of American control once you posit that the targets are targeted justly. I am not saying that stupid mistakes and civilian death don't happen.
cheez 6y ago
As I said, not that it's any different in practice. But armies of the past would have no problems taking out 20% of a population as a comparison.