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I'll spell it out: A lot of air force pilots in these countries end up being rich kids who do it because it's a fun hobby, not motivated soldiers. Because many
by JasonADrury 7mo ago
I'll spell it out: A lot of air force pilots in these countries end up being rich kids who do it because it's a fun hobby, not motivated soldiers.
Because many of these people see it as a fun hobby, they don't spend much time worrying about potentially being ordered to drop bombs on schools filled with children. It's rather unlikely that their government would order them to do so anyway, compare a list of countries being hit by Iran with a list of countries bombing Iran.
- singleshot_ 7mo agoWhen you say, “these countries,” I imagine you include the United States, where politically connected youngsters like George W. Bush secured and then ignored jet interceptor training during the 1960s?
- JasonADrury 7mo agoBe that as it may, I think we can agree that the USAF is not the same as the air forces of the Gulf countries.
- baybal2 7mo ago[dead]
- mvdtnz 7mo agoNot everyone agrees that America is special. You haven't convincingly won a conflict in how long, so we're not really convinced your military is as exceptional as you like to say.
- JasonADrury 7mo agoI'm not American
- true_religion 7mo agoI would include the USA, with the caveat that in the US being sent to the military is often seen as a punishment for rich children where as in the Middle East being sent to the military can be an opportunity to build an independent power base for yourself or your family.
- nradov 7mo agoThe USA has a volunteer military. Occasionally there are cases where the criminal court system might agree to dismiss a minor charge if the defendant enlists. But that doesn't happen to rich people, or those joining as commissioned officers (pilot track).
- true_religion 7mo agoThis is all true but I can’t see how it’s relevant to why I said.
- morkalork 7mo agoAir force pilots are the modern day knights of the sky. Also, up until WW2, which social class you were from determined whether or not you were going to be an officer or canon fodder so rich kids swooping their way into being captains is historically normal.
- breppp 7mo agoActually during the time when the nobility went to be fighter pilots it was a suicidal role with very low survival rates (ww1)
- morkalork 7mo agoIncidentally: TIL George Bush Jr was an airforce pilot. Hah.
- seanmcdirmid 7mo agoAir national guard. He didn't want to go to Vietnam, so he (or his father) used his connections to join the weekend warriors. One of my uncles did something similar (while my dad got drafted in the army and went to Vietnam).