What is your opinion of the young volunteers in the Armed Forces ?

[kentuck]

If you could put yourself in their shoes, how would you feel about serving your country? For example, if you had signed up for the National Guard - to help fight forest fires, flood assistance, and defending our nation - and then were sent to fight in Iraq, how would you feel? And how would you feel if you just returned from Iraq, and had seen your friends killed there, and you had just gotten your orders to go back again? What would you do? Would you refuse to go? And what would you do if you were told you could not get out of the service at yur scheduled time because your country needed you?

I understand that these young folks are volunteers. Do you think they deserve your respect or your ridicule? Are they serving our country? What is your opinion?

[ugarte]

1. More than anything, they deserve our sympathy

It's a cold economic world out there. College costs are out of sight, so to most of these kids, it's a simple choice: fast food McJob or the military with its benefits.

Frankly, if you want medical coverage anymore, I don't know where you go except the military.

[Walt Starr]

2. Ultimately, I am proud of them and am glad they are serving

Sadly, I pity them for having been thrown into a dangerous situation, putting their lives on the line, over a pack of lies from an untrustworthy CIC.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. For the ones on the front lines, all I can think is "Poor babies"

There but for the grace of God go my boys. :(

[Chef]

4. Volunteers

If I could be convinced that I was protecting our country, I would go. Fortunately, I'm not that delusional. I didn't volunteer for the Viet Nam foolishness (I was drafted), and I doubt I would volunteer for this one.

How is someone who signs up for the military going to be in the position to question whether they are truly defending their country or being used by incompetent or insane leaders? As a result of bullshit wars, it becomes harder to fight(or recognize)a real threat when it occurs. Thus, we become weaker as a result.