Marine on the bus

Ever seen The Presidio with Meg Ryan and Sean Connery?

in it, he says something like this, in describing the military....


We're the Doberman in your yard. Normally you don't want to see us, or even knw we're there. But when a burglar breaks in, we'd better come running. Otherwise, you don't want to know us.

It's not a direct quote, but it captures the essence of what he said.

I guarantee- GUARANTEE- that if the shit ever hit the fan in a real way, you'd all be running for the military. And that doesn't necessarily mean war, it could mean asteroid strike, earthquake, whatever.

that doesn't justify him yelling at OP. Nor should OP have intervened in what was a private conversation.

 

I did not ask anyone to sign up to protect me. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.

 

Why do I doubt that?

 

Uncalled for. I never insulted you, I never called you names. Rude.
I didn't ask for them to protect me. And they really aren't.... they're just retrieving oil.

 

You never served for your country either, so show a little respect for your own servicemen you miserable git.

 

"hey who here signed up for the oil war? ok, you are on bus A. see the world? bus B. and who is here for the free education?..."

there are many reasons to join the military, a lot of the jobs are desk jobs. i was in an electronics field. granted, the more fun blowing up side of electronics, but they have radios too. they need fire personnel. they need people who can cook.
and they dont send you home when whatever active conflict is happening is over. its not just war for oil crap, and that you need to blame on the prick who started it.

if you see the world with blinders on, what are you really seeing? you are ACTING narrow minded. that doesnt mean you ARE narrow minded, you just arent seeing the whole picture. there is so much more to the world.

 

I agree about the name calling.

But as for the lofty supriority regarding oil....do you ever rely on an internal combustion engine, wear or use plastics of any kind or use electricity? if you do, then don't look snootily upon oil producers.

 

I think our Australian soliders are supported by the Australian community and this gives me a sense of pride because I've never heard so much hatred come out from civilians towards their countries protectors than I do from the American audience. You have a history of it beginning with Vietnam/Korea and even Australians had some turmoil with it during Vietnam but mainly at the government over the conscription debacle.
If I was an American soldier and I was on recreational leave and had to read what the civilians said about you behind their computer screens in their cosey little homes I'd probably end up with the same ardent hatred the guy on the bus did, just sayin.

 

Sadly, some Aussie service personnel encounter exactly the same incoherent abuse as US service personnel receive. I know a guy who left the army because he received mail at his home address calling him a baby killer. And he was an engineer, not involved in combat, building schools and hospitals in the Solomon Islands.

 

I joined about a year before 9/11. No war to speak of. I wasn't for the war when it started, but I signed up as a medic. I'm not the violent type. In fact I posted here for the majority of my service, and did my best to put a voice to the soldiers side when many on here "can't understand"

My parents both met in the army and because of that I had a great childhood and moved around a lot as a child. I didn't know what to do after highschool so I joined. I don't regret it, but you shouldn't stereotype all military people into the same category as your marine.

 

Well said Lodog.

 

Wait, so I should blindly support the military?

 

No, that would be as inappropriate as blindly opposing them......

 

No you can blindly support what you want. Many soldiers gave their lives so you could.

 

its not the military you are mad at anyway. you are mad at the congresspersons who voted for the war. you are mad at ::gasp:: regular citizens like yourself who elected the shmucks who make bad decisions! who make decisions for all of us.

 

Oh that's not good. I used to live in Canberra and there's a pretty big military base and college out there as well as a Navy base so there's always a lot of boys in uniform that go out to have some fun in town and I've never heard anything bad so that's really sad to hear.
I live in Perth now and it's really accepting of soldiers too because of the SAS base on the outskirts.

 

Maelstrom


Could either of you tell me who controls - for e.g Iraqi oil?

 

controls the military?

 

No, controls the oil. As in, decides who operates - for e.g - Iraqi oil fields.
I'm under the illusion the Iraqi oil ministry controls who operates the Iraqi oil fields.
They put them out to tender for the highest bidder.
Maelstrom's pictures suggests it is the American military.
ThePoetSappho suggests the marines are retrieving oil.
I just wanted to know if that was a fair reflection of what they thought, and if I was wrong.
I've asked others and they suggest pipelines, the petro-dollar - all sorts of ideas.