No doubt!

I have immense empathy for combat veterans. Having lived through my own psychotic experience due to combat stress, it is easy for me to put myself in their shoes. Fortunately for me, my AO was completely devoid of civilians and I never had to face what today's Vets must deal with day in and day out. Never the less, his actions have put his fellow combatants at much greater risk, and for that, I have little compassion, and fear that he must pay dearly for his actions.

I have been one to say this, and on these very pages. However, based on Mad Russians eloquent proof, I humbly stand corrected. I also stand stripped of another little bit of my pride in having served. You see, having come back from my service in Vietnam, to a country not happy to see me, as well as pissed because we lost, I guess I leaned on that false sense of accomplishment in order to muddle along. But the truth will be known, and our detractors can once again bask in their righteousness, and in the integrity of their facts. Facts that point us out as the failures we were.
Do not cry for me however, as I will always retain the honor for having volunteered to go to Vietnam when my country called. I did not join and sit idly by in the rear somewhere, while my Brothers spilt their blood. No, I stood right beside some who gave their full measure, and was ready to give mine, for I am a warrior, tried and true, regardless of that war's politics or outcome.

That's one of the loading screens from Combat Mission Battle for Normandy.
From the first time I saw it, I thought the likeness to be very close. Just proves that the gene-pool is limited.

That's him on the left...

Another nail in the coffin of our bloated defense budget. It would seem that a slimmer defense budget might have the desired side effect of making those who decide on what weapon systems we need, a little more circumspect in their decisions.

~Salute~
A bird that served us well!

Free speech is already subject to limitations. The classical example of yelling 'FIRE' in a crowded theatre  being a prime example. Now one can say no harm is done when someone lies about their military awards, but that is a subjective experience to be sure. Ask a veteran who has lost his Buddies in combat how he feels about someone lieing about their awards and service. I for one am disturbed and hurt by the fact that someone who never served a day in his life, can claim the same awards as my Buddy Dave earned giving his life to save another Marine. This is an emotional response to be sure, but that does not automatically negate it's validity. All I can ask is for you to walk a mile in my shoes.

As for their rights to freedom of speech, the courts have drawn the line in the past regarding the limitations of free speech, in this case we simply put those who would denigrate these honors outside the protections afforded by the Constitution.

I would advocate taking their nuts if they had any to begin with. Every one of these charlatans diminishes the value of the awards and pisses on those who truly earned their honors, some at the cost of their lives.

 

Are you expecting Russia to take over Europe still?
They tried that already, didn't work out so well for them and they only got as far as Poland...

Mother Nature doesn't care, she will have her way with any crew. You think that single gender crews don't have crew members fraternizing? I didn't think so...

The US Navy is swimming against the tide with this one. Mother Nature will not be denied.

My reference to the League of Nations was strictly as that of another failure not as a duplicate. And I find our view on the subject not dissimilar.

~SALUTE~

I am in agreement,the failure of the UN as a governing world body, was guaranteed when they inserted the right to Veto in the charter. In my eyes, the UN is no better than it's predecessor 'The League of Nations'.

I have no doubt that Israel shall act in what it considers it's best interests regardless of the consequences. With it's lobby deep in the US political pockets, they have no fear of the US reaction. And my govt because of this lobby, will be tied to Israel's actions regardless. I for one, shall raise my voice to sever all US ties with Israel, should they take this action unilaterally. I have tacitly sat by while Israel has ignored the UN Carter regarding the West Bank, hoping that diplomacy would serve the purpose. Should Israel be arrogant enough to threaten the world economy by unilateral action, I shall no longer sit on the sidelines. I am not alone in America, you can be sure of that.

Go Jessica!

I can't wait for the discovery of life on other planets. The amount of scrambling that our religions will have to do to explain it will be amusing.