America's Army GGL sponsorship under attack
Hippies and peaceniks are threatening the last solid recruitment tool in the US Army's arsenal -- the America's Army video game. Anti-recruitment groups are upset the army is sponsoring the Global Gaming League with a whopping $2 million where "victors may win a chance to check out actual computer simulations of combat situations utilized by the Army." Meaning, these winners get to spend some time with recruiters for a cup of coffee and absolutely no portion of the conversation leading to how the Army can help their future."It is part of this campaign for the last 20 years to invade youth culture with militarism," Project on Youth and Non-military Opportunities co-founder Rick Jahnkow told AFP. "It affects the way young people think. It affects their world view. That is a very dangerous thing." Considering the US has a volunteer army, the recruiters kind of have to "invade youth culture," it's not like they can recruit Grandma Yetta's House of Geriatrics for a solid fighting force.
Jahnkow cites the Iraq war as a "prime example" of what happens when a country allows the military to sell soldiering to the public. Meaning that because we have America's Army and military recruitment commercials that the US was more than happy to go along with the war. Jahnkow says, "Soldiering is being popularized when in fact we are supposed to be teaching people from an early age that civilian democratic rule is the ideal." Yeah, but who's gonna protect us when the Communists come for our babies?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FSK405K @ Apr 22nd 2007 11:49AM
Let's hope some already-serving members win the tournament.
Negativecool @ Apr 22nd 2007 11:54AM
Every country needs an army. Every country needs young able bodied men and women to fight and possibly die for their country. It is a necessity for EVERY country. I'm so god damn tired of liberals and hippies thinking that everyone in the world wants peace with everyone else. Read a god damn book about Islamic fascism, they want to KILL YOU! It is honorable to serve ones country, it does not mean they are godless, violent, and disturbed individuals.
The army needs soldiers. The army needs to recruit. As far as I'm concerned they can recruit any way they want, because anyone with any sense can see through what they're selling. It's not the Army's job to protect your naive kids who think firing a gun in combat is as easy as it was in the Army video game.
I shutter to think what would become of the world if WWII happened now. We would all bend over for the Nazis because we would be brought down by hippies like this trying to "reason and negotiate" when everyone around them is dying.
End rant.
Meliv @ Apr 22nd 2007 11:58AM
I laughed at #2. . . hard
Ozyman666 @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:01PM
Shouldn't it be "try to stop us," not "try and stop us?"
bearattack79 @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:01PM
Games are a great tool for soldiers. After playing splinter cell I can sneak up on my girlfriend and hide on her so much better.
Durandal @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:02PM
Thank you negative cool. These peace protesters are the blind and ignorant ones, they think we can write islamofascists letters asking them to stop. They want to teach kids to love they enemy and turn the other cheek. Those poor kids in the middle east are taught from birth the glory of killing themselves and as many unbelievers as possible.
Same damn people that dont allow wood jungle gyms and pad everything in rubber for their stupid kids. I miss the days of skinned knees and "harden up kid."
Now they'll sue instead.
Wolfrider @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:03PM
Right, because concern that the military is using video games to dupe children into going overseas for "adventure" and coming back missing limbs is something only left wing hippies would be angry about.
Actually, given the concern over video games being "murder simulators" one might imagine that using games for these ends might be harming the already battered reputation of the industry as whole.
And yes, they are volunteers but it's hard to imagine 17 and 18 year olds still pimply faced and fresh out of high school being able to fully grasp the political, historical, psychological, sociological, anthropological issues surrounding international strife and violence. As far as "geriatric" fighters are concerned, nice one. The real reason kids are recruited to fight is that adults are less likely to be willing to put themselves in harms way for their government? Why? Because at 17 and 18 your brain hasn't finished growing and higher level reasoning functions have yet to fully develop. For an 18 year old being told they are "defending the country" is enough, despite the obvious flaws in statement like that.
Ken @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:12PM
Without our army... The King of England can just come over and start pushing us around. Do you want that!? Huh!? Do ya?!
Jay @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:15PM
I'm not worried about the the Army recuiting or using video game -- I'm am annoyed at the Army spending $2 million of my tax money to support a video game competition instead of spending $2 million to help wounded vets or provided better armor for our troops in combat.
To me, that's the bigger issue.
Jammer @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:24PM
Negativecool is really Eric Cartman...
Anyway, the US Government is probably shooting itself in the foot and these subversive recruitment efforts won't be able to fill the much needed holes left by soldiers tired of fighting their 2nd or 3rd tours in less then 2 years. I think it's a bit immoral to recruit young kids to be overworked and killed in a pointless war.
Btw, Negativecool: Have you signed up yet? If not, when are you going to?
Shmil @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:25PM
@ negative cool
though i do agree with your argument,(stupid fucking hippies) i have to ask, would you enlist yourself in the army assuming that you're the proper age, i'm not asking to be a michael moore "hey you're a hypocrite" thing i ask simply out of curiosity
Shmil @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:27PM
@ Jammer
Don't blame the military for bush's fuck ups
thanks to bush no one wants to sign up because no one believes that this war is worth anything
ChuckSteak0331 @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:39PM
I couldnt have said it better JAY. That is the most disturbing part of all of this.
I use to be a Marine Corps Machine gunner, then recruiter, and now that Im out let me tell you. There is nothing but trickery and spreading out the truth to get people to enlist. I'll be honest about it, though I bet no one else in the same position will. It was all about keeping your job. Thats it. And if I had that winner in that room for 10 minutes he would be whistling the Marine Corps Hyme from his backside. I use to be gung ho about war and whatnot, but after the intial invasion of Iraq, and I saw some of my best friends die, I have to ask myself, why are we there anymore. Sorry, have to agree with the hippies this time through.
polly @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:56PM
If they want to solve recruitment issues, it's simple: pay them what they're worth. You don't see any shortage of Blackwater mercs. Why? Because they get like $30k per month. $2 million wasted on a video game competition sponsorship. Nice.
dukemeiser @ Apr 22nd 2007 1:16PM
"It affects the way young people think. It affects their world view. That is a very dangerous thing."
But.... aren't these anti-recruitment groups trying to do the same thing? Seems like teaching everyone to be a sissy and sit down and talk with people that want to kill you would affect somebody's world view too.
Eric @ Apr 22nd 2007 1:25PM
wars make money. Peace does not. Us vs. Them enables TPTB to lie to us. We believe our leaders as much as they believe their leaders. Their leaders scratch their itchy trigger fingers and ours promise us security, happiness and an arbitrary future that doesn't even exist. We've all been duped, marketed to, bought and sold. We're all losers. And that makes us all the same.
We are a nation of millions and yet we willingly devour the daily helping of lies. "Can I have some more Big Brother cuz I luv U? OMG!"
Read 1984 if you haven't already. The enemy doesn't exist.
Kite @ Apr 22nd 2007 1:34PM
Military is here (Belgium) seen as a primary source of work, and as task they get peace missions. Cleaning up mines and other garbage war spawns. This is the way that an army should be used in my opinion.
If there should be a war now, a nuke will solve it, or some missile/fighters will. Generals tend to use the thing that kills the most for the least price (remember cyanide gas?)
Giving a vision of fighting, shooting etc. is not the way to solve problems in my opinion.
Again, in my opinion, negativecool is wrong. You read a book about Islamic fascism(I bet you meant fanatism, but lets leave that aside). Good for you, have a cookie. There are other books, other authors. That book you read meant absolutely nothing. It's like watching fox news, and saying it is trustworthy (yes, i've seen fox news). Guess what, mein kampf is a book too. And it was written by the worst dictator in modern history (again, opinion). WW2 was also a direct spawn of world war 1, proving that there comes no good out of war.
If you need clarification on this, read a PROPER history book, or look it up, or in last resort, feel free to ask.
I get utterly sick that people think we need an offensive army. I am sick of people thinking they can run into other countries and claim it 'free' in their name, I am sick of the perception that there is honour in dying on the battlefield and I am certainly sick that there are people who still support these human sacrifices.
/end my rant now, if I overlooked something, or disagree, feel free to discuss.
NapalmBoy @ Apr 22nd 2007 1:53PM
The thing I funny is that people think we are so dumb, and so influenced that we can't make decisions on our own. This is a free country. We can make our own decisions. Whether you agree with the army or not, let them do their own thing. It's certainly not going to brainwash me and make me join the army. Give me at least a little credit for thinking on my own. That's like saying video games make people kill, regardless of independent thought. What a lame argument.
LaughingTarget @ Apr 22nd 2007 2:11PM
Um, Kite, anything with the word "fascism" in it is a bad thing. Islamo fascism is the same as any other facism. It doesn't describe everyone but the people who actually follow that crap. Certainly don't get the bull out of places like Qatar or Kuwait and they aren't called Islamo fascists. Those that utilize broad beliefs just to forward a personal agenda, such as clowns like Bin Ladin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who seem to be incapable of speaking a sentance that doesn't include "the evil west" or "America is Satan" in them, are bad people and are labeled as fascists.
If the individual you're listening to say that Islamo fascism is peaceful, they either have no clue or want that brand of extremism to emerge victorious.
Matt @ Apr 22nd 2007 2:29PM
Who's going to protect our babies when they are sent to occupy a hostile country?
Anonymous Rep @ Apr 22nd 2007 2:36PM
This one is pushing one of my hot buttons.
Kite - FoxNews, as far as NEWS reporting is concerned, actually is trustworthy. What happens is that people confuse Shephard Smith reporting simply what happened with Bill O'Reilly reporting his opinions, and then simply lump everything together. There IS a difference.
It's also entirely possible that NegativeCool read a book about Islam Fascism - because that does also exist, in addition to Islamic Fanaticism.
Use a nuke - right... You apparently have no real concept of JUST how much gets broken when one of those goes off. Now - if there was a war between the U.S. and China or Russia and China, then probably there would be nukes going off. But all a nuke does is kill a lot of people all at once, and destroy a lot of things VERY quickly. That's doesn't actually defeat the enemy if that's your purpose. The ONLY way to that is to put troops on the ground and then hold it. You can use a nuke to break their will to fight, especially if they're war-weary in the first place, but you don't really defeat them that way.
Shmil - there are people still signing up for the military every day. We just buried a soldier that was killed from here last week - and more kids are signing up now than ever before. They recognize something that you don't, or perhaps it's just part of being from a conservative part of the country.
Oh, and yes, I would sign up if I could - and in fact, I AM prior service, as is most of my family. About the only ones who aren't prior service are my kids - because they're currently IN the U.S. military.
What does Jankow want us to do? Have compulsory military service? That was called the draft, by the way. Don't watch the movie - go READ the book 'Starship Troopers' by Robert Heinlein. THEN go read 'The Forever War' by Joe Haldeman. Understand WHY soldiers volunteer to save their countries and societies from the barbarians - and after you read a bit of John Ringo as well, you'll realize that our barbarians today are alive and well.
It would be nice if we could all live in peace. When we as human beings finally evolve enough, then that may actually happen. Until then, if you would have peace, then be prepared for war. (Okay, I freely admit I stole that last one from Larry Niven.)
Jonah Falcon @ Apr 22nd 2007 2:46PM
I haven't read the comments above, but this protest, in a word, is bullshit. It may influence a few teens to join the Army, but this a VOLUNTEER ARMY we have. There's no involuntary draft right now. The game is just that - a game. Nothing more. It can't influence someone to join the Army any more than GTA3 will influence someone to join the mob. If anything, fewer people will join because of Vicarious Experience (they don't have to do it since they've experienced it in a virtual world.)
Durandal @ Apr 22nd 2007 2:50PM
people who join the army know what they are getting into.
Mr Khan @ Apr 22nd 2007 2:56PM
Yes, every nation NEEDS a military, but what they don't need to do is decide to use that military to make everyone in the world to adhere to your manner of thinking
You need to be very discreet when deciding to use military force, what happened in Afghanistan in 2001 made it so that the primary mission (get Osama!) failed, because we failed to prioritize, letting the Northern Alliance rebels try to make the kill when we could have surrounded Tora Bora and defeated him
In turn, you can only act unilaterally when there is a clear and present danger, not like Iraq. If we had had broader international support going in, we could've done something better
Much of the anti-war movement in the nation today comes from the same people with "support our troops" stickers on their cars. Its, "support our troops by no longer pursuing this dumbass war"
Of course, we did make the mess in Iraq, so we should do SOMETHING to insure some sort of future stability, but conventional warfare clearly isn't working, they should go with what the Iraq Study Group said.
Tim @ Apr 22nd 2007 3:14PM
It doesn't count as a "volunteer army" if you get paid. It's a mercinary army.
Kite @ Apr 22nd 2007 4:05PM
I know the difference between fascism and fanatism, and I can't recall where I said fascism is a good thing.
For the 'use a nuke' - comment, you shouldn't take that so litteraly. I know nukes are more of a 'diplomatic' leverage, if you can call them that. The two times they were used, was to frighten Japan if I recall/read right.
The point is that in modern warfare, a lot is fought with bombs, missiles or guerrilla-tactics.
As for this war:
You can not 'defeat' the enemy with guns.Most wars are there 'to force' a diplomatic solution. In this case you are fighting 'terrorism'. In the whole history there hasn't been any term more vague. You don't fight a religion, you don't attempt to fight a country. Hell, most people who sign up for any army, ever, don't know who or what they are fighting. I think that america's army(game) adds to that delusion.
The thrustworthyness of fox I am willing to leave in the middle, since I cant comment on it fully.
As always, feel free to comment :)
btw: nice 1984 reference, although it has been a while since I read it...
Jammer @ Apr 22nd 2007 4:07PM
Islamo-fascist is something that that a neo-con think tanks created, was adopted by pundits like O'Reilly, Rush and Coulter and then later used by right wing politicians.
They simply wanted to link Islam in one word or less to something that Americans would hear and recognize as evil... so they picked fascism. There is no such thing as Islamo-fascism! There is no academic foundation for it and anything you find on the web will either be made up by right wingers or the project of some fact poor wiki.
Now, several 16 year olds who haven't even completed AP history will now tell me how wrong I am. Go ahead...
LaughingTarget @ Apr 22nd 2007 4:39PM
Anonymous Rep -
Good catch on referencing Starship Troopers and The Forever War. Excellent pieces of literature on the base nature of humanity and how trying to deny them will cause greater calamity.
LaughingTarget @ Apr 22nd 2007 4:47PM
Jammer -
Not sure where you came up with that. Fascism is the political ideology that seeks complete unity among its population. This unity can be racial, cultural, religious or ethnic in nature. Basically, if you're not like us, then you'd better be or we're going to make life miserable for you.
This defines the attitudes of hard-line Islamic fundamentalists. They are, in fact, Islamo-Fascists. The prefix simply defines what the movement is fascist about. There are also Judeo-Fascists (primarily hard-line war hawks of Israel) and Christo-Fascists (a classic example is the Crusades of the middle ages) and those of other religions.
Simply calling them fascists doesn't tell us a whole lot. Calling them Islamo-Fascists defines exactly what their motives are.
Jake @ Apr 22nd 2007 4:50PM
I'm personally against the War in Iraq, but consider myself a conservative. It just seems like our losses there will far exceed our gains. That reflects poor strategic decisions by our leadership.
But on topic, this game isn't a big deal. Way more kids play Tom Clancy games, Counterstrike, Socom, etc. than this crappy Army game. And those games basically make it kickass to be a soldier. What's the difference, a couple of links and adds. puleazz.
I think as long as recruiters are honest, open, and straightforward I don't care if they want to make a game.
Steve @ Apr 22nd 2007 5:14PM
Hippies and peaceniks? Just call them as what they are: Al-Queda.
Whenever you see a "peace" activist attacking one side of a conflict you know they've chosen sides. These "useful idiots" that couldn't point to Iraq on a map of Iraq are simply against the war because they just generally hate America, Bush, success, and capitalism (i.e. they didn't make a peep when socialist Clinton was bombing Iraq for WMDs in 1998 or Kosovo at any point in the 90s). These "surrender" activists are nothing more than advocates of Al-Queda that lack the conviction to risk their lives in the name of Allah.
If you've been offended by my post that doesn't conform to the propaganda you've been eating from the entertainment/blame-America-first industry: GOOD!
Negativecool @ Apr 22nd 2007 5:38PM
Jammer-
You sound intelligent with that fascism response, however, you are an idiot. No sense in arguing with someone that has no sense and argues for the sake of arguing...Islamic "fascism" isn't real? Put down your keyboard and read a book. Done with you.
Mr Khan-
You are ranting against the army when you should be ranting about those who control it. Read "State of Denial" by Bob Woodward. Basically, it isn't the Army's fault that the American people voted a man 2 steps away from complete mental retardation. After reading that it is a wonder to me how Bush, Rumsfeld, and most of his "cronyism" administration have not been assassinated yet.
Wolfrider-
The average age of casualties in war is generally hovers around 23. It was 26 in WWII, and a little over 23 in Vietnam. There was 1 18 year old killed in the entire Vietnam conflict. There is no draft in the Iraq war, so I can only assume the average age is even higher. So stop crying about 17 and 18 year old "children" that apparently can't wipe their own asses without mommy's help and need protection against the big, bad, blood thirsty Army who only seek to put them in front of a wall of bullets.
Anyways, I thought this story was about the Army's video game recruitment tool and the hippies that cry about it. So whats with all the ranting about the morons in administration and the kids that can't think for themselves?
Kalroy @ Apr 22nd 2007 6:02PM
The problem with recruitment isn't a lack of volunteers, it's a lack of qualified volunteers. If you're unwilling to lie, or if there is documentation, then you're unqualified for a myriad of reasons. Smoked dope, ever... Sorry. Took Ritalin, ever... Sorry. Had counseling for ADD, ADHD, bi-polarism, etc... Sorry. Ever took anti-de-pressants... Sorry. The list goes on.
Also, even the Army (which has always had the hardest time) has met its quota. This is made even more impressive because they have been upping the number over the last five years.
Non-valid criticisms only hurt recruitment, and the country. To say an adult is too stupid to choose is condescending, especially considering the same people saying that aren't screaming to raise the voting age. Mind you, many of these same people prefer forced conscription (slavery) to the all volunteer military. As to the numbers, the military was around twice this size until the Clinton era and it was all volunteer (before the libs go crazy on this it was a bi-partisan money grab that slashed the military).
As to the article, it's a blatant piece of anti-military propaganda. Absolutely no interviews with military PR and a total acceptance of the anti-military organization's talking points without a bit of challenge or fact checking. Then again, that's par for the course with most of the media.
Kalroy
notnato @ Apr 22nd 2007 6:18PM
there are only two groups trying to link video game violence to real violence. the jack thompson crusade (to stop violence) and the US army (to encourage it).
Rubang B @ Apr 22nd 2007 6:18PM
Hey look I found a list of countries without standing armies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_without_armed_forces
Are they in danger? Nope.
Does anybody hate these countries? Nope.
Why is this? Discuss.
Kalroy @ Apr 22nd 2007 6:50PM
Mr. Khan:"Much of the anti-war movement in the nation today comes from the same people with "support our troops" stickers on their cars. Its, "support our troops by no longer pursuing this dumbass war""
I call BS on this. Check out the "support our troops" Code Pink folk protesting the wounded outside Walter Reed, or the "We Support Our Troops When They Shoot Their Officers" banners that are NOT challenged by those who claim to support the troops.
How many of those "Support our troops" hypocritical organizations have EVER tried to support our troops by donating time and/or money to the USO, or to any of the myriad of aid organizations that have popped up to help support our wounded troops? Why do those who claim to support our troops ally themselves with those whose anti-troop/anti-American is blatant? Code Pink, the Worker's World Party, International Solidarity Movement and International Act Now Stop War End Racism, are a few of the names that routinely show up at rallies without EVER being challenged by those who claim to support our troops. Heck, they organize and are routinely invited to those rallies.
So while Rolling Thunder practices the "support our troops" the libs choose to march alongside the CPUSA and pay lip service to supporting our troops while their actions hurt our troops and the war effort. Right or wrong we should be in this to win, and any support for losing, and any support for our enemies are more than simply counter-productive.
Kalroy
Kalroy @ Apr 22nd 2007 7:58PM
Rubang B:"Why is this? Discuss."
Because their defense is the responsibility of others. This happens with countries that have standing armies. Most of Western Europe rely on the US for their umbrella of defense and have almost no way to project their force anywhere. This, along with their own political realities, make them extremely poor and unreliable allies. Look at France and Italy's contribution to the war in Afghanistan where their troops deployment is currently under condition that they not be put in combat areas and not be used offensively.
Kalroy
MrSparkle @ Apr 22nd 2007 10:34PM
I am so sick of hearing the word "Islamofascism." It's a misguided term at best and thinly veiled racism against "them brown-skinned folk" at worst. Fascism teaches that all must be given to the state instead of the individual. What Iran has now could be considered a "theocracy," where all must be given for the sake of Islam, but "Islamofascism" is a real stupid and misleading term. Muslims are not some monolithic organization. You think the news about Sunnis and Shi'ites blowing each other up in Iraq might display that, if nothing else.
Back on topic, though, while I do recognize this may be a cynical ploy by the Army to shore up their recruiting numbers, the gamers in question being recruited should know better than to think the real Army is anything like a video game. In this case, caveat emptor should be the rule (Use wikipedia if you don't know what it means). If the anti-recruiters wanna protest, then they have as much of a right as the recruiters do to present their case (however reasoned or inane it may be) to the person being targeted. In the end, it still falls on one's own conscience whether or not to enlist.
Durandal @ Apr 22nd 2007 10:35PM
Rubang-
Islamo Fascists, that do exist, want to kill everyone that isnt muslim, either that or make them their slaves. They attacked us because we embody what they are against. Terrorists do want to kill the people in those countries, they are just being saved for last because they wont be a challenge.
Durandal @ Apr 22nd 2007 10:39PM
Yes of course there are muslims (mostly here in the states) that interpret the koran in a way that wont drive them to slaughter us. No-one is lumping all muslims into the Islamo Fascist grouping, it is its own problem, and a HUGE one. So get your head on your shoulders.
#30 laughing target has this definition of Fascism right. Read his post.
Wolfrider @ Apr 22nd 2007 10:39PM
Good point Kalroy. How dare foreign governments not want their own citizens fighting a war another government started.
Danger @ Apr 22nd 2007 10:44PM
WOW, i'm so tired of the bleeding hearts, out a bandaid on it and suk it up, every single person that joins the army knows there is a possibility to get injured or even killed, that is their own choice, i'm just tired of all this crying, we are supposed to be a tough country, but your making us look like a bunch of crybabies and whiners...
http://www.burnedbytheman.com
waves @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:08AM
Of course the best way to raise recruitment would be to pull out of Iraq and elect a new president. You'd have a ton of new troops, plus all the ones not maimed or dead. Then 6 months later you could go right back in.
Suckers!
Mick @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:53AM
@13 ChuckSteak0331
Obvious fraud, laughably so. Machine gunner, then recruiter! TOO MUCH! And you thought you were such a clever 13 year old.
Kevin D @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:06AM
You DO realize Afghanistan was about the oil, right?
ie. the pipeline Haliburton(the ole 76 as well) wanted to build through there from the northern oil fields (same oil fields that were the downfall of Hilter due to Stalingrad - but I digress)..
They told 76 and Hal they wanted MORE $$$ and all of a sudden they are the US's enemies and are being attacked...
Same thing with Iraq. The WHOLE WORLD can see it happening, but alot of the US citizens are blinded by their patriatism. Yeh, I agree there are Muslim zealots who want nothing better than to destroy the west.. (heck, there are alot of them IN the US right now.. Sleeper cells.. Remember you heard it here)...
There is a finite amount of oil.. Get over it.. In about 50-100 years it'll probably all be used up by then (even the tar sands in Alberta)... The US gov't MUST survive (its like a big machine thats self aware) and as such, why use up all the Texas oil or reserves in the US when we can invade and 'get' the oil from the middle east...
When the big shortage/crunch comes along, their military machine will still have BIllions of barrels in reserve while the rest of the world scrambles for the last few drops that are available....
And every bullet fired or bomb dropped is more $$$ in a manufacturers hands...
Vicious circle....
peace out...
nev @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:05PM
I'm sorry i must be missing something...
When did l33t h4X0Rs become good soldiers?
Sarge @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:51PM
No, the term Islamo-fascism is a way to separate the "good" Muslims from the "bad" Muslims. There's a reason we don't just call them Muslims, as not all of them are trying to kill us.
That being said, all of this is absurd. A nation without a military is completely dependant on others for its defense, and when you are at least considered the most powerful nation in the world, there are a lot of people who want to knock your block off to get what you have. It's happened all through history. A nation without the ability to recruit soldiers is a dead one.
Sum0 @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:23PM
I have read The Forever War, and I seem to recall that the war in question was long, pointless, bloody, and caused by a short-sighted misunderstanding between the two sides. Oh, and it was written by a Vietnam vet. Not exactly the most pro-war work.
Vision67 @ Apr 23rd 2007 8:27PM
@#16 - Eric
I just wrote a paper about that point. Talking about how though an exact replica of Big Brother will never exist in today's world, some of the attributes of 1984 did come true such as the continuous fighting, allied realignment, and war time economy much like the U.S. has been doing since World War II.
Funny you mentioned that lol.
tAKEDA @ Apr 24th 2007 10:30AM
Are you for real? what do you think youre doing? since when do you liberals care about communists, and hippies and the such, i can only assume you expect to have those comments taken as sarcasm, since you idiots want people like hilary as president, go ahead, why dont we just become the next china? Anyways, if you are in anyway stupid enough to think that video games and reality are anything alike (unless you play wii, of course, hahaha) you need to once again, end yourself, we dont need more idiots in this country, cause people like that (idiots) end up somehow taking congress. Oh and if you respond to this, dont bother with the cliche "those idiots can take over congress cause they arent as stupid as the congress before them" rant, cause we all have heard it, and think your an idiot for bringing it up.