Fred White wrote:
>As an aside, note that very few of our national leaders, current AND
>past, have ever participated in the defense of the US. What does that
>tell you??

In my judgment it's common red herring.

Sure, so few leaders.  Take US presidents for instance.  Other than
Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Bush 41, all of whom where not just vets,
but rarer still, combat vets.   I'm not sure of the veteran status of
several others.  Others can do the math.

To make this a serious argument however I would insist that we define what
percentage counts as more than "very few".

The unspoken assumption is that military service is a predictor of how often
politicians will decide on military action.  An alternative idea is that
Generals should decide on going to war being that they are the supposed
experts.   Historians can and have argued over this idea.   I've heard this
idea batted about on panels and my recollection is that the case for the
proposition is weak.


P.S.  Sure I think we ought to let the soldiers decide.   Based on causality
rates compared to their relatively small numbers, special forces (SOF)
soldiers have done more of the heavy lifting in the last 20 years than
anyone else.   Let the SOF community decide.

Cortlandt Wilson
(650) 966-8555

>-----Original Message-----
>From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>Behalf Of fred White
>Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 7:52 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: Sec of State Powell's Integrity (was: Quotes
>of the Day)
>
>
>On Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at 06:19 PM, Cortlandt Wilson wrote:
>
>> Of Fred White (I assume), Mc coy says:
>>> He says this because he believes that no person of integrity would
>>> defend
>>> the United States.
>>>
>>> This person is part of the same crowd that thinks President Bush is a
>>> war
>>> criminal for going after terrorists and the regimes that support
>>> them, but
>>> does not consider saddam hussein's actions to be criminal.
>>
>> Jim I would ask of you the same thing I ask of Fred.   Where is your
>> evidence?   Frankly I think you are going too far even for our online
>> curmudgeon.
>>
>> So Fred let me lob what I think is a softball question.   Do you
>> believe
>> that no person of integrity would defend the US?
>
>Cortland. I accidentally answered your previous email privately.
>Unfortunately, the rest of the gang won't see it. Ooops. Sorry.
>
>I believe that ALL persons of integrity would defend the US.
>
>As an aside, note that very few of our national leaders, current AND
>past, have ever participated in the defense of the US. What does that
>tell you??
>
>FW
>
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