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Sue's avatar

I completely agree. Vietnam was the first of the “endless wars” where big corporations got rich and the government didn’t have to sell war bonds. They just stole the money from taxpayers.

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Thom Prentice's avatar

Ever hear of Korea ... ... ... ?

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Jan 9, 2021
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Thom Prentice's avatar

The rubicon wasn’t breached; rather the Article I reservation of declaring military hostilities to Congress in the Constitution was shredded. It was also shredded when Truman created the “nuclear football” exclusive to the president. He apparently intended to keep civilian control of nuclear weapons but managed instead to create a nuclear superfuehrer in the worlds last best hope for democracy.

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Jan 9, 2021
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Thom Prentice's avatar

Thank you for your informative, rather than sneering post. I look forward to more.

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Koshmarov's avatar

"even Truman admitted later to a reporter that if he knew he was creating an American Gestapo with the creation of the CIA he would have never signed that “goddamn bill.”"

ha ha Allen Dulles actively tried to bury this story when it came out in the press

They don't make 'em like George Marshall any more.

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Jan 9, 2021
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Koshmarov's avatar

I think the bright and magic line is between people who genuinely believe themselves to be public servants and those who view high office and power as an opportunity to bully subordinates, define an outgroup whom it's OK to despise and kill, and feed their own egos. One finds both kinds in the military.

I think the rot had set in with the US general officer corps well before WWII. I have a high opinion of Marshall; not so much of his contemporaries MacArthur, Patton, LeMay.

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Jan 9, 2021
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Koshmarov's avatar

Gus Hasford wrote about the ear collecting in "The Short-Timers" and was pooh-poohed as being a sensationalist, but it's clear from your testimony and that of other vets that it was a thing that actually happened.

We all get dumped in the shit, but you still have the choice of ear-collecting or not ear-collecting.

Thanks for this comment.

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Jan 9, 2021
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Ralph Dratman's avatar

Is it really necessary to throw in insults during a discussion? Does that add something positive?

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Thom Prentice's avatar

And thank you for pointing out how my extensive knowledge and intelligence often leads people to believe me arrogant from inflated ego . I’ll try to keep my intelligence and extensive knowledge in check Just For You (and those who forgot Korea in the McCarthy scare and booming 50s) and will see a certified shrink in the immediate future who will assure me that YOUR ego is fully in check !

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Jan 9, 2021
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Thom Prentice's avatar

They weren’t snarking you they were criticizing you.

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Jan 9, 2021
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Ralph Dratman's avatar

Who humiliated you, and how?

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