Disrespecting Soldiers

I'm reading this world war 2 book. There was a time, not long ago, when armies marched into countries and set-up shop. A little over 60 years ago, Hitler was determined to build the finest army on Earth.

Now, in the US, we have the most powerful and skilled fighting force in the world. If any country ever actually tried to build an empire by violent conquest (I'm leaving however you interpret recent US actions out of the mix here), the US Military machine will wipe you off the face of the earth in days, or weeks at most. We have this incredible fighting force, full of brilliant tacticians and terrifying levels of firepower. And this fighting force is in the hands of the worst boss on the face of the Earth.

It is a testament to the discipline and professional attitude of our military that they have not staged a coup against the complete imbicile who has the chutzpah to send them to their undignified death. The reward our soldiers get for the service is reduced healthcare benefits from the VA system, as well as the knowledge that the legacy we leave behind will be a brutal civil war between ancient warring tribes who hate each other at least as much as they hated the US when we were illegally occupying their land.

Sometimes I look at the right wing Republican media outlets and books to get a sense of what makes this strange species go. And I realized that they still think of America as the savior of Europe, as the merciful God of countries among men who broke up what had become a deadly brawl between European powers that had been killing each with increasing brutality for centuries. They still have their G.I. Joe dolls. They think that those of us who have viewed America's numerous wars of dubious purpose (basically all of them since the day after VJ day) are not patriotic. America is a great power that can only do good. Basically, when get right down to it, the fundamentalist fervor and a proud decleration that reality has nothing to do with your world view reminds me of Nazis. Hitler was obviously one of the sickest human beings to have ever lived, but he was a brilliant and effective leader. Whereas the Republicans are just plain dumb. They have the fervor but none of the skills to actually govern in any manner whatsoever.

Maybe the Rebublicans are less like the Nazis and more like the 3 stooges, falling over each other, endlessly tripping over one's untied shoes and getting a spanking. How in the hell are the Republicans the "party of national security" anyway? They have fucked up every single war they've ever tried to wage, accomplishing nothing and leaving behind death and misery in their wake, all because of some repressed homosexual senator's need to live out their Steve McQueen perverted fantasies (I'm thinking of Charlie Wilson in Afghanistan). These hillbilly redneck morons who cry in their beer over the poor suffering Iraqis need to put their dicks back in the sheep they've been fucking since they were 12 and leave those of us who want to live after the next 3 years of endless catastrophe alone already.