Shadowfax: I didn’t make the comment to impugn those that hadn’t served, rather I made it to say don’t advocate something you’re unwilling to go and do yourself.
I abhor those people that are willing to rattle the sabers and advocate war, but haven’t served and wouldn’t if called upon to.
It is easy to armchair quarterback and make value judgments when you don’t have skin in the game. IMHO, it lessens the impact of one’s statements, though, largely because there isn’t anything to back what you are saying up. In order to talk the talk, you must have walked the walk.
As to much of what on down in that part of the world back in the day: Yeah, it was gruesome. You’d be amazed at what people are willing to do when you have propagandized them. We did a real good job of that with our forces in the Pacific War against the Japanese.
