Good idea, and I don't agree with much that apears on this blog. Rimsfled put us in this position, you can't manage the military like it is a corporation.....frankly if the government is going to waste money, this is the place to do it.....have a great Thanksgiving....

oh my little paduan. Where do I start...? It's obvious that you mean good, but you also seem confused. You say you support the military, but you talk like a politician. Actually, an eighteen year old politician. Have you heard of the State Dept and Congress? Dept of Peace...please. As for the Abu Ghraib prison incident, let me educate you. The military has always had SOP for POW Handling. The problem wasn't that. The problem was within the leadership of those Army Soldiers running the prison. They disregarded the proper SOP's, took pictures, etc...and got caught. Another reason why the Army keeps getting beat down on their discipline. If you happen to join the military (especially the Marines) you'll understand that you can not have an exit plan prior to the entry. As for Historians and Diplomants being on this Dept of Peace, I'm sorry, but wouldn't it make sense to have Service Members with the actual experience and knowledge instead...? I got an idea, let's send Historians to combat.

Ok, hope I got it right (yep, I'm German)
Good article, but I don't think that the war is the right solution. The sufferer are always the innocent people.
The people who "deserve" it, get away with it.
It's a shaky theme...

I agree naddie. 2 words come to mind. False pretenses. Don't get me started.

Where did you go Scott? Did you go enlist or rally up a Dept of Peace?

What's with Flavis Rep. Dennis Kusinich love affair?
Rep. Dennis Kusinich's "Department of Peace" idea is moronic just like his: Hetzbolla is not a terrorist organization claim. This is the same terrorist group that claimed responsibility for the truck-bombing of our Marine barracks in Lebanon that killed over 200 of our guys, and Kucinich is still blowing smoke and planting red-herrings. I guess he still hasn't figured it out yet. He's a moron folks!

Jerry T,
I agree with you, but if you read the whole article, you'll see i'm not a hippie, and that I don't want useless peace like he does, but a meaningful and moral peace, and I am opposed to immediate troop withdwral from Iraq unlike Kucinich.

War is not the answer. War is wrong. I am not a hippie either. S/F But if to be a hippie is to seek peaceful solutions to evil problems, then peace - dude. God will judge me when I come home.

Yo, Jerry T -

It's not "flavis" so-called love affair with Dennnis "Kusinich" - this was a guest blog she didn't write, as is clearly labeled at the top. But since you know so much about "Kusinich" and "Hetzbolla" maybe you can explain why a Department of peace is such a "moronic" (spelled right - keepin' us on our toes!) idea. Thanks.

Jerry A

I am presently in Iraq and I have served in a few other conflicts/wars over my 20+ years in the military.

I think a "Department of Peace" is a great idea.

See, the military has morphed itself into a poor substitute for one. On one hand there are troops out here to kill people, and on the other hand, there are troops out here to help build infastructure etc.

I think the role of USAID and organizations like it are crucial.

Good post from a clever sounding young man.

Hope you keep it up Scott.

evolo,
I want to sincerely thank you for your service, and for you very kind comment!I hope you keep up the good work, and thank our troops for me!

Yo Jerry A

I guess you don't read bimbo Flav's blog a lot or you'd know that she has been swooning and idolizing Dennis Kusinich on several of her past blogs, and not just this one. Flavia's a groupy and is just like Monica Lewinsky lusting for Bill Clinton's schwantz, only her idol is Kusinich.

Isn't the Department of State supposed to be our "Department of Peace"? Just because the existing department is accheiving (at best) mixed results at its intended purpose is not a good reason to create another bureaucratic fifedom that will fight for resources and engage in an ineffectual power struggle with the existing bureaucracy.

In the interests of being fair, I admit that my criticism of your concept does not mean I have a better solution.

Scott, call your recruiter. Enough words...put on your pack and follow me...put your money where your mouth is.

On the general's desk sits a trade magazine on which the cover displays artists renderings of future battleships, floating fortresses, and aircraft heading full speed ahead towards a future enemy's shore. It is captioned: "Who Needs Allies?"

It's is telling of the power of the powers that be how our national conversation changed from war or no war to the false choice of "how best to fight this war" as retired Generals and blow- dried people parade in front of us on the screen.

Supporting the troops now becomes "getting them the best equipment to fight a war", "taking care of our troops when they come home" and photo ops with the troops. Altogether now, lets get out the flags and wave them to the busses of soldiers!

The real support is protesting against this war. Refusing to fund it. Refusing to vote for those who support/fund it.

As a troop, that type of support would mean more to me than any free steak dinners, or free drinks at the bar by citizens who do not fight. More than pointless debates that do not address the real issues of the immorality of this war.

So the trade mags ask "Who Needs Allies?" while not asking the question of what is moral or immoral. People here and everywhere it seems ask "How should we manage this war, and who should manage it?", when it should not have been fought.

People say we need to fight to have peace. How many should die in that endeavour? Should it be the last resort, or not a resort at all? For every bullet that flies we lose a piece of our souls. The best of our humanity flakes away and becomes dull as we forget where we come from and what we were charged to do.

We are asking the wrong questions. Debating the wrong things. Supporting a folly. We were made to be better than that. You may think I am wrong. Maybe weak. But it all starts with one. Yourself. So who manages this war? We all do. And I do. In my heart, I do not fight it.

not one piece of my soul is missing.

worry about yours, don't comment on mine.

The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men...

It was not my intention to anger you.

We are all not fortunate to engage in close combat, where you know the man you are eliminating is in fact the one who pulled the trigger on your fire team. Good work if you can find it. Good work if it finds you.

If there were grades of combat, close combat is the most pure. But like a cog attached to the entire machine...one cannot separate thier act from the whole. The cog, althought it wishes to believe it is separate from the engine - wishes to believe it is a stand alone operator, it is not. Without that peice, the engine, the war machine, goes nowhere. So we decide, which engine do we wish to belong to. Which team. And when that decision is made we are loyal to that team and act beyond reproach. We.

Some are blessed with the knowledge that thier bullets, the full spectrum of combat power he chooses to employ, are just and good. Maybe you are blessed to know that your job is pure. But it is not separate from the whole. As citizens and as humans, all of our hands our dirty, be it from the poor we choose not to see, the hungry we do not feed, the naked we do not cloth and the lives we take with or without knowing, no matter how just. That is the human condition. What makes us different is what we do to redeem ourselves. Our gratitude. Our desire to see the suffering in the world and do something about it. We are given these chances everyday. It is all choices we make. I don't know you. But I will continue to believe in the term "we", and I will continue to use it, just as some use it, inside of himself in his most challenging moments. We are all on the same team, sharing the same beginning, and ending, together.

But something does happen inside of us when a life is taken. That is what makes us human. All of us. We.

This is an interesting and compelling discussion.

I see your point. We certainly do have a different perpective, which is great. It is important to me that I own MY moral choices, so when someone pins me and MY moral choices with a moniker not of MY choice, I take offense.

I completely understand your idea of the cogs in the machine etc. However, I believe strongly that I am accountable only for MY actions in given situations. Things beyond my control, can't permeate my thinking when it comes down to it.

You talk of the things we can do to care for others, and our "dirty hands." Certainly we all have "dirty hands" to some degree, but what really impresses me is the immense courage and valor of those who let the enemy use their own familes against them, and then watch over the enemies family while they engage the enemy.

So, the smarmy fluffy adages of the folks who don't know about these things, can continue on and the discussions about the ugliness can continue and the cheap, pop culture-esque banter between pseudo-moralist ethical genius' can try to put names and adjectives to things with which they are unqualified to categorize.

To those in the mix, it doesn't matter.

I will do what I think and believe to be good and right, regardless of the circumstances.

Don't need anyone to tell me about it.

ESSE QUAM VIDERI

The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men...

But that never works. We are not apart. The emotions do surface in one form or another. We can't escape our actions. We can only try to do good, be grateful, and balance our lives.

War is offensive. So is life in so many ways. It is natural for a warrior, any man for that matter to give, and take, offense to anything they choose. That is life.

As far as 'genius'. That is an entirely subjective tag. Like you, we can only be true to ourselves. It may offend and anger others, and at the same time making others glad to hear another view. All subjective.

And one more thing. We are all "in the mix" in one form or another. Really. We are.

I didn't talk of the things we can do for others.
That is up to you.

As citizens and as humans, all of our hands our dirty, be it from the poor we choose not to see, the hungry we do not feed, the naked we do not cloth and the lives we take with or without knowing, no matter how just. That is the human condition.

I described, in general terms, what we do not do. I did not make a judgement. These are choices we have to make everyday. All of us. These choices to me qualify us to be "in the mix".

"in the mix" isn't about choices, it is about putting your life on the line.

making a choice with the remote in you hand is different than making a choice with an m-4 in your hand.

drama sells.

especially in the cheap seats at home...

keep it coming.

sounds great....

Not in the mix. Teacher shot and killed in Detroit. Not in the mix. Young teen shot and killed in Miami on his way home from school. Not in the mix. Children born with deformities from a toxic enviroment. Not in the mix. Corrections officers shanked. Not in the mix. Just you. We, sir, will agree to disagree. Peoples lives are on the line everyday. Our souls. And what's unfortunate is that, like the people mentioned above, most don't even realize it. M-4, 9 Mil, schoolbooks, formula bottles, prison keys, and yes, we didn't forget, the M-4 too. Now where is that remote?

Scott-
Your article was not only inspirational, but pretty darn accurate. Your wants as a citizen of the United States reflect my wants as an Active Duty Marine. Many of us can/will gladly agree that the media coverage on this war is not only redundant, it's very depressing. They fail to cover all of the good things that you mentioned, and show all the wonderful things that have been accomplished. Fortunately, most of us that are currently serving and fighting the war on terror… know and understand that we are over there not only for the right reasons, but we are making great progress. We continue to fight, we continue to train, and our morale seems to be rather strong. Wars are not won over night, battles are won by diligence, and perseverance. It is common for the American public to jump on the “This war is a waste of time” bandwagon. When you have one politician that decides to state that they feel we should “pull out of Iraq”…. It starts a misguided frenzy. It’s unfortunate, that the public seems to be uneducated on fundamental history, the military, and war in general; but there are a few like your self that seem to have a good grasp on what is REALLY going on. A Department of Peace is a nice idea, in reality this will never occur. Having the Military call the shots is also an outstanding idea, but this will more than likely never occur. We are here to serve and protect the country, to carry out all orders from the President of the United States. Our job entails the following-
1. Obey direct orders
2. Go to war, and fight until we are told to quit
3. MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT
4. Protect the United States and it’s freedom
We all decide to do this for our own reasons. Any service member that tells you that they were not taught, or told that they were going to be asked to do all of the above when they signed that dotted line; are lying. This is our job, this is what we signed up to do… most of us do it with pride; there are a few that do it out of fear. Regardless, we are the Department of Peace- we are the Backbone of the United States and it’s comforting to see that there are a few citizens like yourself that see the light. Thanks again.

More folks not "in the mix".

The family of a groom-to-be gunned down by police will visit the site of the Queens shooting for the first time Wednesday ... died in a hail of bullets behind the wheel of his Nissan Altima, hours before he was to wed the mother of his two children. ...

Newsday

Some students said they saw gang members huddling together after the shooting, possibly planning retaliation. Many parents said they are scared for their children. "I'm scared to bring him to school now," parent Lexy Rivera said. "I know it's dangerous ...

Click2Houston.com

Approximately five people were in a vehicle in Jackson Park, in the 6500 block of South Promontory Drive, next door to La Rabida Children's Hospital, when two people wearing black approached and started shooting about 7 p.m., said Chicago Police ...

Chicago Tribune

The extra security was brought in after Tuesday's deadly drive-by shooting of a student near Westbury High School. The ... It's just that some more security around here to protect the children and to keep the people that don't go to school here ...

KTRK

He and Ada spent many years raising their four children in Delhi. They moved to their East Price Hill home on Terry Street in 1990. Age was kind to Iles, who loved to tinker around and keep busy. Before the shooting, he was cutting his grass and would ...

Cincinnati Enquirer

A man was shot three times Tuesday evening, just yards away from where children were playing at a recreational center. The victim, who was not identified, was shot in his stomach and both of his arms, NBC 10 News reported. Police say the 21-year-old ...

NBC 10

At the time of the shooting on Aug. 10, Anderson was at his Detroit home babysitting five children all under the age of 6 and had fallen asleep, according to witness statements. Anderson told police the sound of his .40-caliber Glock handgun awakened ...

Detroit Free Press

Residents in one Midland City neighborhood are scared after witnessing a drive by shooting take place right before their eyes. Many of these residents have children and now they're afraid their homes may become drive-by targets as well. On Sunday ...

WTVY

hmmm..

well you didn't address all the wrongs in the world in your previous statements. you addressed the war. that is what i refer to as "the mix."

but, now that you have so strongly brought it up, i guess i should just capitulate to your view and hang my head and be miserable and depressed and let all the bad things rest on my shoulders because, alas, we are all connected.

get off of your soapbox and stop trying to paint everything with your gifted, self-righteous paint brush.

or, just continue with someone who will entertain it.

done.

Scott-
Your article was not only inspirational, but pretty darn accurate. Your wants as a citizen of the United States reflect my wants as an Active Duty Marine. Many of us can/will gladly agree that the media coverage on this war is not only redundant, it's very depressing. They fail to cover all of the good things that you mentioned, and show all the wonderful things that have been accomplished. Fortunately, most of us that are currently serving and fighting the war on terror… know and understand that we are over there not only for the right reasons, but we are making great progress. We continue to fight, we continue to train, and our morale seems to be rather strong. Wars are not won over night, battles are won by diligence, and perseverance. It is common for the American public to jump on the “This war is a waste of time” bandwagon. When you have one politician that decides to state that they feel we should “pull out of Iraq”…. It starts a misguided frenzy. It’s unfortunate, that the public seems to be uneducated on fundamental history, the military, and war in general; but there are a few like your self that seem to have a good grasp on what is REALLY going on. A Department of Peace is a nice idea, in reality this will never occur. Having the Military call the shots is also an outstanding idea, but this will more than likely never occur. We are here to serve and protect the country, to carry out all orders from the President of the United States. Our job entails the following-
1. Obey direct orders
2. Go to war, and fight until we are told to quit
3. MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT
4. Protect the United States and it’s freedom
We all decide to do this for our own reasons. Any service member that tells you that they were not taught, or told that they were going to be asked to do all of the above when they signed that dotted line; are lying. This is our job, this is what we signed up to do… most of us do it with pride; there are a few that do it out of fear. Regardless, we are the Department of Peace- we are the Backbone of the United States and it’s comforting to see that there are a few citizens like yourself that see the light. Thanks again.

Drama does sell. Evolo hit the nail on the head with that one. Americans love drama filled chaos. The new frenzy is reality television, and this war is the greatest dose of reality television for the American Public. However, what the public doesn't understand is that they are not watching the REAL war on Iraq. Instead, they are watching a biased, one-sided circus charade. If America wants the real story, maybe they should ask the source. Maybe they should spend more time supporting the troops, talking to a veteran, going to a military funeral, reading some good resourceful knowledge, taking a look at a 5th grade history book, and hanging up yellow ribbons. I would gladly take anyone who is a non supporter to do any of the above. One week in our shoes, will make all the nonbelievers see the light or at least change their opinions on the military. Some of the trash, and I want to stress trash that has been posted above is by individuals that have little to no common sense. I am not claiming to be the brightest crayon in the box, but before I open my mouth and make comments... I always ensure I research what I am about to say and I always speak from EXPIRIENCE. Time on the clock counts, service shows... not all talk with no walk.

Good stopping point as any. Thanks for sharing.

Defensive. Just like in Vietnam when the gung ho's hated the media and Americans for wanting to get out. In the end, Iraq and Vietnam will be thought of the same way. But its not our fault. We did the best we could with our hands tied. But it wasn't the media and the rest that tied our hands, it was the arrogance of the WH. They wanted to do it their way. They messed up. We did the best we could...and you know what? We did learn the lessons of Vietnam. Not the military futility of fighting a popular guerilla land war (remember the warning in The Princess Bride). We will always mess up there until we decde to use nukes. No the lesson learned was the one by the American public...and in my eyes they passed with flying colors...that no matter how they felt about the war...they supported the warriors..even here in blue blue liberal New Orleans, to blues liberal NYC (I've been in both) ..Americans support us and love us. So we did learn a lesson of Vietnam after-all.

Flavia will be on TV talking about gun violence. Tell the ones who are killed that they weren't "in the mix." If you don't think its combat out there. You are wrong. You had even mentioned that "there was more violence in Detroit" than Iraq. We need you to come back here and help the weak here. It is time to stand down and come home.

i wonder if a sharp guy like you, Joe, could come up with a parallel regarding an insurgency and the insidious violence and crime associated with lack of community?

bet you could.

as for coming home, i will stay true to my obligation.

besides, i actually feel somewhat normal here.

"big boy rules" as opposed to political correctness.

oh yeah, on that Detroit thing...

boy was i wrong.

We are obliged to do as the citizen's desire. We share our opinions. Some look down on others. That's what I get from you and the words you choose. The "if you haven't been there, then shut up" tone. Again, we are obligated to do as the citizen's desire. Don't get too tied down to this course. It is going to change.

{The "if you haven't been there, then shut up" tone.}

sure didn't feel like that was my intent. perhaps that is coming from you.

not to keen on folks telling me about my soul and speaking in broad strokes.

Dialogue can be a messy affair. Broad strokes seem to not be the exclusive domain of remote control owners either.

..in fact, it was your broad strokes that got me to write..you know..to balance things out a bit.

The "if you haven't been there, then shut up" tone.

Trust me, it's there. Not just tone, but in your words.

As far as my broad strokes and the word "we". As long as there is another besides myself that thinks like I do, I will continue to use those words.

guess you are right.

"If there were grades of combat, close combat is the most pure."

tell me more about pure combat.

tell me not only about combat, tell me about my soul, and while you are at it, tell me about how i will feel about the war and how it will compare to Vietnam,

tell me more about all the things you know so much about,

and i'll get off my soapbox now and leave this type of exchange to more knowledgeable and experienced folks like you.

Hmmm, it seems a little intel goes a long way.(I feel as if we know each other.)

How about this. You give me your opinion on soapboxes and the "media brain-washed-people" who pay your salary and I'll continue believing that every time a life is taken, our souls take a hit. I'm not backing down bud.

We write what we write for our own reasons. Maybe I "feel normal" writing like you "feel normal" over there. The phrase "if the shoe fits" was made for this occassion. And yes, if there were grades of combat, slicing a bad guys throat in the shadows is more pure than launching a SCUD. Would you agree? Oh, but you hate soapboxes so, so you might not answer. But you tell me. I could be so wrong on that. Maybe I heard it on Mail Call while eating cheetos and drinking Tab.

...seriously, I think I did hear it on Mail Call while eating cheetos and drinking Barqs. Of course, there I go again with my gifted, self-righteous, politically correct, media regurgitating, broad-stroke painting self again. Did I get that right? big boy?

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