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Wars. For a citizen, the only useful war is the one where you circle the wagons to defend your country and loved ones. WW2 might have been the most recent of that kind of war. Wars designed to implement political agendas might be in a diffferent category. Yes, if you are part of a global pact, like the UN, then sure, you do your part. In the present war, that isn't the case. The US has decided to go it alone (with the UK) to achieve goals they have decided are good for "everybody". Remember the Crusades? Ah, the good old days. <wry grin> Nah, I still think there is a lot more behind this than just liberating the oppressed citizens of Iraq.
The Military is now a business, like any other. As a business it is subject to the same lobbying for funds as any other--healthcare, social security, what ever. Moods change in Washington DC. The lobbys are strong and they cause shifts in budgets. There's so much PR going on that I think it's really easy to get confused. I sure am.
I spent 7 years as an enlisted man in the US Military and it was a really fine job. I enjoyed it, but after my first child was born I got out and went on to other things because the potential for advancement was better. Some of my former buddies finally had to leave the service because they were living at poverty level revenues and promotions were getting more and more difficult to get. (Ah, ha, the budget issue!) I remember so well what one of my Commanding Officers said while we were out one day on Police Call (picking up cigarette buts) "What we need is a good war". I still agree with him.
Sorry, this may be off the story line here, just an old guy interjecting a thought.
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