your freedom of speech is more important to me than my reaction to some of your older postsIkarti wrote:
Well, this is really to all the posters here who have served in the military of late. I realize I've probably angered a number of you with my lack of support and outright hatred of the military. I'm done hating. It was an interesting forum gimmick and got a lot of interesting responses and was what I really felt. I was outraged at the behavior of a few soldiers that I had either encountered personally or heard about in the news. For all the support the country gives the troops, who are supposed to be the good guys, and then see a number of them involved in incidents like Haditha and the rape case, it's a betrayal.
I know I was raised to respect soldiers, I couldn't respect that. I also couldn't take the misperception of soldiers I'd met that my freedom was at stake in Iraq, or that we have to support the president no matter what, or hearing a general disregard for the Iraqis coupled with racial epithets, or that even though I have the freedom to say what I want I shouldn't be allowed to say certain things. The freedom thing really bugged me though, because I've had a personal experience in my life where I have had to fight for my freedom and rights, and I only had me to count on. There were no soldiers in sight.
In my own foolishness, I decided it would be easier to generalize. To those of who have served and post here, I extend my apology to most of you. Actually, I think there's only one person who I won't apologize to, and it isn't Usmarine2005. If they read this they can figure it out.
I do want to say though that I don't support the war and I honestly don't see the need to support the troops. I may change my mind on that, but I still can't. Though I will say, those of you who signed up because they wanted to serve the county, not because of money, not because of "Saddam did 9/11 and we're getting revenge," not because it's a chance to kill some Arabs, you have my support. It's an admirable thing to do, really.
This was sparked by the war stories thread. I was really impressed with how some of you refused to discuss it. I don't know how you feel about it, if you're comfortable with it or not, or if you're willing to talk about it elsewhere, but prudence was shown by not discussing it on a forum for a war video game populated with many teenagers that think war's a game and guns are toys.
The last thing I do want to stipulate that those of you who think torture is ok, or that an Arab life is worth any less than an American life, disregard this apology. This time though I will take issue with you as an individual, not a soldier.
I can understand if you don't accept this, I was way over the top on a lot of what I said. The hatred does nothing though, solves nothing. Take from this what you will. Thanks for reading.
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dont get that "oh he didnt tell his story , he must be genuine" in your head. where you and a lot of people are wrong is assuming that somebody in the military is going to be completely different than you are. I dont believe half the people on this forum who say they have served. and I speak pretty openly about my experiences. everybody is wired differently. I liked missing IED's and RPG's and seeing the traces splash feet away from me. I dont eat vegetables and hate roller coasters. i mean cmon, I was in iraq with soldiers who hated being there every day that they were, and I was in Iraq with soldiers that killed lots of bad guys and would decribe the events quite candidly. this falls into a lot of the stereotypes you and a lot of other people think about the military. dont generalize dude. a lot of these fuckers are full of shit.
I understand a lot of them are. I kinda thought I didn't have to say this extends to the fakes out there.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
dont get that "oh he didnt tell his story , he must be genuine" in your head. where you and a lot of people are wrong is assuming that somebody in the military is going to be completely different than you are. I dont believe half the people on this forum who say they have served. and I speak pretty openly about my experiences. everybody is wired differently. I liked missing IED's and RPG's and seeing the traces splash feet away from me. I dont eat vegetables and hate roller coasters. i mean cmon, I was in iraq with soldiers who hated being there every day that they were, and I was in Iraq with soldiers that killed lots of bad guys and would decribe the events quite candidly. this falls into a lot of the stereotypes you and a lot of other people think about the military. dont generalize dude. a lot of these fuckers are full of shit.
Im really thinking of one person on this forum in particular that tried to feed me some bullshit about his service. I knew he was lying, he knows he is lying and I doubt your gonna see him on this thread because the second he does im gonna bust him out
I dont understand why someone would lie about that. Jealous? He can serve out the rest of my enlistment if he wants to.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
Im really thinking of one person on this forum in particular that tried to feed me some bullshit about his service. I knew he was lying, he knows he is lying and I doubt your gonna see him on this thread because the second he does im gonna bust him out
Oug you are far from right on that one. There are many people that joined the military because they had a skill but couldn't get a job doing it on the outside.oug wrote:
What you say is true. But if what you mentioned above was their primary task then they shouldn't carry guns and they should not be trained how to kill at all. Just because it so happens that a nation's military is usefull in paramilitary situations does not mean they are not an army. No soldier aver joined so he can provide first aid, or help in case of a disaster. Those are tasks carried out on the side, if necessary.Pubic wrote:
A nation's military is typically it's largest trained, disciplined and deployable organisation. The threats a nation's military provides protection from need not be military.
Soldiers, besides being trained how to kill, are also trained in such things as first aid, large-scale food preparation and logistics, all essential components of any disaster relief effort. Not to mention that they're bloody fit! Short of having a specialist disaster-relief organisation, a nation's military is the best thing for the task. New Orleans ring a bell?
I for one am glad to know that should something serious happen here, the NZ army will help out if the need arises. Incidently, they provided catering for the recent funeral of the Maori queen. A couple of field kitchens, thousands of mourners...
PS: Cougar and Cyborg_ninja would you care to elaborate instead of talking trash? I thought not.
And you make it sound like all military personnel are gun toting idiots. I fired a weapon twice in my eight years of service.
There's so much more to the military when it comes to National Defense... I was in the Intelligence field. I didn't pull the trigger on anyone, but I made sure the guys I supported knew where the baddies were to the best of my abilities. They depended on me, so when I screwed up they died.
No one should feel good about the amount of lives that have been shed on either side of this conflict.
Ikarti... I too appreciate your post (yes some of your earlier one's got under my skin, but who know's who's being authentic on these forums). It's sad that you had a bad experience with some military personnel. I always felt I was an ambassador and it was my duty to leave a positive influence on all of the people I encountered. It always embarassed me a little when my co-workers were disrespectful. It's good to know you don't hold that against all military people.
I think that pretending to be military in a time of war is a pretty serious offense.
Ikarti, I'd like to believe we are seeing a new you, an enlightened ikarti, but I am not so quick to trust you.
You've said some pretty unbelieveable things here ( you know I have the quotes saved so don't make me remind you ).
You have either, decided that there is some value in being taken seriously on these forums, or have a guilty conscious.
Whatever your motivations you have been pretty well behaved lately so I say....
Keep it up.
Ikarti, I'd like to believe we are seeing a new you, an enlightened ikarti, but I am not so quick to trust you.
You've said some pretty unbelieveable things here ( you know I have the quotes saved so don't make me remind you ).
You have either, decided that there is some value in being taken seriously on these forums, or have a guilty conscious.
Whatever your motivations you have been pretty well behaved lately so I say....
Keep it up.
Just for the record. I'm pro-Iraq war. I'm pro-Afghan war. I'm pro-Iran war. And I'm pro-North Korean war. Right or wrong, if our guys are fightin' it, I'm supportin' it. I trust that our government knows things that NONE of us do. So for any of us, outside the CIA, WhiteHouse, (etc. etc.) to say that we know SHIT about what's really going on behind the scenes of our government and others, is totally ignorant.
And I would join the military in a heart beat if I didn't feel I could do more good as a civilian. If that ever changes, I'll be the first to enlist.
And everytime I meet a military service man or woman, I take the time to thank them personally. They are the only people in this world that I admire to the extent of stardom. They are true heros.
Harry Humphries
Rudy Boesch
Richard Marcinko
The list goes on and on...
And I would join the military in a heart beat if I didn't feel I could do more good as a civilian. If that ever changes, I'll be the first to enlist.
And everytime I meet a military service man or woman, I take the time to thank them personally. They are the only people in this world that I admire to the extent of stardom. They are true heros.
Harry Humphries
Rudy Boesch
Richard Marcinko
The list goes on and on...
Sober enough to know what I'm doing, drunk enough to really enjoy doing it
lolarabeater wrote:
I dont understand why someone would lie about that. Jealous? He can serve out the rest of my enlistment if he wants to.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
Im really thinking of one person on this forum in particular that tried to feed me some bullshit about his service. I knew he was lying, he knows he is lying and I doubt your gonna see him on this thread because the second he does im gonna bust him out
I NEVER make a point to attack the army for the mistakes of the political leadership.
Even when they mentally scar both my parents in Vietnam.
Even when they mentally scar both my parents in Vietnam.
The paradox is only a conflict between reality and your feeling what reality ought to be.
~ Richard Feynman
~ Richard Feynman
I'm serious dude. Ive got about 3 years left on my reenlistment. Yea I reenlisted for the huge bonus and I'm an idiot. I admit that everyday.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
lolarabeater wrote:
I dont understand why someone would lie about that. Jealous? He can serve out the rest of my enlistment if he wants to.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
Im really thinking of one person on this forum in particular that tried to feed me some bullshit about his service. I knew he was lying, he knows he is lying and I doubt your gonna see him on this thread because the second he does im gonna bust him out
hey would there be anyone on these forums with money and the time to send my old company a few useful things in a care package. The guys I spent a year with Iraq with in OIF as a member of Alpha 2/7 cav are now back in Iraq under a different unit name, but same guys. I plan on sending them real useful shit. pornos, cigarettes, listerine *wink*. all the toothbrushes and baby wipes were great, but nobody would send us the stuff we REALLY needed. Im only one man off a small budget, but as soon as the 15th hits im gonna start sending. PM if you're interested in the APO,AE address
man.....I was getting out the army everyday till my last. now I cant wait to start my first drill in the reserves in 2 weeksarabeater wrote:
I'm serious dude. Ive got about 3 years left on my reenlistment. Yea I reenlisted for the huge bonus and I'm an idiot. I admit that everyday.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
lolarabeater wrote:
I dont understand why someone would lie about that. Jealous? He can serve out the rest of my enlistment if he wants to.
no nitro is still the biggest idiot on the forums. EVERRusmarine2005 wrote:
Hmmm....biggest idiot since this forum opened, and that is saying A LOT.cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Biggest idiot of the year I say.Cougar wrote:
You sir, win the award for biggest idiot of the week.
Actually, make that month. Come back to the forums when you move out of your parents house and get a job, because you obviously don't get out much.
On a side note, OUG, when I was stationed in Seattle, every week our unit would send about 5 or 6 Marines to this local grade school every Tuesday. (It is north of Silverdale for you Washington State folks) We would help the kids with their reading, we helped them improve their school by fixing up the playground and little projects like that. The kids absolutely loved us, and they would look forward to that day. I actually enjoyed it, and kids generally annoy the shit out of me.
As for why you need an M-16 for disaster relief....... if you remember New Orleans helicopters were being shot at and cops were being killed, so use your brain......if that is possible.
I'll volunteer to send them some window tint. I know that stuff a hot shit over there for those Humvees. PM me an address to send them to and I'll do it next payday.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
hey would there be anyone on these forums with money and the time to send my old company a few useful things in a care package. The guys I spent a year with Iraq with in OIF as a member of Alpha 2/7 cav are now back in Iraq under a different unit name, but same guys. I plan on sending them real useful shit. pornos, cigarettes, listerine *wink*. all the toothbrushes and baby wipes were great, but nobody would send us the stuff we REALLY needed. Im only one man off a small budget, but as soon as the 15th hits im gonna start sending. PM if you're interested in the APO,AE address
Winded Tintows FTW!
Sober enough to know what I'm doing, drunk enough to really enjoy doing it
Gotta love that "Listerine". My unit when we deployed were sponsored by a local high school and they sent us candy and the basics like once a month. However we did recieve alot of Maxims and FHM magazines that were donated. Yea send me their address and i'll se what I can muster up. I'll send out an email to everybody in my unit too about it.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
hey would there be anyone on these forums with money and the time to send my old company a few useful things in a care package. The guys I spent a year with Iraq with in OIF as a member of Alpha 2/7 cav are now back in Iraq under a different unit name, but same guys. I plan on sending them real useful shit. pornos, cigarettes, listerine *wink*. all the toothbrushes and baby wipes were great, but nobody would send us the stuff we REALLY needed. Im only one man off a small budget, but as soon as the 15th hits im gonna start sending. PM if you're interested in the APO,AE address
Thats how I am right now. Everyday I go work I dread it. I may join the ANG when I get out so I can get some retirement.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
man.....I was getting out the army everyday till my last. now I cant wait to start my first drill in the reserves in 2 weeksarabeater wrote:
I'm serious dude. Ive got about 3 years left on my reenlistment. Yea I reenlisted for the huge bonus and I'm an idiot. I admit that everyday.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
lol
I'm sorry but...wasn't our fine democracy founded on the idea that you can't trust government? Isn't that why we have voting, separation of powers, checks and balances, etc.? What good is democracy if we're just going to trust everything the government says like this is some kind of authoritarian regime?King_County_Downy wrote:
Just for the record. I'm pro-Iraq war. I'm pro-Afghan war. I'm pro-Iran war. And I'm pro-North Korean war. Right or wrong, if our guys are fightin' it, I'm supportin' it. I trust that our government knows things that NONE of us do. So for any of us, outside the CIA, WhiteHouse, (etc. etc.) to say that we know SHIT about what's really going on behind the scenes of our government and others, is totally ignorant.
And I would join the military in a heart beat if I didn't feel I could do more good as a civilian. If that ever changes, I'll be the first to enlist.
And everytime I meet a military service man or woman, I take the time to thank them personally. They are the only people in this world that I admire to the extent of stardom. They are true heros.
Harry Humphries
Rudy Boesch
Richard Marcinko
The list goes on and on...
And for the record, I support our troops 100%. The people sending them to fight unnecessary wars are the ones who lack my support.
hell yeah. along with the useful shit im gonna send, i plan on sending a couple of gag packages too. A box full of styrofoam and package of kotex. or some off the wall shit like hedge clippers or a cuckoo clock or something.King_County_Downy wrote:
I'll volunteer to send them some window tint. I know that stuff a hot shit over there for those Humvees. PM me an address to send them to and I'll do it next payday.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
hey would there be anyone on these forums with money and the time to send my old company a few useful things in a care package. The guys I spent a year with Iraq with in OIF as a member of Alpha 2/7 cav are now back in Iraq under a different unit name, but same guys. I plan on sending them real useful shit. pornos, cigarettes, listerine *wink*. all the toothbrushes and baby wipes were great, but nobody would send us the stuff we REALLY needed. Im only one man off a small budget, but as soon as the 15th hits im gonna start sending. PM if you're interested in the APO,AE address
Winded Tintows FTW!
damn 3 years left....that sucks man, lol. but seriously, that GI Bill is gold, dont sleep on that when you get out.arabeater wrote:
Thats how I am right now. Everyday I go work I dread it. I may join the ANG when I get out so I can get some retirement.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
man.....I was getting out the army everyday till my last. now I cant wait to start my first drill in the reserves in 2 weeksarabeater wrote:
I'm serious dude. Ive got about 3 years left on my reenlistment. Yea I reenlisted for the huge bonus and I'm an idiot. I admit that everyday.
Yea right now i'm using Tution Assistance but I plan on getting that $36k when I get out to pay some things off. Yea I reenlisted for 4 more years. I screwed up. They threw 25k at me and I couldnt say no to that.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
damn 3 years left....that sucks man, lol. but seriously, that GI Bill is gold, dont sleep on that when you get out.arabeater wrote:
Thats how I am right now. Everyday I go work I dread it. I may join the ANG when I get out so I can get some retirement.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
man.....I was getting out the army everyday till my last. now I cant wait to start my first drill in the reserves in 2 weeks
was it the tax free bonus?
Yea of course. Reenlisted when I was deployed last year. The only way to do it man. Its all gone now thoughGunSlinger OIF II wrote:
was it the tax free bonus?
Last edited by arabeater (2006-10-11 15:47:43)
that tax free sounds real good towards the end of a deployment. We had a guy in our company wait so long that by the time he reenlisted it was a day after we got back and he missed out on the no tax
QFT, and to expand....usmarine2005 wrote:
Hmmm....biggest idiot since this forum opened, and that is saying A LOT.cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Biggest idiot of the year I say.Cougar wrote:
You sir, win the award for biggest idiot of the week.
Actually, make that month. Come back to the forums when you move out of your parents house and get a job, because you obviously don't get out much.
On a side note, OUG, when I was stationed in Seattle, every week our unit would send about 5 or 6 Marines to this local grade school every Tuesday. (It is north of Silverdale for you Washington State folks) We would help the kids with their reading, we helped them improve their school by fixing up the playground and little projects like that. The kids absolutely loved us, and they would look forward to that day. I actually enjoyed it, and kids generally annoy the shit out of me.
As for why you need an M-16 for disaster relief....... if you remember New Orleans helicopters were being shot at and cops were being killed, so use your brain......if that is possible.
Typically for something like disaster relief, the military doesn't come in Apaches and Blackhawks locked and loaded to engage anyone. They're there to lend a hand.
God forbid that members of a standing army who aren't deployed go to do something else to help other people. That's kind of what it's all about. You'll understand when you pass 10th grade history.
On another note to the psychopaths who can't seem to understand why an army wouldn't do anything other than blowing shit up; Did it occur to you that natural disasters aren't exactly a weekly occurance? Would you like to employ 100,000 people, pay their salaries, and then sit on your ass for a year or two while they do nothing? There are organizations that provide FUNDING for these cleanups and relief, but the military are typically the first organization, along with the Red Cross etc. to show up with the BODIES TO DO THE WORK. Please, just stop thinking. Flatline immediately, we'll be so much better off.
On that same line of thought, every other job a serviceman does is the same way. It's work that they're paid to do while they're not fighting. And believe it or not, there aren't employers who are willing to pay a lot of extra people to do jobs that are only required to be done every few months.
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