In response to my article on the military, “Dumb and Dumber,” I received this note from a smart Air Force SSgt:

I read your article and you’re on point about everything. I feel the same way about my “comrades”. I just got out of a meeting with a Chief, and all he talked about was “getting the mission done” and “killing terrorists”, and I just see everyone nodding in agreement. All the while I’m thinking: “You’re the reason we have so many folded flags!” We preach about ISIS being a threat while no one realizes it’s just another sticker put over the “Al-Qaeda” sticker to keep the war profiteers in business. I made a mistake joining the military. I used to believe the old adage that we’re fighting for freedom but I’ve grown now. This year I’ll be putting in my papers and saying goodbye. What brought me to this conclusion was when I was in a discussion with a group of fellow military members and they were all talking about how we need to defeat ISIS. I told them I don’t agree, and they ridiculed me. Then I got pissed and told them: “You know what? This is what the problem is! I actually care more about our troops then all of you! Because I’m not the one hoo-rahing for wars under auspices no one fully understands! I’m not the one encouraging the government to send our fathers, mothers, sons and daughters to die because we have to ‘git-r-dun!’.” I try to tell them war is one of the most lucrative operations on the planet for certain people and everyone just looks at me like I have three heads. So you’re absolutely right. It’s dangerous to have a pliant and apathetic military but that’s exactly what we have. But that’s what you get when you have leadership that gets infected with the political side of the spectrum.

Posted with permission of the author.

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