Posted on 01/16/2018 8:57:34 AM PST by MNDude
In several recent tweets, Trump has stated that shutting down the government will result in hurting our military "in a time we need it most."
Why is this a time we need it more than ever? What is on the horizon?
Syria, lingering ISIS issues across the Middle East....North Korea...resurgent Russian antics at NATO borders and Chinese antics and drills. To name a few.
Norks?.....................
NK, China, Iran come to mind.
Unless the Chinese can be induced to depose Kim Jong Un, war there is almost a certainty.
And unless we are able to organize an overthrow of the government in Tehran, we are headed for war there too.
But Korea is looking us right in the face.
Return to the militia form of defense, as our founding fathers believed in. Every able bodied American armed with at least a long gun and a side arm with at least annual practice at a range.
If you are rich, whatever you can afford. A tank, a fighter jet, a bomber. The new status symbol of the rich, CEOs, etc., would become these "toys'.
No more poking along in the back seat of a corporate or private jet. You learn to fly your own F-16, F18, etc. You pay for the support crew and maintenance.
No more private yachts. You and or your corporation sponsor part or all of a destroyer, sub, aircraft carrier, etc., and ensure the crew is trained for combat.
No more limos. Your limo is a tank, a five ton truck a humvee, etc.
Involvement of all citizens in the military would virtually eliminate wars because everyone would have some skin in it.
If some entity was stupid enough to attack us, we would quickly destroy them, so it is doubtful anyone would attack us.
Our local militia used to have regular turkey shoots out in back of where the courthouse is now.
They drilled (marching and firearms handling) on the common.
This was done throughout the country until after the Civil War, when we made the mistake of having a permanent standing army, providing the politicians with the ability to cause havoc using other peoples' lives as they do today.
We would then have the largest military in the world, with little tax expenditure.
The second amendment fight should go away, with almost everyone a gun owner.
Our government would be forced to behave better, both overseas and here.
Shutting down the government has never shut down the military.
A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves, and render regular troops in a great measure unnecessary. […]Such armed forces would have their allegiance to their country rather than a political figure or figures. And they would certainly be innumerable.
First, the constitution ought to secure a genuine and guard against a select militia, by providing that the militia shall always be kept well organized, armed, and disciplined, and include, according to the past and general usage of the states, all men capable of bearing arms; and that all regulations tending to render this general militia useless and defenseless by establishing select corps of militia or distinct bodies of military men not having permanent interests and attachments in the community, to be avoided. …
Never thought that I’d see such an idiotic question on the FreeRepublic, no offense.
1. We are literally surrounded by powerful, aggressive potential adversaries - many with nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
2. The only thing keeping them on their side the fence is the firm knowledge that they would be reduced to ash in milliseconds if they come after us.
3. Militias are a bad joke: really think that Clem with his AR-15 clone is going close with and destroy a T-80?
I guess I shouldn’t mind that we have Service Avoiders posing as Conservatives - but try not being a clown in public, OK?
The short answer is: China.
We have got to re-secure the sea lanes of the South China Sea, which gives us the ability to interdict oil and other resources from entering China. Also, we will have to use military power to disarm North Korea.
The only safe way to accomplish these objectives is with overwhelming superiority vis a vis China ... or a China/Russia combination.
China has developed missile technology that threatens our Carriers, the backbone of U.S. strength. These missiles strike vertically at velocities TWICE the muzzle velocity of a high-powered rifle. So defending the fleet could be difficult.
Of course, the first shots fired in such a conflict would be to try and take out the satellites and other eyes in the sky which are necessary to guide such weapons.
Hopefully, we have not lost our edge in space warfare yet.
Oh, please. See Post #9
“The United States ought not to indulge a persuasion that, contrary to the order of human events, they will forever keep at a distance those painful appeals to arms with which the history of every other nation abounds. There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.” …Obama aiding and emboldening several enemies of the USA has not gone without bearing bitter fruit, the North Korean missile launches the least of it. One of the more insidious enemies is the European Union, who would turn on us quite rapidly if they were to get the unified military they have desired for decades.
— George Washington, Fifth Annual Address to Congress, 12/03/1793
The only thing that Red China respects is force. They will not be “induced” to aid the USA against North Korea any other way.
How are we going to de-Obamaize the current military?
Throughout our history we have lead the world in the development of military technology. That technology morphs into civilian applications which has made us the richest nation in the history of the world. It would be foolish not to continue that formula for success.
If you’re going to parse political rhetoric, get ready for serious disappointment.
Were you in the military?
I was, volunteered, during the draft, and volunteered for Vietnam.
Orders cancelled due to end of "war".
I did spend 12 hours a day, 7 days a week loading 1000 pound bombs for Linebacker II.
I was on the flight line on Guam 24 hours a day for almost a month, getting short periods of sleep in my forklift or K-Loader or on some cargo nets during Operation New Life.
Apparently you failed to read the entire idea I posted.
Not the old fashioned rifle militia, but modern, with every type of equipment.
BTW, I also had three career fields, Air Transportation, PMEL and Crypto, the last in the Vermont Air Guard.
Why are you going after Chainmail for commenting to MNdude?
My respects.
I imagine you are also among those who have been shot at, which I am not.
Again, my respect.
a quick read of chains prior posts will give you the answer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.