Gen. Smedley Butler, Marines. This quote has been used by the Marxists to discredit America’s overseas fighting, esp. in Latin America (which the quote was actually aimed at).
Since I’m not that old, I never heard Butler speak in person. However, I don’t know what caused his change in view of the military.
However, I did work with one of TR’s granddaughters. He would have been proud of her, an All-American, pro-America journalist, blacklisted by her “betters” in the family.
I also met and talked with Adm. John McCain (CINCOMPAC) during Vietnam. He was a man of character and determination.
Son John was a disappointment to many of his fellow POWS (I knew a number of them.
Not saying that any of these fellows said anything bad about McCain. Just listing those who I talked to about POW/MIA issues as I had testified before congress on them: Mike Benge (former USMC, AID); Col. Bud Day; Adm. Jeremiah Denton; AF Paul Galanti; civilian Larry Stark; Sgt. Harker; the wife of Pilot Dunn, shot down by the Red Chinese off of Hainan Island - alive in the water when Chicom boats were coming at him; others).
McCain did his job, just like so many other brave Americans. Let’s give him credit for that, unlike the faux-3 PH Kerry. However, he became a John Kerry in his political ambitions, which made him a threat to the national security. Kerry was a pure traitor, and still is.
McCain is just an embittered old man who sought the brass ring of the presidency and failed miserably.
I knew a senior POW in the Hilton era of McCain and outranked him. Shot down within months of each other actually. Back in 2008 there was a thread in here about retired senior Naval Officers who endorsed McCain. That POW's name was on the list. The POW would have known Stockdale as well. The man I knew was a no nonsense officer after his release as return to active duty who expected a high level of conduct. He was tortured, injured upon jetison and received minimal treatment. Whom to believe? A man I knew giving an endorsement? Or a political websites scuttlebutt?
I despise McCain politically and want him retired. But attacking his military service {which I'd say No Freeper was actually there to judge his POW actions} to destroy him politically is questionable. I'll take the endorsement of a man I trusted and would have been in the COC loop as a sounding of McCain's behavior in captivity as being at least average compared with fellow POWs.