General Lehnert speaks (and is well worth listening to)

The American Thinker ^ | July 14, 2006 | General Mike Lehnert, USMC

[Interesting Times]

This address was recently given to a San Diego community group by Maj. Gen. Mike Lehnert, commander of Marine Corps Bases (West). I think his remarks should be widely read and considered.

[Interesting Times]

Words of wisdom ping...

[quikdrw]

bump for later

[Mathews]

"...They seemed much older. As I left them I wondered about a policy that gives a young man the power of deciding who will live and who will die but won’t let him drink a beer. I thought about these young Americans who had never shot golf but had shot and killed other men in order to carry out foreign policy."

Words so true. Puts a shiver down my spine and I've been in the biz for almost 19 years. It never ceases to amaze me how young these folks are and how fast they've had to mature. The neighbor kid is just turning seventeen... he's looking forward to getting his driver's license and enlisting. I've known him since he was nine years old and in as little as a year and a half from now he could be driving a Humvee in combat, shooting and being shot at. He'll leave a boy and come back a man. He'll have nothing in common with his friends who dropped out, opted for a job at the beach, or went on to college. It takes my breath away. GOD BLESS 'EM ALL!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[editor-surveyor]

Thanks for the ping!

[geezerwheezer]

I liked the linkage he used relating the payday thugs to the whorehouses of Pompey, both doing the same thing to the troops, and neither with any honor or virtue. Looks like this general speaks the truth, and I wish him and his trops well.

[Evie Munchkin]

Excellent!

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

You have mail.

[verbal voter]

What a great speech. Too bad the Ives have essentially quit ROTC of any service. My youngest---took a history elective taught by an army Sargent when she was at Johns Hopkins.
She feft he was her best instructor(professor) that year.

[marvlus]

Later.

[Ancesthntr]

I asked these Marines if I could buy them a beer. They looked at me and smiled. One of them said, “We can’t ask you to break the rules sir. None of us are 21 yet.”

Yet another wonderful product of our nanny state mind-set. The attitude that no risk is acceptable, and that only the government has the ability to force the proper solution on society...that's unacceptable to me.

The most ironic thing is that most of those who've pushed such laws haven't served in the military, nor would they allow their kids to do so - a military that would mature and discipline their kids, so that drinking at age 18 wouldn't be so much of a problem.

[JacksonCalhoun]

Great article. Sure beats any bilge out of Weasley Clark's mouth.

[RobbyS]

About 30 years ago, I think, I read an article in Harpers that made the same point. It was written by a Harvard grudate, and he noted how few of his classmates had served with him in Virtnam. It is not a good thing when the elites refuse to give us their children. Maybe not a new thing. McArthur was from a military family. Eisenhower and Bradley were from folks like those of the Marines the general is talking about. Patton was one of the exceptions, coming from southern aristocracy. IAC, the martial virtues are nothing to dismiss lightly. We have far too many lawyers and too few soldiers.

[MudPuppy]

BUMP

Ping for a good read!
S/F

[Ditto]

I started by mentioning Tom Brokaw. His book coined the phrase, “The Greatest Generation” and our nation responded in kind. Twenty years from now we may recognize that this young generation currently serving has the same qualities of greatness.

I'd say even greater than that generation. Two-thirds then were drafted. Today, 100% are volunteers.

On the battlefield today are future CEOs of corporations, university presidents, congressmen, state governors, Supreme Court justices and perhaps a future president of the United States.

Yes, indeed.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Great speech. I loved it.

[R. Scott]

A very long read – but well worth it.

[zot]

Well worth wide dissemination. Thanks for posting it.

[Smartass]

Americans, Fathers, Mothers, Sons and Daughters make up the greatest and most dedicated military in the world.

God Bless and Watch over them, as they are watching over us.